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Original Capital
Sumeet Gajri and Ramnik Arora's early-stage firm partners before incorporation, refuses board seats, and trades lower ownership for cap-table influence.
Original Capital
Original Capital is an SEC-registered investment adviser, established in 2024.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2016
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, CA, United States
Principals
Sumeet Gajri
Co-Founder
Ramnik Arora
Co-Founder
James McGillicuddy
Venture Partner
Kais Khimji
Venture Partner
Ryan Snow
Finance
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Original Capital?
Co-founders Sumeet Gajri and Ramnik Arora set the firm's investment strategy and lead deal decisions. Gajri brings a track record from Insight Partners and Carta, while Arora's background spans Meta and FTX, where he led FTX Ventures. Venture partners James McGillicuddy and Kais Khimji contribute sourcing and operational support across portfolio companies.
How does Original Capital source proprietary deal flow?
The firm relies heavily on the networks its principals built as operators at Carta, FTX, and Meta, and as investors at Insight Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Index Ventures. Many partnerships — including Aven and Fireworks — began before the founders had incorporated, which the firm cites as its preferred entry point. Personal investments from venture partners further extend the sourcing radius.
Does Original Capital take board seats?
No. The firm explicitly states it does not take board seats, framing the decision as a way to remain 'founder-aligned' and to be the first call when founders face difficult operational or strategic challenges. This stance is unusual among venture firms its partners previously worked at.
What investment stages does Original Capital target?
Original Capital invests primarily at the earliest stages, often committing before a company incorporates. Its partners describe the firm as wanting to be a founder's 'first believers.' The portfolio includes pre-seed and seed-stage companies across vertical software, FinTech, AI, and Web3.
Which sectors does Original Capital explicitly focus on?
The firm's primary focus is vertical software and FinTech. In practice, its portfolio spans AI safety (Anthropic), construction technology (EquipmentShare), spend management (Ramp), consumer credit (Aven), Web3 infrastructure (Solana, LayerZero), and equity management (Carta).
What is Original Capital's posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The firm does not publicly detail a co-investment program. Its model emphasizes early, direct relationships with founders, often accepting lower ownership to help construct broad syndicates. The firm's partners have historically co-invested alongside institutions like Sequoia Capital and Insight Partners through personal investment vehicles.
Where does the firm's underlying capital come from?
Original Capital does not disclose the source of its capital base. The firm's co-founders do not attribute the fund to a single family wealth origin or a specific institutional LP base. Publicly available details describe it simply as an early-stage venture fund.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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