Aarthi Ramamurthy Launches $20 Million Schema Ventures to Back “Outsiders” in Tech
In a bold move set to shake up traditional venture capital, technologist and entrepreneur Aarthi Ramamurthy has officially launched Schema Ventures, a new early-stage venture firm with a $20 million fund. Her mission? To back “exceptional outsider founders” — the kind of people who build from lived experience, not elite resumes.
Ramamurthy, who has worked at Meta, Netflix, and Microsoft, and co-founded successful startups, announced the fund across social platforms. But this isn’t just another tech VC story. It’s personal.
“I grew up an outsider. I moved to San Francisco and built two startups. My story — figuring it out without a roadmap — is the blueprint for Schema,” she said.
What Makes Schema Ventures Different?
Schema Ventures is designed for those building companies before the pitch decks, before the accelerator buzz, and often before they even have co-founders. It’s a back-to-basics approach to VC that favors conviction over connections.
Fund Focus:
- Stage: Pre-seed and seed
- Target sectors: Industrial software, robotics, automation, factory intelligence, logistics tech, construction, and developer tools
- Region: Global, with emphasis on underrepresented builders and real-world industries
Schema is not looking for the next crypto or social app trend. It’s hunting for founders solving gritty, overlooked problems that really matter.
Who Is Aarthi Ramamurthy?
Aarthi Ramamurthy is no stranger to building from scratch. Her journey includes:
- Founding two startups, both of which were acquired
- Leading product roles at Microsoft, Meta, and Netflix
- Co-hosting “The Good Time Show”, a viral Clubhouse series that featured guests like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg
She’s experienced the tech world from both the inside and the outside — and now she’s building a fund that gives more people a seat at the table.
Why Schema Ventures Matters Right Now
In the current funding landscape, where top-tier venture firms often chase repeat founders with elite networks, Schema Ventures is intentionally going against the grain.
Key Themes:
- Lived experience over logos: Schema values insight from personal and professional experiences over traditional credentials.
- Long-term commitment: The fund isn’t looking for fast exits. It’s seeking founders who want to build real, lasting value.
- Systemic shift: By backing outsiders, Schema is aiming to disrupt the systemic bias that still dominates venture capital.
Ramamurthy believes the best founders are often those who don’t check all the traditional boxes, but instead bring unmatched clarity and intensity to problems they’ve lived through.
What Schema Ventures Is Looking For
Schema is now actively investing in early-stage startups — sometimes before they’ve even formed a team. Ideal candidates include:
- Solo founders working on ideas born from personal experience
- Operators in “boring” industries looking to innovate through automation or AI
- Engineers, logistics managers, factory tech experts, and more
The common thread? Deep conviction and a builder mindset.
What’s Next for Schema
Schema Ventures is already engaging with early founders and building a community of underrepresented, ambitious entrepreneurs. It’s not just about writing checks — it’s about being a hands-on, first believer when few others are paying attention.
Expect Schema to:
- Announce its first cohort of investments soon
- Partner with industrial accelerators and technical communities
- Act as a voice for equity and inclusion in the venture ecosystem
Final Thoughts: Venture Capital Gets a Reality Check
In an industry where who you know often matters more than what you build, Schema Ventures is taking a refreshing, founder-first stance.
This is more than a new fund. It’s a signal that venture capital is evolving — and that those who’ve been overlooked until now may finally have their shot.
If you’ve ever been told you’re too early, too different, or not “venture-backable,” Schema Ventures just might be looking for you.
