Prior to joining the doctoral program, Anil worked in strategy and finance roles at startups and financial services firms. His startup experience included founding a company called introPLAY, which developed community-based services to promote physical activity. He also worked at Vencast, a financial services startup that matched institutional capital with startups, hedge funds, and private equity funds. In finance, he worked at Ahab Capital Management, a distressed hedge fund, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (since acquired by Credit Suisse), where he worked in the Space and Satellite Group.