Sanjay Singhal
EntrepreneurPhilanthropist
Canada
Sanjay Singhal is a Canadian technology entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for founding and selling Audiobooks.com. He later created the 500 Startups Canada fund and founded the Nikean Foundation, which supports research into psychedelic approaches to mental-health treatment. [3][4][5]
Career and work
Singhal founded the audiobook businesses Simply Audiobooks and Audiobooks.com and sold Audiobooks.com in 2016. He has described the sale as a $56 million exit. [3]
He then moved into venture capital, serving as a partner with 500 Startups and helping launch its $30 million Canada fund in 2016. He has also invested in numerous early-stage companies. [4][5]
In later years, Singhal expanded into hospitality, opening Toronto venues including Coffee Oysters Champagne and Marked. He founded the Nikean Foundation in 2019 to support mental-health research, including research into psychedelic therapies. [5]
What has been publicly discussed
Sources and other resourcesExpand to view the sources used in this profile and resources to learn more.
Sources used for this profile
The following sources contain information that supports the claims made on this page.
Sanjay Singhal, Medium“Yes, I Have Bipolar Disorder” First-person essay covering Singhal’s elevated period while building a company, reduced sleep, spending, business failure, bankruptcy and subsequent depression.
Field Trip Health“#39 The Bipolar Philanthropist | Sanjay Singhal” Long-form interview in which Singhal discusses his diagnosis around age 30, initial rejection of it, lamotrigine treatment, ongoing bipolar disorder, psychedelics and mental-health stigma.
Official websiteSanjay Singhal Professional biography covering Audiobooks.com, his entrepreneurial career and subsequent work.
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500 Global“500 Startups Announces $30M Canada Fund” Documents Singhal’s role with 500 Startups Canada, his entrepreneurial background and the creation of its Canadian fund.
Toronto Metropolitan University“Generous Futures: Destigmatizing Mental Health” Professional biography covering Audiobooks.com, 500 Startups Canada, hospitality ventures and the founding of the Nikean Foundation.
CTV News“Canadian entrepreneur gifts $5 million to help create psychedelic research centre for mental health” Interview in which Singhal describes depressive periods that could leave him unable to get out of bed for three days, manic spending and his life before effective treatment as a roller coaster.
UHN Foundation“First-of-its-kind research centre will bring psychedelic psychotherapy to UHN” Documents the Nikean Foundation’s $5 million donation establishing the Nikean Psychedelic Psychotherapy Research Centre.
Learn more
Recommended books and other resources about Sanjay Singhal and their experiences.