Arete Ventures

12/31/2025

Capital structures don’t usually fail overnight — they fail quietly.

Our Managing Partner, Gaurav Shah, was recently featured on Featured.com sharing real-world lessons on why capital stack design often becomes the hidden bottleneck to growth and value creation, and how operators fix it from the inside.

The article draws on hands-on experience with boards and portfolio leadership teams across industrial and cross-border businesses.

Read it here:
https://www.blog.featured.com/why-most-capital-stack-designs-fail-and-how-operators-fix-them

The Silent Failure In my twenty years of experience in private and public investment, I have often seen a financial flaw exposed by reality. It starts when a board member asks a simple question about the capital structure, such as, “What’s the liquidity trigger?” The CFO pauses, realizing the ...

12/08/2025

Pleased to share that Arete Ventures was featured in BlockTelegraph, offering insights on where blockchain innovation is headed next.

Read the feature here:
https://blocktelegraph.io/the-future-of-blockchain-experts-predictions/

We continue supporting investors and operators working to turn emerging technology into real-world impact and enterprise growth.

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12/07/2025

Entrepreneurship comes with tough resets and humbling lessons. We recently shared one of ours in TechBullion — a reminder that documenting failures isn’t about reflection, it’s about building institutional memory.

We’re thankful to contribute to conversations that help leaders navigate uncertainty with clarity.

Overcoming Setbacks: 18 Entrepreneurs Share Coping Strategies Setbacks hit every founder, but recovery can be systematic, not guesswork. This piece shares clear, field-tested tactics and candid insights from entrepreneurs and experts in the field. Expect quick, usable steps to turn stalls into stead...

12/07/2025

We had the opportunity to contribute expert insights to a recent TechBullion piece on how fintech is transforming financial reporting for CFOs and institutional operators. The evolution from static reporting to real-time pattern analysis is something we see reshaping capital allocation and risk visibility in a meaningful way.

If you’d like to read the full article, here is the link:

15 Ways Fintech Revolutionizes Financial Reporting: Expert Insights Financial reporting is changing fast as fintech reshapes how data is captured, analyzed, and acted on. This article features practical insights from leading finance and fintech experts. Expect clear takeaways on cash visibility, for...

11/21/2025

Financial Tech Times recently featured a quote from our Managing Partner, Gaurav Shah, in an article discussing the real-world challenges investors face in impact investing.

Gaurav shared why rigorous impact diligence matters just as much as financial diligence — especially as the sector grows and more founders enter the space with ambitious sustainability claims.

Here’s the article if you’d like to take a look:
https://financialtechtimes.com/overcoming-challenges-in-impact-investing-insights/

Always great to see our team contributing to conversations shaping the future of investing and sustainability.

Impact investing promises both financial returns and positive social change, but measuring real outcomes remains complex. This article gathers practical

02/09/2022

Excited to be a jury member for Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups from across the globe on 10th Feb, 2022.

Please join us in this event if you would like to hear their pitches and investors feedback. Top investment firms from across the globe will be carefully evaluating the best AI startup for potential venture capital investments.

08/18/2021

Best-selected startups from the region will be pitching to a wide network of international VCs
Join the contest to meet your potential investor! 📍https://battle.startup.network/events/437662/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2021Q4MENAMainAnnounce

If you are a startup with an outstanding solution and seeking fundraising - you’re in the right place and time. Pitching events are one of the most popular places for investors to look for the next deals to the portfolio.

The best VCs from all over the globe are going to join the event to share their experience with inspiring founders.
⭐Alexander Soroka, CEO and Founder of Startup.Network
⭐ Gaurav Shah, Managing Partner at Arete Ventures
⭐Steven Yung 戎子江, Managing Partner at Glocal LLC, Board Director at TNG
⭐John Kojiro Moriwaka, Director of Startup Grind Fukuoka, Mentor at 500 Startups
⭐Burak Günsev, Managing Partner at Boğaziçi Ventures, Co-founder at ininal
and many other experienced professionals!

07/30/2021

The first Unicorn Battle in Autumn Season will be focused on the Asian region. We welcome great startups to join our event to connect with amazing VCs and business angels. They join our event in search of fresh ideas for their portfolio.

Don’t miss your chance to pitch to a wide network of international VCs. Check more details here
📍 https://battle.startup.network/events/437660/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2021Q4AsiaAnnounce

Meet our Expert Board, who is going to evaluate startups on the upcoming battle
⭐️ Alexander Soroka, CEO and Founder of Startup.Network
⭐️ Umair Sheikh, Founder&CEO, mKhata/Arazi Ventures, Director (Pakistan), Founder Institute
⭐️ Marat Tolibayev, Founder of the investment holding Activat
⭐️ Gaurav Shah, Managing Partner at Arete Ventures
⭐️ Nirjhor Rahman, CEO at Bangladesh Angels
and many more exciting professionals!

