Transforming Artha venture fund’s investor pitch through storytelling
February 3, 2025 | 3 min read
The situation
In 2018, Artha Venture Fund (AVF) launched its maiden Micro VC fund to back early-stage startups, from seed to Series A. Led by Managing Partner Anirudh A Damani, AVF was among the first Micro VC funds in India, bringing a new focus on high-growth startups at their critical early stages.
Anirudh A Damani brought a solid foundation of experience to AVF, with seven years of investing through his family office, Artha India Ventures. His portfolio spanned over 70 startups, including notable names like OYO, Purplle, Interstellar, Exotel, Tala, and Rapido.
As a Category I Alternative Investment Fund, AVF achieved its first close at INR 40 crore in July 2018, followed by a second close at INR 100 crore in July 2019. By April 2020, AVF aimed for a final close of INR 200 crore.
However, to reach this goal, AVF needed to extend its investor base to include family offices and high-net-worth individuals beyond its initial network. Despite a strong performance and credible track record, progress toward this target was slower than anticipated. The challenge lay in an investor pitch that didn’t fully capture the essence of AVF’s story or its unique value proposition, making it difficult to attract and engage this new audience effectively.
That’s where we were brought in.
The Qcept approach
Qcept Presentations stepped in to bring clarity and cohesion to AVF’s investor pitch. Our team conducted a thorough analysis of AVF’s existing materials, identifying key areas for improvement: the narrative lacked a compelling story, the slides were difficult to read, and the information flow felt disjointed. We realized that if AVF could articulate why it supports the startups it does, and how these investments translate into success, it would create a powerful impact on potential investors.
Our approach focused on refining the presentation by crafting a concise, engaging narrative. We emphasized AVF’s unique strengths, investment philosophy, and proven track record, building a clear and compelling message that resonated with investors. This clarity facilitated shorter, more impactful conversations and helped accelerate the closing process.
The outcome
In June 2021, Artha Venture Fund successfully closed its maiden venture capital fund at INR 225 crore, 25 crore above its initial target of INR 200 crore. This capital was subsequently invested in 31 promising startups over the following years.
Our collaboration with AVF on this critical milestone solidified our role as their trusted partner. Since September 2020, we have supported over 30 of AVF’s portfolio companies, as well as other startups referred by Anirudh Damani, helping them craft their presentations to attract additional funding and strategic partnerships.
Nitin expertly curated the visual aesthetics of our presentation while also playing a pivotal role in refining our storyline and pitch. His profound understanding of our message allowed him to construct a cohesive narrative, seamlessly aligning the presentation’s structure with our objectives.
Anirudh A Damani
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