Nitsushi
Commercializing Deep Tech
Go-to-Market & Fundraising Advisory for Ambitious Founders in the U.S.
Nitsushi is a Silicon Valley–based advisory boutique helping early-stage and growth-stage startups refine their go-to-market strategy, achieve product-market fit, raise capital, and navigate critical inflection points.
Our Partners
We Partner with Founders Who Think Bigger
We work with:
Early-stage startups (Pre-Seed to Series B) in or entering the U.S. market
AI, SaaS, deep tech, and hardware innovators
International founders expanding to Silicon Valley
If you are building something ambitious and need strong strategic guidance, Nitsushi is designed for you.
What We Do
Go-to-Market Strategy & Product-Market Fit Discovery
Fundraising & Investor Readiness
Strategic Advisory & Turnarounds
U.S. Market Entry for International Startups
Why Nitsushi
Founder & Investor Experience
Led by a Silicon Valley CEO and Venture Partner with real operating experience.
Deep Tech & AI Expertise
Strong ability to translate complex technologies into business traction.
High-Stakes Strategy
Experience in enterprise sales, cross-border expansion, and fundraising.
Global View, Local Execution
Operating across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East with a focus on Silicon Valley standards.
Unique Advantage
A rare combination of scientific rigor, venture expertise, and global financial leadership: Master's in Physics, MBA from IESE, early McKinsey experience, 10+ years in international Investment Banking and Private Equity, founder of four startups, Venture Partner in two Silicon Valley funds, Alchemist Accelerator alumni, global execution across Europe and Saudi Arabia, AI studies at UC Berkeley, and billion-dollar value creation frameworks from Wharton.
This enables Nitsushi to support founders from defining a repeatable value proposition to securing their first paying customers and achieving product-market fit — not just creating presentations, but driving business reality.
We help turn technology into something customers will buy and investors will fund.
Selected Track Record
Prophecta — AI Fleet Optimization (USA)
Founder & CEO • Raised $4M; graduated from Alchemist Accelerator • Enterprise deployment in the U.S., Europe, and Saudi Arabia
Coda Devices — Coded-Aperture Raman Spectroscopy (Global)
CEO • Developed and commercialized breakthrough Coded Aperture Raman spectroscopy licensed from Duke University • Built global R&D, manufacturing, distribution, and sales operations within 4 years • Achieved strategic acquisition by Thorlabs, a leading photonics company
Braintree — Symbolic AI / AGI (Europe → Global)
CEO
• Led the company developing a symbolic AI engine aimed at AGI-class reasoning for industrial decision-making
• Achieved product-market fit through deployment with a major global Oil & Gas enterprise
• Positioned the company as a credible AGI innovator with scalable real-world applications
• Led the company developing a symbolic AI engine aimed at AGI-class reasoning for industrial decision-making
• Achieved product-market fit through deployment with a major global Oil & Gas enterprise
• Positioned the company as a credible AGI innovator with scalable real-world applications
Nanooptic Devices — Digital Planar Holography (Europe → USA)
CEO • Rebuilt the company around Digital Planar Hologram technology • Defined a scalable product strategy and achieved product-market fit • Raised multiple financing rounds • Built complete GTM execution: sales, marketing, and manufacturing • Transformed a research initiative into a commercial deep-tech business
Network.VC — Venture Investments
Venture Partner • 100+ investments and 10+ exits across global tech founders • Backed high-potential companies across the U.S., Europe, and Asia
About the Founder
Vasily Nikolaev is a Silicon Valley CEO, venture partner, and startup advisor with over 20 years of international leadership across technology, investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and strategic consulting.
He has founded, scaled, and exited multiple startups, raised capital across the U.S. and Europe, and led commercialization of advanced technologies from deep tech to AI. His background combines physics, business strategy, enterprise sales, and hands-on fundraising.
He holds an MBA from IESE Business School and an MS in Physics from Moscow State University. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Fluent in English and Russian.
Credibility Backed by Excellence
Let's Connect
If you are building something ambitious and bold, we'd love to hear from you.
Connect on LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/vasilynikolaev