07/14/2021

Set up your reminders! The Unicorn Cup Finals is extremely close! Our official judges are looking forward to meeting with the startups, who were able to overcome 9 other pre-selected regional contestants. Our juries will ensure the first place will be assigned to the best one!

⭐Marat Tolibayev, Founder of the investment holding Activat and the head of the closed investor club Pragmatic
⭐Guillaume Kloof, Managing Partner at Valley Date Venture Partners
⭐Gaurav Shah, Managing Partner at Arete Ventures
⭐Jim Thomas, Partner at Kirenaga Partners
⭐Nirjhor Rahman, CEO at Bangladesh Angels
⭐Kelly Luo, Founder at Mans International

Last call to join us as a guest and be ready to be astonished by the solutions of the TOP startups all over the world
📍https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unicorn-cup-finals-summer-2021-tickets-158094100711?aff=OfficialJudgeswithJimThomas
All guests will be admitted in a direct networking with our Expert Board

See the details of the event
🔎https://battle.startup.network/events/435214/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2021q3Cup_OfficialJudgeswithJimThomas

07/06/2021

Welcome our distinguished judges, who join the upcoming Unicorn Battle in Asia as official judges.

⭐️ Alexander Soroka, CEO and Founder of Startup.Network
⭐️ Umair Sheikh, Founder&CEO, mKhata/Arazi Ventures, Director (Pakistan), Founder Institute
⭐️ Marat Tolibayev, Founder of the investment holding Activat
⭐️ Gaurav Shah, Managing Partner at Arete Ventures
⭐️ Nirjhor Rahman, CEO at Bangladesh Angels


Wanna jump into the discussion with our VCs? Join us as a guest and be an active participant in the networking session.
📍https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unicorn-battle-asia-tickets-153875266063?aff=OfficialJudges

See the details of the event and full list of Expert Board 🔎https://battle.startup.network/events/433699/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2021q3Asia_OfiicialJudges

06/29/2021

See how unicorns are born!

We are excited to inform that Startup.Network is organizing the last event in the SUMMER season of the Unicorn Cup – world's largest startup pitch contest where famous international VCs meet extraordinary startups from all over the world.

You are invited to join the upcoming:

● Unicorn Battle in Asia, 6th July, 2021

The winner of the event will be presenting the region in the Unicorn CUP Finals on July 15, 2021.

We welcome startups from any industry.

Stage – from MVP.

Register as a Startup if you have a solution that can turn the world around and are ready to present a prototype to industry experts.

Find investments and showcase your startup to the international community – PITCH FOR FREE!

🔥Only 24 hours left for submitting the applications of the Unicorn Battle Asia.

Pitching events are among one of the best ways for reaching VCs. Catch the last train in the summer season – meet your potential investors online!

Apply now and be among the awardees who have already raised $296 million

📍https://bit.ly/3uqSlhd


See you on July 6th, 2021!

Welcome to the online Unicorn Battle Asia – part of the World Largest Startup Pitch Contest where famous international VCs and Business Angels meet extraordinary startups from all over the world!

04/09/2021

Just look at our expert board: so remarkable judges are gathered to evaluate startups from the MENA region on April 15!

🌟Ruchi Dana, MD, MBA, Partner and Executive Board Member at DANA Group
🌟Leesa Soulodre, General Partner at R3i Ventures
🌟Rico P., Co-founder at Sanctum Ventures
🌟Mayuresh Raut, Co-founder & Managing Partner at SEA Fund
🌟Subrata Patra, Venture Partner at ah! Ventures
🌟Nirjhor Rahman, CEO at Bangladesh Angels
🌟Gaurav Shah, Managing Partner at Arete Ventures
🌟Gary Fowler, CEO, President and Co-founder of GSD Venture Studios
🌟Kivilcim Cayli, MBA, Managing Partner at Pareto Ventures
🌟Keith Herman, Founder of IPA Equities
🌟Edward Chin, Managing Partner at SEATech Ventures Corp.
🌟Saul Orbach, Founder and Managing Director of The Elul Funds
🌟Jake Booker, Investment Associate at Investible
🌟John Kojiro Moriwaka, Director of Startup Grind Fukuoka
🌟Angelo Burgarello, Business Development Director at AI Startup Incubator

The deadline for startups’ applications is April 10. Hurry up to be presented to famous VCs!
https://battle.startup.network/events/430324/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=judjesMENA2

Networking tickets for guests👇
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unicorn-battle-middle-east-africa-tickets-141950958137?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=judjesMENA2