Arif Damji

Arif’s path to venture investing has been shaped by his deep experience in marketing, sales, and business strategy. Before joining Conductive Ventures 6 years ago, he spent a decade working at the intersection of customer acquisition, retention, and analytics, helping businesses scale efficiently.

Before venture capital, Arif led business innovation at Kosta Browne, a private equity-owned, allocation-based winery. There, he oversaw marketing, sales (both direct and wholesale), and analytics to enhance customer acquisition and retention. His work contributed to the company’s successful acquisition by Duckhorn in 2018.

Prior to Kosta Browne, Arif was an early team member at 500friends, a YC-backed SaaS platform focused on retention marketing for retailers. Over four years, he led marketing, operations, and strategy, helping the company grow to over 50 clients with 40 million active members. Following its acquisition by Dentsu, he led the integration and expansion of its client base, ensuring continued growth.

Arif began his career at McKinsey & Company, advising senior executives on marketing and sales strategies across the hospitality and financial services sectors.

Arif holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business and an M.L. from Penn Law at the University of Pennsylvania. He also earned an M.S. in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge. Additionally, he holds a Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the WSET.