Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of Indian startups, investors play a pivotal role—not just in providing capital, but also in guiding, supporting, and standing by founders as they scale their ventures. Apoorv Gandhi, Principal at Atrium Funds – Atrium Angels, Atrium Ventures, and Consumer Collective, brings a collaborative and hands-on approach to early-stage investing.
In a candid conversation with R. Chandra of Indian Startup Times, Apoorv shared his journey—from his plans to pursue a master’s in aerospace in the US to pivoting into venture capital—his investment philosophy, and his thoughts on the future of India’s startup ecosystem.
The Journey to Venture Capital
Apoorv’s journey reflects a genuine curiosity about how things work and a deep respect for the entrepreneurial journey. What started as an early interest in aerospace gradually shifted, first through his academic grounding in manufacturing & automation engineering at NSIT, and later through hands-on experience across venture roles. His exposure to India’s early-stage investment landscape during his time at YourNest and Seedfund India laid the foundation. A key inflection point came at Invest India, where he collaborated closely with Japanese and global investors, sharpening his lens on both macro and micro-investment dynamics.
Extensive travel across Southeast Asia further shaped his worldview, offering exposure to diverse founders, markets, and investors. This cross-cultural perspective gave Apoorv a unique ability to combine technical intuition with market understanding. Utilising this understanding, he invested across sectors during his time at 3one4 Capital, one of India’s leading domestic early-stage VC funds.
Apoorv believes investing is ultimately about partnering with visionary founders to solve meaningful problems. He credits his path so far to the inspiring founders and investors he has worked with—reinforcing his conviction that building enduring companies is always a collaborative effort.
Navigating Challenges in the Indian Ecosystem
Indian startups face structural challenges: from fragmented markets to scale inefficiencies, especially in the world of quick commerce and easy switching. Given recent developments in the ecosystem, Apoorv spoke about the importance of founder adaptability and clarity in investor relationships.
He pointed out how many founders often pursue marquee names, underestimating the real value of smaller, more hands-on partners who offer long-term alignment. Especially in an environment where events like the BluSmart controversy have pushed investors to scrutinize more deeply, Apoorv highlighted that genuine founder–investor fit matters more than ever. It’s not just about raising funds—it’s about finding partners who believe in your journey before it’s obvious.
Investment Philosophy and Strategy
As an Investment Principal at Atrium Funds, Apoorv looks at three distinct yet complementary early-stage funds. Atrium Angels backs high-quality ISB alumni founders, Atrium Ventures – built by successful operators, supports early-stage tech focussed businesses (no-ISB caveat), and Consumer Collective backs the new age consumer tech, brands, and enablers building for India’s consumption story by providing not just capital but immense value and playbooks from the people involved. All 3 funds share a core belief: to invest in exceptional founders with unique insights, targeting large markets.
Their portfolio includes companies such as Ambak, Jewelbox, House of Chikankari, 91Trucks, Lissun, StockGro, Gully Labs, Cashflo, Bidso, Qila Games, and Assembly Luggage, among others.
Apoorv shared that it’s a privilege to learn from and support founders as they tackle some of the most exciting—and sometimes daunting—challenges in India’s startup ecosystem. He evaluates startups through a multifaceted lens—factoring in market viability, the founding team’s depth of understanding, execution capabilities, and real customer feedback.
He emphasized that while capital is essential, the real magic happens when investors and founders work together as partners—building trust, sharing lessons, and learning from each other.
The Road Ahead for Indian Startups
As the conversation closed, Apoorv expressed optimism about the road ahead, while acknowledging that the journey won’t always be easy. He highlighted that the ecosystem’s diversity—across founders, ideas, and markets—requires investors to remain curious, open-minded, and ready to support founders through every stage of the journey.
With a broader founder base, more capital access, and a robust ecosystem of enablers, India is entering a new phase of entrepreneurial growth.
He encouraged founders to stay close to their customers, build patiently, and seek capital that aligns with their values, not just valuation.
Conclusion
Apoorv Gandhi’s trajectory—from engineering roots to building conviction in venture investing—mirrors the evolving role of investors in India: no longer just capital allocators, but long-term collaborators.
With initiatives like Indian Startup Times and voices like Apoorv’s amplifying real founder stories, one thing is certain— India’s startup story is just beginning, and everyone—founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers—has a role to play.
