Prasanna Sankar is a prominent Indian-born entrepreneur and the co-founder of Rippling, a workforce management platform valued at over $10 billion. Known for his leadership and vision in the tech industry, Sankar’s career trajectory is marked by his expertise in scaling software companies, particularly in HR and IT solutions. His professional journey, coupled with his recent personal challenges, has kept him in the public eye.
Key Information
| Full Name | Prasanna Sankar |
| Born | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly disclosed (Approx. in early 1980s) |
| Reside | Singapore |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | B.Tech in Computer Science, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Co-founder of Rippling, Tech Leader |
| Known For | Co-founder of Rippling, HR and IT workforce management platform |
| Spouse | Dhivya Sashidhar (Estranged wife, married for a decade) |
| Children | One son, 9 years old |
| Net Worth | $500 million to $1 billion (Estimated) |
| Career | Former Director of Engineering at Zenefits, Co-founder of Rippling |
| Notable Achievement | Rippling valued at over $10 billion |
| Legal Issues | Ongoing legal dispute with estranged wife, including accusations of harassment by Chennai police |
| Philanthropy | Supports education and healthcare initiatives, especially in India |
Early Life and Education
Prasanna Sankar was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He pursued his early education in Chennai before moving on to higher studies. Sankar completed his Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science at National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli, where he met his future wife, Dhivya Sashidhar. His academic foundation and interest in technology paved the way for his future career in the tech industry.
Career Journey
Before establishing Rippling, Prasanna Sankar worked with several renowned technology companies, gaining extensive experience in engineering and business operations.
Early Career
Sankar began his career in the tech world as an engineer at Microsoft, one of the largest technology companies globally. His work there helped him understand the importance of scalable systems in enterprise technology.
Zenefits
Prasanna later moved to Zenefits, a software company focused on human resources management. He worked as the Director of Engineering at Zenefits, where he was instrumental in the company’s rapid growth. His time at Zenefits helped him gain valuable insights into the HR tech space, which he later applied to Rippling.
Founding Rippling
In 2016, Prasanna Sankar co-founded Rippling alongside Parker Conrad, a company that streamlines HR processes through automation. Rippling revolutionized the way companies manage their workforce by combining HR and IT into a unified platform. With Sankar’s vision and leadership, Rippling quickly became one of Silicon Valley’s most valuable startups, reaching a valuation of $10 billion in just a few years.
Rippling’s success is attributed to Sankar’s ability to scale tech solutions in a way that significantly reduces overhead costs and administrative burdens for businesses. His experience at Zenefits provided the foundation for creating Rippling’s platform, which now serves thousands of businesses globally.
Personal Life and Family
Prasanna Sankar is married to Dhivya Sashidhar, a tech professional with whom he shares a family. The couple has a nine-year-old son. While their family life seemed private, recent events have thrust them into the public eye due to legal disputes.
Legal Controversy
In recent months, Prasanna Sankar has been involved in a highly publicized legal conflict with his estranged wife, Dhivya Sashidhar. Prasanna has publicly accused Dhivya of infidelity and claimed that she filed false accusations against him, including charges of rape and child kidnapping. The dispute also led to allegations that the Chennai police have been harassing him, further complicating the matter.
These personal issues have attracted significant media attention, casting a shadow over his professional achievements. Despite the challenges, Prasanna remains committed to his company and public welfare, maintaining a focus on his work while dealing with personal hardships.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Prasanna Sankar’s net worth is estimated to be in the range of $500 million to $1 billion USD, primarily due to his role in Rippling’s substantial growth and valuation. The company’s success has contributed significantly to his wealth, making him one of the influential tech entrepreneurs of his generation.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Beyond his business endeavors, Prasanna is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He actively supports education and healthcare initiatives, particularly in underprivileged communities in India. His work with Rippling, which emphasizes better management practices for businesses, also contributes indirectly to social causes by helping companies manage their workforces more efficiently.
Interesting Facts About Prasanna Sankar
- Tech Enthusiast: Prasanna’s love for technology began early, leading him to study Computer Science at NIT Trichy.
- Tech Giant Experience: He worked at Google and Microsoft before co-founding Rippling, gaining valuable insights in engineering and leadership.
- Co-founder of Rippling: In 2016, he co-founded Rippling with Parker Conrad, aiming to streamline workforce management with innovative HR and IT solutions.
- Visionary Leader: Prasanna’s focus is on automating business processes to reduce inefficiencies, which is reflected in Rippling’s platform.
- Zenefits Experience: He served as Director of Engineering at Zenefits, gaining crucial experience in HR tech before launching Rippling.
- Philanthropist: While private about it, Prasanna supports various charitable causes, especially in education and healthcare.
- Legal Disputes: Prasanna has faced public legal battles, accusing his estranged wife of false allegations, including rape and child kidnapping.
- Work-Life Balance Advocate: He emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and creating supportive environments in tech companies.
- Silicon Valley Star: Rippling’s rapid growth and $10 billion valuation have solidified Prasanna’s place as a leading entrepreneur in Silicon Valley.
- Photography Hobby: Outside of work, Prasanna is a hobbyist photographer, sharing his travel and personal moments online.
- Family-Oriented: Despite his high-profile career, Prasanna values his family life and strives to maintain strong relationships, especially with his son.
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