Founder Insights: Pavan Kumar Tallavajhula Brings a Global Lens to Early-Stage Investing in Rochester
- Connected Know
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Long before venture capital became a mainstream career path, Pavan Kumar Tallavajhula was building startups at the edge of the internet’s first wave. Today, as a partner at 3pmVentures, Tallavajhula brings nearly three decades of global operating, investing, and advisory experience to Rochester’s growing startup ecosystem.
Founded in 2018, 3pmVentures focuses on early-stage startup investing and strategic advisory, drawing on Tallavajhula’s background in technology, sales, and business strategy across India, the Middle East, the
United Kingdom, Africa, and the United States. Operating with a small team of two, the firm works closely with founders navigating scale, market entry, and leadership challenges.
Tallavajhula’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1995, when India opened the internet to the private sector. “That moment changed everything,” he said. He went on to build one of the country’s first digital marketing agencies, develop online portals, Java-based games, and industry-specific platforms eventually exiting the business.
His academic path mirrors his long-term commitment to strategy and execution. Tallavajhula earned a Bachelor of Technology from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), followed by an MBA and a PhD in Business Strategy from Osmania University. That combination of hands-on startup building and formal strategic training has shaped his approach to investing and advising.
Over the years, Tallavajhula has worked closely with major global enterprises including Qualcomm, Google, Microsoft, KPMG, Yahoo, CA Technologies, and UBS, helping establish overseas development centers in India. He considers that work one of his most meaningful professional milestones. “Building global teams and operating bridges between markets teaches you how companies really scale,” he said.
Since becoming an active investor in 2014, Tallavajhula has funded early-stage startups across India, the U.K., Kenya, and the U.S., with five exits and one IPO to date. He was also a partner at F50 Elevate, a Palo Alto–based accelerator, and has served as a mentor with institutions including the University of Washington, UT Austin, TechUnited, and organizations in New Jersey and beyond.
Today, through 3pmVentures, Tallavajhula is expanding his focus on business strategy and leadership consulting, working with small and mid-sized businesses looking to professionalize operations and scale sustainably. “The biggest challenge is network expansion,” he said. “The work itself is clear building trusted relationships takes time.”
The advice that has guided him through multiple cycles of entrepreneurship and investing is simple: “You don’t fail until you give up.” Persistence, he says, is often underestimated. “Resilience compounds over time.”
Although his career has taken him across continents, Tallavajhula chose to build his current chapter in Rochester, where he grew up. “I see real potential here for the next generation of technology startups,” he said. “Strong educational institutions, global enterprises, and ecosystem builders like NextCorps give Rochester the foundation to shine.”
Outside of work, Tallavajhula enjoys trekking, long conversations over coffee, and spending time at Panera Bread in Penfield, which doubles as his preferred meeting spot for founders and operators. He also points to BZ Design, a Rochester-based product development and branding firm, as a local business doing notable work.
As Rochester continues to attract founders and investors with global experience, Tallavajhula represents a growing segment of the ecosystem: operators-turned-investors who bring pattern recognition, discipline, and long-term perspective to early-stage innovation.
Fast Facts
Category | Detail |
Founder | Pavan Kumar Tallavajhula |
Company | 3pmVentures |
Founded | 2018 |
HQ | Rochester, NY |
Industry | Startup Investing |
Employees | 2 |
Website | |
Education | JNTU (B.Tech); Osmania University (MBA, PhD – Business Strategy) |
Hometown | Rochester, NY |
Favorite Local Restaurant | Panera Bread, Penfield |
Favorite Local Business | BZ Design |
Favorite Activity | Trekking |
Coffee / Founder Meetups | Panera Bread, Penfield |
About the Founder Spotlight
The Connected Know Founder Spotlight is a weekly feature highlighting the entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders shaping Rochester’s startup and business ecosystem. Each profile offers insight into the people behind local companies driving innovation, growth, and long-term economic momentum.
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