Pallak Seth

Founder & Executive Vice Chairman, PDS Group | Founder, PDS Ventures

Pallak Seth is a serial entrepreneur with over 25+ years of experience in fashion manufacturing, sourcing, and investments. As Executive Vice Chairman of PDS Group, he has transformed the company from a traditional sourcing business into a global, purpose-driven fashion platform serving leading FTSE 100, S&P 500, and DAX 30 brands.

His strategic foresight and entrepreneurial spirit have been central to the formation of PDS Ventures, the group’s $50M investment arm backing startups in sustainability, technology, and direct-to-consumer brands. Pallak is passionate about empowering founders and building a more innovative, transparent, and sustainable fashion ecosystem. Under Pallak's leadership, PDS Ventures has become a driving force in the industry. He is deeply passionate about fostering a more responsible and forward-thinking fashion ecosystem, empowering startups that are redefining industry norms. Through his global vision and dedication to impact-led growth, Pallak continues to influence the fashion industry’s shift toward a more resilient and sustainable future.

Parth Gandhi

PDS Board Member

Parth Gandhi brings over 25 years of investment experience, having led significant private equity initiatives across sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, consumer goods, and fashion. He is the Founder and CIO of Bombay Capital, a private equity fund focused on buyouts, and also established India’s first organized Media and Entertainment PE fund. Previously, he served as Senior Partner and Managing Director at AION, Apollo Global’s India JV, where he managed over $1.25 billion in investments.

Parth has held board positions across several prominent Indian and international companies. He currently serves on the board of PDS Limited, where he chairs the Stakeholders’ Relationship Committee and contributes to multiple board-level initiatives. His deep boardroom experience, sectoral expertise, and strong track record in strategic investments make him a valuable asset to the PDS Ventures Investment Committee.

Sandra Campos

PDS Board Member

Sandra Campos brings more than thirty years of operating and investing experience in global lifestyle, fashion, and CPG companies. As a four-time CEO, she has led significant growth, strategic partnership initiatives, and M&A transactions that translate to $1b. Sandra was also an advisor to the first all-female SPAC with two combinations in energy and AI along with being a partner with venture capital firms The Every and Shakti Ventures.

She is the President & CEO of PetMeds, a Nasdaq listed pioneer in online pet healthcare. Previously, she served as CEO of Diane von Furstenberg and other iconic fashion brands such as Juicy Couture.

Sandra has served on the board of seven companies to date, including public, private equity and venture backed businesses across the consumer ecosystem. Her operating expertise and board experience make her a valuable asset to the PDS Ventures Investment Committee.

Yael Gairola

PDS Board Member & PDS Ventures Advisor

Yael Gairola is a catalyst for innovation and sustainability in the global fashion ecosystem. As an advisor to PDS Ventures, she draws on a rich background in brand strategy, breakthrough advancements in next-generation materials, and digital transformations. With a career that spans leadership roles in multinational fashion brands and supply-chain technology start-ups, Yaël brings a deep understanding of both long-term growth and operational impact.

Her work at PDS Ventures centres around championing startups that align environmental integrity with commercial viability. With her strategic foresight and holistic mindset, she plays a key role in ensuring PDS Ventures not only invests in the future of fashion but actively shapes it.

Rani Saad

Co-Founder & President, Stanford Angels

Rani has built and invested in ventures for 25 years, with 35 deep-tech investments. He is Founding Partner at Apex Black (a VC fund), co-founder and co-president of the Stanford Angels of the UK, and serves on multiple startup Boards. He also serves on panels and steering groups of several acceleration programs, including those of Stanford, Imperial, the Royal Academy of Engineering, among others.

Recently, he drove deep-tech investments for a $30B family office, and helped launch and manage a corporate VC fund in Berlin. Rani has also co-founded or co-built four startups in Silicon Valley, London and elsewhere, in addition to a $300M emerging markets VC fund. He launched products globally and directed innovation acceleration at Microsoft, launched one of the first fintech platforms in the US at Capital One, and led venture formation at ideas42, a leading behavioral sciences entity.

Rani holds an MBA from Stanford and degrees in three engineering fields (Master’s in Intelligent Transportation Engineering and Bachelor’s in Computer and Communications Engineering).

Paul Wright

PDS Group ESG & Business Development Director

Paul Wright brings over 40 years of multifaceted experience in retail, manufacturing, and sustainability to his role at PDS Ventures. Starting out as a mechanical engineer in the UK garment industry, he went on to lead production and quality operations across international markets, gaining deep expertise in supply chain execution.

