Interview with Yashwanth Hemaraj - Arka Venture Labs

In this week’s interview, Yashwanth Hemaraj, Founder and GP at Arka Venture Labs, shares how the firm is empowering a new generation of India-born enterprise startups to scale globally, with a focus on the U.S. and Western Europe. Arka’s “Enterprise 5.0” thesis targets early-stage B2B companies built around AI, automation, and data. With a strong presence in both India and Silicon Valley, the firm offers founders structured go-to-market playbooks, deep operational support, and access to curated global networks. Yash highlights Arka’s India–U.S. model, rooted in its backing by BGV, and reflects on the success of their debut fund—32 investments, 9 exits, and nearly 40% of capital returned to LPs. He also discusses Fund II, Arka’s LP base (ranging from family offices to corporates), and their lean fund operations via platforms like AngelList. The conversation underscores Arka’s distinctive position at the intersection of Indian innovation and global enterprise demand.