Are You A Budding Entrepreneurs? Here is $20M Fund Launched to Support You

In a world where startup success often feels reserved for the Ivy League-educated, well-networked elite, Aarthi Ramamurthy stands as a refreshing outlier. An engineer turned founder, turned product leader at some of the world's biggest tech giants—Microsoft, Netflix, and Meta—Aarthi has now transitioned into a bold new role: a venture capitalist backing the next generation of what she calls “exceptional outsiders.”

On Wednesday, Aarthi announced the launch of Schema Ventures, a new $20 million early-stage fund focused on industrial software, workflow intelligence, and developer tools and infrastructure. The fund aims to back unconventional founders—those who may not have flashy resumes, high-profile connections, or even co-founders yet—but have a strong conviction and technical insight.

“I grew up an outsider. I moved to San Francisco, built two startups, and shipped products at Microsoft, Netflix, and Meta. My story—figuring it out without a roadmap—is the blueprint for Schema,” she shared on LinkedIn.

Backed by a powerhouse syndicate of investors including Gokul Rajaram (former Google executive), angel investor Elad Gil, Marc Andreessen (co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz), and even Y Combinator’s fund of funds, Schema Ventures is already making waves in the tight-knit world of VC.

Breaking the Mold in Venture Capital

The venture capital space is often criticised for being insular. Too often, founders without elite backgrounds or access to investor circles find themselves shut out—even when they have transformative ideas. Aarthi, through Schema, aims to fill this gap by backing visionary entrepreneurs who are building from lived experience rather than legacy.

“Sometimes there’s no pitch deck yet, no co-founder, no capital — just conviction and technical insight. That’s where we come in,” Aarthi explained.

This commitment is more than just words. Schema is looking to invest in companies at the most nascent stages—when the idea is raw, unpolished, and often overlooked by traditional VCs. It’s a direct response to a widely-felt pain point in the startup ecosystem: access.

While some critics argue that the market is already flooded with too many funds, Aarthi offers a different perspective. Speaking at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, she challenged the narrative. “Founders would argue that there is a gap,” she said. Schema Ventures, she believes, is uniquely positioned to address this.

From Building Products to Building Futures

Aarthi’s own entrepreneurial journey provides valuable context for Schema’s mission.

Born and raised in India, she moved to the U.S. without a roadmap. She built and exited startups, climbed the product leadership ladder at some of the most influential tech companies in the world, and, along the way, became a trusted voice in the tech ecosystem through her podcast The Aarthi and Sriram Show, which she co-hosts with her husband Sriram Krishnan—a senior White House Policy Advisor on AI and a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz.

This trajectory, from engineer to entrepreneur to corporate leader to investor, is not just impressive—it’s rare. And it gives Aarthi a unique vantage point.

She understands the emotional and operational hurdles of starting from scratch. She knows what it’s like to walk into rooms where no one looks like you. And now, she wants to empower others who are walking that same path.

Why This Matters to Indian and Global Startups

The Indian startup ecosystem, known for its grit and innovation, is increasingly producing founders who fit Aarthi’s definition of “exceptional outsiders.” These are founders who may have bootstrapped from Tier-2 cities, faced rejections, lacked elite pedigrees—but possess deep domain expertise and a relentless drive.

Funds like Schema Ventures could be pivotal for these founders—especially those building developer tools or industrial software solutions that require long gestation periods and patient capital.

With global networks, strong backers, and a philosophy rooted in real empathy, Schema Ventures could very well become a game-changer not just for Silicon Valley, but also for emerging startup hubs like India, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Backing Belief Before Proof

In today’s hyper-competitive startup ecosystem, data and traction often precede funding. But Schema flips that narrative—choosing to back belief and brilliance before the world catches on.

This philosophy could unlock opportunities for a new kind of founder—those who are crafting their ventures from garages and co-working spaces, armed not with pitch decks but with purpose.

And as Aarthi Ramamurthy puts her money where her mission is, one thing is clear: the era of the unconventional founder is here. And Schema Ventures is ready to write the first check.

In a system that often rewards the privileged, Schema is betting on the persistent. The world of venture capital might finally be opening its doors a little wider—and for many aspiring founders, that could make all the difference.