Kanak Durga Kunapuli is a Principal at Juvo Ventures and a finance and strategy leader with more than 10 years of experience in EdTech strategy, corporate development, and investment management. Her background includes leadership roles at Western Governors University (WGU), where she led startup investments across the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, and Asia, managed early-stage seed and Series A deal execution, and supported portfolio outcomes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to expand access, equity and economic outcomes for millions of learners around the world. She also serves as a Board Observer for Mursion, supporting board discussions, growth strategy, capital planning, and market expansion working closely with management.
Previously, Kanak served as Manager of Strategy and Corporate Development at WGU, where she helped drive M&A strategy and venture investing focused on innovative financing solutions for underserved students. Her work contributed to the launch of Suncrest Financial LLC and PineView Financial LLC, expanding tuition financing options for marginalized learners. Earlier in her career, Kanak held investment roles at DMBA (Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators), where she supported institutional investment portfolios across asset classes including fixed income, public and private equity, and real estate, and contributed to risk management, liability-driven investment strategies, and asset allocation decisions for a $15B+ fund.
Kanak has also held strategy roles in organizations including eBay, Cisco Systems, Zions Bancorporation. She holds an MBA in Finance and Investments from Brigham Young University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, India. She is a CFA charter holder and has served on the CFA Society board, with a strong commitment to financial education, innovation, and inclusion in finance.