# Vishal Sunak

> Vishal Sunak is a Boston software founder best known for co-founding LinkSquares in 2015 and running it as CEO for a decade, building an AI-powered contract-management platform for in-house legal and finance teams that raised roughly $161 million and grew to around 450 employees. Born in Brazil to Indian parents and raised in Rhode Island, he trained as an engineer, worked on military RF electronics, and cut his teeth in Boston B2B software at Backupify and InsightSquared before starting LinkSquares. He stepped back from the CEO role in early 2025, stayed on as a founding board member and advisor, and is now building a new, largely stealth venture called Joyride (joyride.ai).

- **Role:** Founder at Joyride (joyride.ai); founding board member and advisor at LinkSquares
- **Organizations:** Joyride, LinkSquares, InsightSquared, Backupify
- **From:** Brazil
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. in Engineering, Northeastern University, M.S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Web Development Track, Startup Institute Boston
- **Known for:** Co-founded LinkSquares (2015) and served as CEO for about a decade., Raised roughly $161 million for LinkSquares across five rounds from investors including Catalyst Investors, G Squared, Jump Capital, and Sorenson Capital., Grew LinkSquares from zero to $10M ARR in two years and three months, and later to around 450 employees across 20+ states.

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Immigrated with his family from Brazil to the United States, settling in Rhode Island.
- **pre-2010s** — Worked in the defense industry in New Hampshire building radio-frequency electronics for military applications.
- **early 2010s** — Moved into Boston B2B software, holding operations and product roles at Backupify and InsightSquared.
- **2014** — During an acquisition integration, hit the 'light-bulb moment' - thousands of contracts and no way to search them.
- **2015** — Co-founded LinkSquares, an AI-powered contract-management platform for in-house legal and finance teams.
- **2020** — Named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist.
- **2021** — Named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year.
- **2022** — Named to Boston Business Journal's 40 Under 40.
- **2025** — Stepped back from day-to-day CEO responsibilities at LinkSquares (Chris Combs named interim CEO); remained a founding board member and advisor.
- **2025** — Began building a new venture, Joyride (joyride.ai).

## Achievements

- Co-founded LinkSquares (2015) and served as CEO for about a decade.
- Raised roughly $161 million for LinkSquares across five rounds from investors including Catalyst Investors, G Squared, Jump Capital, and Sorenson Capital.
- Grew LinkSquares from zero to $10M ARR in two years and three months, and later to around 450 employees across 20+ states.
- Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (2021), after being a finalist in 2020.
- Named to Boston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 (2022).
- Active limited partner and angel investor; mentors Boston-area startup founders.

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — Stepped back from day-to-day CEO duties at LinkSquares; Chris Combs named interim CEO. Sunak stayed on as founding board member and advisor.
- **2025** — Began building a new, largely stealth venture, Joyride (joyride.ai), with the tagline 'make waves so others catch the drift.'

## Links

- Website: https://joyride.ai
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishalsunak

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/vishal-sunak
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-07