Shravan Parsi
CEO & Founder, American Ventures
Shravan Parsi hails from Hyderabad, India, where he grew up in a family that valued education and perseverance. His father, who lived with a mild disability, became one of the top medical doctors in Hyderabad. Watching his father’s journey gave him a strong example early in life, showing him that determination, consistency, and effort over time can create real success.
From childhood, Parsi was curious and motivated to learn. In the seventh grade, he moved to a new school to study English and better connect with the broader world. After junior college, when he was not admitted to medical school, he pursued a bachelor’s in pharmacy at Manipal, an international university town and one of India’s top schools. At Manipal, Shravan combined his scientific training with an entrepreneurial mindset, shaping the ambition of one day starting a pharmaceutical and biotech company.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Parsi set his sights on graduate education in the United States. He was admitted to St. John’s University in New York with a scholarship covering nearly all his tuition. There, he completed a master’s in pharmaceutics and industrial pharmacy while serving as a teaching assistant in the compounding pharmacy lab. This period gave him both academic depth and professional experience.
He began his career as a pharmaceutical scientist. He worked at their global headquarters at Schering-Plough (now Merck) in New Jersey and later at DPT Labs and Health Point in San Antonio, Texas. Over these years, he contributed to the development of multiple OTC and prescription drugs, including a patented antiseptic drug aimed at hospital-acquired infections and a wound care therapy created for the US military. These experiences refined his product development and data-driven decision-making skills, which would later guide him in real estate.
While building his scientific career, Shravan began investing in real estate. He bought single-family homes while working full-time, often managing renovations and tenants in the evenings. What started as a side project soon became profitable and convinced him to leave laboratory research and pursue entrepreneurship full-time.
He went on to found American Ventures, a real estate investment and development firm based in Austin, Texas. The firm focuses on multifamily, mixed-use, commercial, and hospitality properties, strongly emphasizing value-add acquisitions and thoughtful development. Under his leadership, American Ventures has acquired or developed more than 4,000 units across $450MM in assets. Between 2018 and 2022, Shravan served as general partner in the exit of over 3,500 units, achieving a weighted average internal rate of return (IRR) of 31.6% on managed exits.
Parsi's approach to acquisitions combines discipline with innovation. He has personally guaranteed loans worth millions, including a 40-year HUD loan at a fixed interest rate of 2.96% for a major multifamily project near Dallas-Fort Worth. Confident in the deal, he advanced personal funds before investor capital was fully committed. The development reached 90% occupancy within its first year of completion.
He is also known for identifying opportunities and establishing strong partnerships. Shravan sourced a site on Austin’s South Congress Avenue and later secured the Marriott Tribute brand after interviewing multiple global hospitality groups. He assembled more than 100 acres in San Marcos for the East Village mixed-use project and over 60 acres in Elgin for future highway development. Over time, he has raised funds from more than 250 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), family offices, and private equity firms, while partnering with institutional investors such as Goldman Sachs and Carlyle. The repeated support of investors demonstrates his credibility and performance.
In 2019, he published The Science of the Deal: The DNA of Multifamily & Commercial Real Estate Investing with Forbes Books. The book became an Amazon Bestseller and serves as a practical guide for analyzing, structuring, and executing real estate transactions. Based on his scientific and business background, Shravan simplifies complex processes into clear strategies. He also speaks regularly at industry events, including IMN’s flagship conferences and family office forums, where he shares insights on multifamily development, portfolio growth, and risk management.
Parsi's leadership style blends scientific discipline with entrepreneurial vision. He emphasizes KPIs and thorough underwriting while working collaboratively with directors, vice presidents, and managers to align acquisitions, asset management, and development throughout every stage.
Beyond business, Shravan Parsi is committed to community impact. He serves on Pratham USA’s Austin chapter board, which supports education for underprivileged children. He is also a trustee at the Austin Hindu Temple and Cedar Park Temple, a member of YPO’s Austin chapter, and was previously a part of Tiger 21.
