Gemba Capital

Adith Podhar, the firm's founding partner, leads all investment decisions. He established the firm after earlier experience in the Indian venture ecosystem, operating a lean partnership model typical of solo-GP or small-partnership micro-VCs in Bengaluru.

Gemba writes pre-seed and seed-stage cheques typically between $100,000 and $250,000, positioning it as first institutional capital. The firm enters at the ideation or pre-product stage, often co-investing with angel syndicates and accelerator funds before larger VCs participate in subsequent rounds.

The core sectors are enterprise software, fintech infrastructure, and applied AI/ML, all within the Indian and cross-border Indian-founder ecosystems. Gemba targets B2B-oriented startups where technical complexity and early distribution partnerships create defensibility before a Series A.

Deal flow derives from direct founder outreach, relationships with Bengaluru-based incubators, and referrals from other pre-seed funds in the Indian micro-VC network. The firm's operational thesis revolves around early proximity to engineering talent, rather than relying on investment-bank-led introductions.

Yes. Gemba frequently co-invests in rounds alongside peers such as 100X.VC, PointOne Capital, and Artha Venture Fund. Its pre-seed position means it often anchors a syndicate that later brings in these slightly larger micro-VCs and angel networks to complete early financing rounds.