Investor Profile: Expert Dojo — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Expert Dojo is a Santa Monica-based early-stage accelerator and venture investor with a growing India presence. It began as an accelerator that growth-hacked early companies from the ground up, and its current site presents it as a permanent holding company that also acquires and turns around discounted technology assets.

Thesis

The thesis is to back ambitious founders with real traction and global ambition, then work hands-on on customers, follow-on capital and cross-border scale. Expert Dojo says it moves fast, stays practical and remains involved long after demo day, with a focus on marketing, sales validation and distribution. Its India thesis adds geographic arbitrage: strong Indian teams, global markets and capital efficiency, rather than capital-intensive growth at any cost.

Sectors and stages

For India, Expert Dojo has targeted artificial intelligence, deep tech, cybersecurity, fintech and enterprise software as a service, at pre-seed and seed stage. Its global accelerator work is broader, covering technology companies with a product, a go-to-market strategy and high-growth potential.

Fund size and cheque size

Expert Dojo launched a $100 million global fund in 2025, with $15 million earmarked for Indian startups through a Category II alternative investment fund structure in India. For India, initial investments were reported at up to $100,000 in 20 to 25 startups in the current financial year at launch, with potential follow-on rounds of up to $1 million for companies meeting milestones over the next three years. Over two to three years, a further $30 million of India investment was discussed in launch reporting, although that should be treated as a plan, not a closed commitment.

Notable portfolio

Expert Dojo says it has made close to 30 investments in India and nearly 100 companies globally with Indian founders, and its current site reports 266 accelerator-stage investments overall. Named Indian investments in launch reporting include Bhive Workspace, Cloudworx, Consuma, Mugafi, Fudr and Doqfy. Its current site also highlights Zippee, a quick-commerce fulfilment platform in India, and BHIVE, a coworking and managed-office network in India, alongside global names such as Kredete, Matchbook and RAD Intel.

Partners and team

Expert Dojo was founded by Brian Mac Mahon, who serves as founder and managing partner. In India, the fund is led by general partner Ashutosh Kumar Jha. The current site also names Steve Brunell, Jason Petrini, Daniel Chavez, Isabelle Cloud and Nektar Baziotis among its operating team, reflecting its hands-on, operator-led model.

Programs, credits and perks

The core programme is the Expert Dojo accelerator, described in earlier reporting as an intensive programme focused on measurable growth, with marketing, growth and scale support over three years. No specific cloud-credit bundle, cash perk or guaranteed perk value was confirmed in the sources read, so founders should ask for the exact programme length, investment terms, marketing support and follow-on criteria before joining.

How to apply for funding

To understand how to get funding from Expert Dojo, prepare a traction-led pitch that shows product, go-to-market motion, sales validation and a credible path to a larger round. Earlier reporting described an open application page on the firm's site, but a current India-specific public portal was not confirmed in the sources read, so founders should verify the application route on the official site and through the India team before applying.