Steve Nasiri, Founder

Steve Nasiri, an Iranian immigrant who arrived in San Francisco in December 1972, pursued higher education in the United States. He supported himself by working various restaurant jobs while attending university. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in December 1977 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he began his career at National Semiconductor in Silicon Valley. Steve later earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from San Jose State University and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Early in his career, Steve demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a keen interest in innovation and leadership. In 1982, he joined his first startup and has since been an executive and co-founder in six startups. In 2003, he founded InvenSense from his kitchen table, providing the initial seed money. InvenSense went public in November 2011 with a valuation of nearly $800 million. Steve served as the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of InvenSense for ten years, stepping down in October 2012.

Steve's notable achievements include nearly 100 published and filed patents, the development of the Nasiri Fabrication process foundational to InvenSense technology, and receiving the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year award from Ernst & Young.

Since leaving InvenSense, Steve has been an active angel investor with Band of Angels, mentoring and advising startup companies specializing in semiconductors and MEMS technology.

Shanna Nasiri, Managing Director

Shanna Nasiri has led the day-to-day operations of the foundation since its inception in 2013. She drives the foundation’s mission and strategy through grant-making, serving as a board director, and providing advisory support.