There are plenty of funds that call themselves "founder-first". Venturi Partners is one of the few that built its entire operating model around the claim. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Singapore, Venturi is a consumer-focused growth equity platform that invests exclusively in consumer brands across India and Southeast Asia — "consumer and nothing but consumer, it's all we do", as the firm's own site puts it.
The thesis is deliberately narrow and deliberately hands-on. Venturi backs Series B to D stage companies that have found product-market fit and are ready to scale: disruptive, purpose-driven brands riding structural tailwinds such as rising consumer spending and favourable demographics. Cheque sizes run from $15 million to $40 million, with a concentrated portfolio of about ten companies per fund — and limited partners can co-invest alongside the main fund on a 1:1 basis.
The numbers tell the story of a firm scaling fast. Venturi closed its debut Fund I at $180 million in June 2022, backed by prominent European and Asian families including Frédéric de Mévius (of the AB InBev family) and the listed Belgian investment company Ackermans & van Haaren. In March 2025 it launched Fund II, targeting $225 million with a $250 million hard cap — and marked a $150 million first close in September 2025, with the final close expected by June 2026. Roughly 70% of Fund I's capital has been deployed in India, the remainder in Southeast Asia.
Fund I's portfolio reads like a cross-section of Asia's new consumer economy: home-interiors leader Livspace, dairy subscription major Country Delight, halal beauty brand Believe, Philippines coffee chain Pickup Coffee, hard-discount retailer DALI, school operator K-12 Techno Services and sports-footwear brand JQR.
The team blends investing and operating DNA. Founder and Managing Partner Nicholas Cator and Managing Partner Rishika Chandan lead the firm, with Sarvesh Nevatia as Managing Director and Lauren Burns as Partner and COO. Venturi's pitch to founders is the "Venturi Effect": true sparring partners who have sat on the founder's side of the table, working inside portfolio companies on operations rather than watching from the boardroom. The firm also partners with foundations in India and Southeast Asia on education, social mobility and environmental sustainability — with women's empowerment and reforestation among its first commitments.
Why it matters for founders
If you are building a consumer brand in India at Series B or beyond, Venturi is one of the most specialised growth partners on the table. Its consumer-only focus means you are talking to people who have scaled brands before, not generalists learning your category. With Fund II's $225 million now deploying at cheques of $15–40 million, the capital is live — but expect a partner that rolls up its sleeves inside your business, not just your cap table.