Adith Podhar

Co-Founder

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India20 yrs experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Expert in seed investments for scalable startups.
Proven track record in private equity and investment banking.
Successful founder of a multi-city restaurant chain.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Fintech and Consumer Tech investment expert with extensive entrepreneurial experience.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

InvestmentsEntrepreneurshipFinancial AnalysisBusiness StrategyPrivate EquityInvestment BankingProduct Management

Other Skills

Alternative InvestmentsAngel InvestingBuilding RelationshipsBusiness DevelopmentBusiness Plan EvaluationBusiness Plan FormulationBusiness PlanningCompetitive AnalysisCorporate FinanceDeal ExecutionFinancial ModelingFranchise ConsultingFundraisingInvestment AnalysisInvestor Presentations

About

An Entrepreneur by heart and an investor by profession. My experience as a PE investor and as an Entrepreneur has given my unique skill sets to understand businesses and people. Currently I am the Founding Partner at Gemba Capital (www.gembacapital.in) looking at seed investments in startups based in India with a focus on companies in Fintech and Consumer Tech. Prior to this worked at Motilal Oswal PE fund (MOPE) in Mumbai. Responsibilities across the investment cycle from deal sourcing - due diligence - negotiation - execution - monitoring - exit. Prior to MOPE, I was part of a boutique investment bank for 18 months. I had started my own entrepreneurial venture called 'Crepeteria" (www.crepeteria.in) - a chain of Quick Serve Restaurant operating in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune which I ran for 4 years. I understand all aspects of running a QSR in-depth including franchise development, back/kitchen operations, opening of new stores, supply chain etc I started my career with ICICI Bank, as a product manager for PE in the International Private Banking division. Assisted a couple of PE funds in fund raising from ICICI Bank's network of relationship managers and clients based outside India. I am a foodie, amateur cook and love traveling, music and movies !

Experience

Gemba capital

Founding Partner

Jan 2018 – Present · 8 yrs 2 mos · Greater Bengaluru Area

Gemba Capital backs pre-seed and seed stage highly scalable startups. We focus on Fintech and Consumer tech startups from India. Gemba is a place where actual value is created. Products have to be unique, solving a particular purpose and differentiated. We have a non-intrusive approach and we completely believe in the entrepreneurs we have backed. An entrepreneur can think of us more as a resource and a sounding board. We are good listeners and that is a trait needed in our profession to grow. We listen because we respect.
Investments:
Insurtech
> Plum (follow-on by Tiger Global)
> Verak (acquired by Insurance Dekho)
> SureClaim (acquired by MedAssist)
Alternative Investing
> Wint Wealth (follow on by Eight Roads)
> Strata (follow on by Family offices)
> Grip invest (follow on by Anicut, Stride)
SaaS
> Zuper (follow on by Hubspot and Fuse Ventures)
> Finly (cash exit - acquired by Lockstep)
> ClickPost (follow-on by Inflexor, Athera)
> Tranzact
> Zvolv (follow on by JSW Ventures)
> Alltius
> Luru
B2B Platforms
> Showroom (follow on by Jungle)
> Shopkirana (follow on by SBI Oman India)
> Lal10 (follow on by Beyond Capital, Xander)
> Smartstaff (follow on by Arkam)
> Shoption
> Sanlayan Technologies
Fintech
> Mannjal
> Volt Money
> Mo Money
> Kredmint
> Navadhan
> SBNRI
> Finodaya Capital
> Pazy
AI
>Rendernet.ai (follow on by YC, global VCs)
Retail
>ClearDekho - Partial exit
>SleepyCat (follow on by Saama Capital)
Agritech
>Unnati (follow on by Orios)
>Krishikan
Healthcare
> NeoDocs (follow on by YC and Omidyar)
> Docube
Others
> Eternz
> MyHQ (acquired by Anarock)
> Crejo (acquired by Physicswallah)
> Lightfury

Business StrategyFinancial AnalysisInvestmentsEntrepreneurshipNegotiation

Motilal oswal private equity

Vice President - Investments

May 2013 – May 2017 · 4 yrs · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Part of the Growth Capital investing team. Multi-functional role through all the stages of the fund. The Fund II size is USD 150 mn with marquee investors like IFC and Squadron Capital. Avg. deal size of USD 8 - 15 mn. The fund is focused on investing in mid market companies driven by sustainable economic growth of India in the next decade.
Board Observer/Representative:
> Magicrete Building Solutions, Minda Industries ltd, Glass wall Systems, Dixon Technologies
Involved in 2 stellar exits:
> Dixon Technologies (exited with a MoC ~16X) &
> Minda Industries (exited with a MoC ~6X)
Besides the above have met and analysed over 50 mid size companies for investment purposes across sectors.

Financial AnalysisNegotiationInvestment BankingPrivate Equity

Cipher-plexus capital advisors

Vice President

May 2011 – May 2013 · 2 yrs · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Multi-functional role through all the stages of an early stage fund. Plexus was a family office focused on providing growth capital to SMEs and start ups in India. Our strategy is 'Invest to build' the business to create value.
Executed investment in a Lighting Solutions & Control gear company in the Energy Efficiency space and in a Permanent Modular Construction Company in India. Key skills include financial modelling and execution of deals.
Plexus Capital was later merged with Cipher Capital which operates as an investment bank focused on deal sizes larger than USD 10 mn.

Financial ModelingInvestment AnalysisDeal ExecutionInvestment Banking

Altius enterprises (crepeteria)

Founder CEO

Mar 2007 – May 2011 · 4 yrs 2 mos · Mumbai Metropolitan Region

www.crepeteria.in
Founded the company which offers International fast food varieties like Crepes, Burgers, Pastas, Salads and sandwiches. Started right from the conception of idea, making the business plan, raising seed funding from an institution, forming a team and opening of the first outlet. Developed the business model through formats like café’, kiosk, institutions and outdoor catering. Expansion of the brand 'Crepeteria' through franchisees and company owned outlets across India and abroad. Co-ordinating with different heads of department like Production, Operations, Marketing, Business Development and Franchise.

Business DevelopmentFranchise ConsultingOperations ManagementEntrepreneurship

Icici bank

Product Manager for Alternative Investments

Jul 2005 – Mar 2007 · 1 yr 8 mos · BKC, Mumbai

Worked with International Banking Group at ICICI Bank HO at BKC. Within IBG was working in the products team for International Private Banking. Was part of the team managing Alternative Investments namely Hedge Funds, Real Estate, Private Equity. I was handling Private Equity as an asset class. Have visited UK, Singapore and Middle-east for fund raising. Also created an omnibus structure for individual investors to invest in PE funds. Worked in close co-ordination with teams from MIS, operations, products, fund houses, marketing, sales and legal.

Product ManagementFundraisingAlternative Investments