SPRINGFIELD, OH - A highly successful entrepreneur with 20-plus years of experience navigating hypergrowth and global expansion of startups, along with managing strategic acquisitions, Rakesh Tondon, Wittenberg class of 2001, has accepted the invitation to deliver the keynote address at his alma mater’s 176th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 16, in picturesque Commencement Hollow. The announcement came during the Class of 2026’s annual “100 Days ‘Til Graduation” last week.
“On behalf of the entire Wittenberg University, I am excited to welcome Rakesh back to his alma mater,” said President Christian M.M. Brady. “Today’s rapidly changing world requires creativity, confidence, and exceptional critical thinking, which are exactly the skills Rakesh embodies and that Wittenberg has developed in its graduates since 1845. Rakesh also exemplifies the possibilities of a liberal arts education, and I believe his remarks will inspire the members of the Class of 2026 to see all the possibilities that await them as proud Wittenberg graduates."
Currently working as an advisor with Entrepreneurs First, “a category-defining global investor in entrepreneurial talent” whose portfolio companies are backed by world-leading investors,” according to the company’s website, Tondon brings decades of experience in e-commerce, retail, SaaS, AI, and healthcare. Throughout his career, he has steered through the challenges of sophisticated supply chains, intricate logistics, and high-growth business operations and start-ups. An active angel investor, board member, and advisor, Tondon also provides strategic guidance on fundraising, GTM strategies, and operational scaling.
The former co-founder and CEO of Dr. Treat, a full-stack startup pioneering tech-enabled veterinary care through its AI-driven veterinary platform, Tondon helped to streamline clinical workflows, enhance pet healthcare, and optimize revenue for clinics. He also recently helped engineer the sale of the business to a large strategic acquirer. Additionally, Tondon previously co-founded and led Le Tote, a pioneering rental subscription platform in the United States and China. As a consumer-driven leader in the fashion space, Tondon helped Le Tote amass over 2.5 million members and more than 200,000 paying subscribers, leveraging proprietary AI-driven recommendation engines and sophisticated supply chain infrastructure to deliver hyper-personalized customer experiences.
With his M&A expertise, Tondon was also able to make the landmark acquisition of Lord & Taylor, the oldest department store chain in the United States, and led two other strategic acquisitions, thanks to his deep background in negotiating complex deals, fundraising, and capital structuring, honed during his tenure in investment banking at J.P. Morgan and Ridgecrest.
Tondon, who resides in San Francisco, California, earned his B.A. in economics and was a founding father of Wittenberg’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He also spent time as a resident advisor and was a member of the campus’ Cricket Club.
Wittenberg is planning for traditional outdoor Commencement Exercises beginning at 11:30 a.m., with access to its idyllic Commencement Hollow starting at 9:30 a.m. All guests must be seated by 11 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex’s Pam Evans Smith Arena. Tickets are required for an indoor ceremony. The event will also be livestreamed at wittenberg.edu/live with the Geil Lounge and the Center Dining Room (CDR) of Wittenberg's Benham-Pence Student Center also available for viewing the live feed on campus.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, Wittenberg will host a Countdown to Commencement Grad Fair event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Geil Lounge on the lower level of the student center. During this event, graduates will have the opportunity to place orders for caps and gowns, announcements, diploma frames, and other Commencement-related items. Click here for additional information on Wittenberg’s 2026 Commencement Exercises.
