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Avik Ashar

Investor @ Artha Venture Fund | Former Founder & Operator

Avik Ashar is a seasoned venture capital professional currently serving as a Principal at Artha Venture Fund, where he focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in the seed to Series A stages in India. He has over 12 years of experience in building and investing in businesses across various sectors.

Professional Background

  • Artha Venture Fund: As Principal, Avik is involved in shaping the fund's investment strategy and portfolio management. Artha is known for its "company-friendly" approach, which contrasts with the more common "founder-friendly" stance adopted by many VCs.12

  • Zilingo: Prior to joining Artha, he played a significant role at Zilingo, a B2B e-commerce platform, where he was responsible for scaling operations across multiple geographies. He managed a $100 million profit and loss responsibility and successfully raised $280 million for the company.12

  • Family Office Management: Avik previously ran a single-family office for the Sutariya family in Bombay, where he focused on startup investments across India and Southeast Asia. This role involved making over 22 investments from 2012 to 2017.23

  • Entrepreneurial Ventures: He also founded a SaaS startup in the auto insurance space, which has since exited.1

Education and Early Career

Avik grew up in the Middle East before moving to India for his education. He began his career in the Indian tech ecosystem and transitioned into venture capital through family office investments, marking his first investment in Singapore.2

Investment Philosophy

Avik emphasizes the importance of understanding market dynamics and maintaining compliance within startups. His insights into the evolving landscape of venture capital in India highlight the need for adaptability among investors and founders alike.12

Overall, Avik Ashar's diverse experience across investment management, operational leadership, and entrepreneurship positions him as a key figure in India's venture capital scene.

Highlights

Aug 29 · bravesea.com
Avik Ashar: Zilingo Ethical Dilemmas, India vs. Southea...
Avik Ashar: Zilingo Ethical Dilemmas, India vs. Southea...
Jul 31 · open.spotify.com
VC10X - Avik Ashar, Principal, Artha Venture Fund | Podcast on Spotify
Jul 30 · youtube.com
VCs need to keep founders in check - Avik Ashar, Principal, Artha ...
VCs need to keep founders in check - Avik Ashar, Principal, Artha ...

Related Questions

What are some of the key investments Avik Ashar has made at Artha Venture Fund?
How did Avik Ashar's experience at Zilingo shape his approach to investing?
What makes Artha Venture Fund's term sheet different from other VCs?
How does Avik Ashar balance his "company-friendly" approach with the needs of founders?
What challenges did Avik Ashar face while scaling Zilingo across different geographies?
Avik Ashar
Avik Ashar, photo 1
Avik Ashar, photo 2
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Location

Mumbai Metropolitan Region