Ashutosh Kumar Jha
General Partner & CEO at Expert Dojo Ventures
Scaling global portfolio companies and cultivating relationships between founders and investors through the Harvard alumni network.
Intro
I'm Ashutosh Kumar Jha, the General Partner and CEO at Expert Dojo Ventures. My journey began in the tech trenches as a founder, where I built India's first online cement platform, cemX. Today, I oversee a portfolio of over 260 companies, moving away from the 'spectator' VC model toward being a true 'operator VC.' I'm passionate about challenging the industry's acceptance of high failure rates and instead focusing on battle-tested execution and infrastructure. I'm currently focused on scaling fintech and consumer goods platforms while scouting for top-tier talent to lead our portfolio companies. Whether it's discussing the Indian startup ecosystem or exploring cross-border remittance, I'm here to build genuine value and help founders roll up their sleeves and scale.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Operational support for startups
- ›Venture capital insights
- ›Strategic M&A advice
- ›Access to the Harvard alumni network
What I'm looking for
- ›High-level operators (CEOs/COOs) for portfolio companies
- ›M&A opportunities with early-stage fintech teams
- ›Global investors for wealth creation opportunities
Best fit for
Focus
Current interests
Core competencies
Background
Career
Transitioned from a tech founder (cemX) to a venture capitalist, rising from Senior Venture Associate to CEO and General Partner at Expert Dojo within two years.
Education
Harvard University (Harvard Innovation Labs/Alumni Entrepreneurs); Institute of Engineering & Management (Computer Science).
Achievements
- ›Oversees a portfolio of 266 companies at Expert Dojo
- ›Founded India’s first online cement platform (cemX)
- ›Selected for VC University Cohort 14 with a 100% scholarship
- ›Built 'Getscholarship', an AI-enabled platform for international studies
Opinions
- The best investors are former founders who provide 'battle-tested' operational support.
- VCs should be held accountable for helping a higher percentage of their portfolio scale rather than accepting a 90% failure rate.
- The ecosystem over-celebrates exits and under-values consistent execution.
Personality
Communication style
Provocative, action-oriented, and direct. Uses a 'challenger' narrative to question industry norms.
Formality — 7/10
Vocabulary