Principal – Artha Quest Fund

Artha Group; Mumbai; On-site; INR 3,600,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Carry participation

Performance bonus

Retention bonus

Fixed salary

Job summary

Artha Group is expanding its leadership team for the Artha Quest Fund, a pathway-driven opportunity to back ambitious searchers who acquire and operate mid-sized businesses. The Principal will supervise end-to-end buy-side execution, governance, and exit readiness across a diversified portfolio.

The role demands 7–10 years in PE/IB/M&A, with a track record in founder-led deals and exposure to ₹80–250 crore transactions.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, or M&A.
• Demonstrated end-to-end buy-side deal execution.
• Track record with founder-led or family-owned business transactions.
• Direct exposure to the ₹80–250 crore acquisition range preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate high-potential searchers.
• Lead end-to-end buy-side execution and investment theses.
• Advise operators post-acquisition on performance and governance.
• Drive fund-building activities: IC, LP reporting, and internal systems.
• Own and drive exit strategy development and execution for all portfolio acquisitions.

Skills

Private equity

Investment banking

M&A

End-to-end deal execution

Portfolio governance

Job description

Artha Group is a performance-first investment house managing ₹2,300 crores across domestic and international investment vehicles, including Category I & II AIFs, LLPs, and Private Limited companies. With active investments in 130+ startups, with 32+ successful exits, and 10+ renewable energy projects. We operate at the convergence of capital precision and operational depth.

About Artha Quest Fund

Artha Quest Fund is India’s first institutional platform dedicated to backing searchers—entrepreneurs who acquire and operate succession-ready, mid-sized businesses in the ₹80–250 crore valuation range.

We provide capital, playbooks, and strategic support to help operators take ownership, transform companies, and build lasting value. The fund will deploy into 20–30 searchers, leading to 8–10 high-conviction acquisitions over the next three years.

Each investment is expected to deliver a full-cycle outcome—including acquisition, scale, and exit. The Principal will be accountable for supporting and driving exit readiness and execution across the portfolio.

Role Overview

This is a full-stack investing role for a Principal ready to step into leadership.

You will:

• Identify and evaluate high-potential searchers
• Support thesis creation and target sourcing
• Lead end-to-end buy-side execution
• Advise operators post-acquisition on performance and governance
• Drive fund-building activities: IC, LP reporting, and internal systems
• Own and drive exit strategy development and execution for all fund acquisitions

This is a pathway to Managing Partner for someone who proves capital judgment, operator alignment, and institutional ownership.

Key Responsibilities

Searcher Evaluation & Selection

• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of credible, entrepreneurial searchers
• Lead structured assessments using Artha’s SCOUT^E evaluation framework
• Support investment memos and IC presentations

Deal Sourcing & Execution

• Co-develop acquisition theses across sectors with selected searchers
• Support company sourcing, evaluation, and founder discussions
• Lead buy-side diligence, valuation, structuring, and negotiation
• Partner with operators on business scaling, governance, KPI systems
• Monitor performance milestones and help problem-solve real-time challenges
• Support exits, follow-on rounds, and board strategy

Fund Operations & LP Engagement

• Lead investor updates, quarterly performance reports, and dashboards
• Build repeatable systems for IC, legal, and compliance workflows
• Contribute to LP communications and future fund design

Experience Required:

• 7–10 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, or M&A
• Demonstrated end-to-end buy-side deal execution
• Track record with founder-led or family-owned business transactions
• Direct exposure to the ₹80–250 crore acquisition range preferred

Preferred Backgrounds:

• Top-tier fund, family office, or M&A practice
• Experience working with operators or portfolio CEOs post-deal
• Bonus: experience with SME turnarounds, succession transitions, or operator investing
• Highly structured, no-excuses executor
• Comfortable with ambiguity and high accountability
• Ambitious, entrepreneurial, and long-term oriented
• Deep sense of judgment and trust-building with founders and investors

Compensation: 45,00,000 per annum

• ₹36,00,000 fixed annual salary
• ₹4,00,000 confirmed annual retention bonus
• Performance bonus (based on portfolio success and personal execution)
• Carry participation in the fund (disclosed during the final interview stage)

Important:

Compensation is fixed and not negotiable.

All upside is based on execution, through performance bonuses and carry.