Throughout his career, Paul has held senior leadership roles in sourcing, ethical compliance, and sustainability for some of the world’s most recognized retailers. His experience spans categories from apparel to health & beauty and general merchandise, with a focus on driving supplier performance and embedding responsible business practices.

Having partnered with major retailers such as Primark, ASDA, George, Matalan, and Dunelm, Paul offers invaluable insights into how startups can align with the operational demands and sustainability expectations of global brands. At PDS Ventures, he plays a pivotal role in guiding portfolio companies to build credible, scalable, and impact-driven partnerships across the fashion and retail value chain.

Elsa Parente

Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Positive Materials

Elsa Parente brings over 25 years of expertise in textile innovation to PDS Ventures, supporting our mission to scale sustainable solutions across the fashion industry. As Co-Founder and CTO of Positive Materials, a PDS Group vertical, she leads the strategic direction and development of breakthrough fibres, dyeing, and finishing technologies that reduce environmental impact while meeting the needs of global brands.

Previously, Elsa founded RDD (Valérius Group) and led R&D and Innovation at Tintex Textiles, pioneering advanced material technologies adopted worldwide. A trusted advisor and leading industry expert, she works closely with PDS Ventures, as well as leading textile institutes, to advance circular and planet-positive innovations.

Jack Ostrowski

Founder & CEO, Yellow Octopus

Jack Ostrowski brings a powerful blend of entrepreneurial grit and visionary leadership to his role as CEO of PDS Ventures. With a background deeply rooted in sustainability and innovation, Jack has spent over a decade reshaping the fashion industry’s relationship with impact. His earlier venture, Yellow Octopus Group, pioneered scalable circular solutions, cementing his reputation as a changemaker in textile reuse and recycling.

At PDS Ventures, Jack channels this experience into identifying and accelerating startups that are reimagining fashion’s future. He is particularly focused on unlocking innovations in material science, supply chain transparency, and regenerative business models. Jack’s approach is hands-on and purpose-driven, bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and global industry execution. His leadership ensures that PDS Ventures remains not only a capital partner but also a strategic force in building a more sustainable and tech-enabled fashion ecosystem.

Ankur Agarwal

Investment Head

Ankur Agarwal is a seasoned venture capital leader with a sharp eye for value creation, operational excellence, and mission-driven innovation. As Head of VC Investments at PDS Ventures—the venture capital arm of PDS Limited, a global fashion infrastructure company listed on the Indian stock exchange—he spearheads the firm’s early- and growth-stage investment strategy, focusing on technologies and business models shaping the future of fashion, sustainability, circularity, and consumer innovation.

Part of the Founder and Executive Vice Chairman’s Office, Ankur plays a pivotal role in aligning PDS Limited’s long-term vision with its innovation and investment initiatives. He manages the $50M VC fund, overseeing deal sourcing, due diligence, portfolio management, and value creation. Under his management, PDS Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of 80+ investments across the globe, backing both emerging disruptors and category-defining startups.

With a background spanning corporate finance, private equity, M&A, and cross-border transactions, Ankur combines financial discipline with entrepreneurial insight—translating promising business models into scalable, sustainable outcomes. His pragmatic, data-informed approach ensures that PDS Ventures’ capital is not only catalytic but also resilient and results-driven.

Based in London, Ankur operates at the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and scalable innovation, driving PDS Ventures’ mission to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs building a more responsible and resilient fashion ecosystem.

Riley Marchant

Investment Associate

Riley Marchant brings entrepreneurial and sustainability-focused experience to PDS Ventures, having co-founded a sustainable clothing brand, Mobius Clothing, and worked at Recover™, a material science start-up transforming textile waste into recycled fibers. These roles gave him first-hand insight into building and scaling sustainable businesses, from product development and supply chains to brand communications.

As an Investment Associate at PDS Ventures, Riley connects our portfolio companies to PDS Group’s global network of brands and supply chain partners, as well as evaluating new investment opportunities. His background in start-ups and sustainable innovation enables him to identify high-potential solutions and support their growth within the wider PDS ecosystem.

Pushpendra Kumar

Business Associate

Pushpendra Kumar is a meticulous analyst with a strong foundation in finance, strategy, and market research. At PDS Ventures, he supports investment decisions by diving deep into data, evaluating business models, and assessing the long-term potential of startups driving sustainable innovation. His analytical rigor and structured thinking are key to identifying ventures that align with both environmental impact and scalable growth.

Pushpendra brings a sharp focus to due diligence and financial modeling, ensuring that each investment is grounded in insight and precision. His role is instrumental in helping PDS Ventures maintain a disciplined investment approach.