CEO-in-Residence

CEO-in-Residence (CIR): Artha Quest Fund

Location: Mumbai (Full-time, Onsite, No Remote Option)

Duration: 4 to 5 Months

Experience Required: 8 to 10 Years

About Artha & The Quest Fund

Artha Group is a performance-first investment house managing ₹2,700+ crores across domestic and global platforms. With investments in 140+ startups, 35+ exits, and a growing cross-border footprint, Artha blends high-conviction capital with deep operational involvement.

Artha Quest Fund (AQF) is our Search Fund platform, a first-of-its-kind program built to back operators who are ready to transition into ownership. Through a structured CEO-in-Residence program, we select seasoned operators, test them against real deals, and back the ones who earn it to identify, acquire, and scale Indian MSMEs as owner CEOs.

Role Overview: CEO-in-Residence (CIR)

This is not a job. It is a selection.

Most professionals talk about owning a business one day. Very few step forward when the path is put in front of them. This program exists for the ones who do.

Over a structured 100 to 120 day core program, you will train directly under Artha's Partners and Principal, with a dedicated mentor challenging your thesis at every stage. You will learn to think like a buyer, act like an owner, and build the record of a CEO in waiting. Every phase is measured. Every gate must be earned.

If you are looking for a designation, a salary, or a soft landing, stop reading. If you have spent years running someone else's business and are ready to command your own, keep going.

What you'll actually do:

Master the fundamentals: Study the Search Fund and ETA model end-to-end through a curated reading list and real-world case studies, then run your first investment case study.

Build your thesis: Start with a shortlist of sector themes, narrow it to your top picks, and commit to one primary and one secondary theme, then define the acquisition criteria (target EBITDA, deal size, structure) you'll search against.

Get real operating exposure: Shadow day-to-day operations across Artha's portfolio companies, contributing to live performance-improvement plans and financial models.

Learn Indian deal mechanics: Work through share-purchase vs. slump-sale structuring, debt and financing options (bank lending, NBFC, MSME schemes), and diligence practices specific to Indian MSMEs.

Launch your Search: Work with Artha's leadership team to stand up your own Search entity, then build your 100-day sourcing and outreach plan.

Get investor-ready: Sharpen your Search thesis through regular Partner reviews, build your investor long-list, outreach materials, and data room, and pitch at Demo Day in front of Artha's Investment Committee and global investors.

Complete the program and you will have built the foundation to defend your thesis, pitch for search capital, and step into command of an acquired enterprise. Nothing here is promised. Everything is earned.

Program Structure

Phase 1: Foundation. From Operator to Owner

Master the fundamentals of ETA and Search Funds

Deep-dive into international playbooks and Indian adaptations

Work through live search fund case studies: what worked and what did not

Phase 2: Immersion. Inside a Live Portfolio

Shadow Artha's portfolio operations and sit in on live deal calls

Take assignments across portfolio companies on growth and value creation

Build and stress-test financial models with real-world data

Phase 3: Thesis. Finding Your Sector

Narrow a shortlist of sector themes down to your highest-conviction picks

Build deep-dive theses covering market sizing, value chain, and transaction multiples

Defend each thesis to a dedicated industry mentor and Artha's Partners

Phase 4: Mechanics. Building the Vehicle

Learn Indian deal mechanics: structuring, financing, legal, tax, diligence

Frame your acquisition criteria and sourcing thesis

Incorporate your Search entity with our legal and ops team

Phase 5: Launch. Get Funded, Get Searching

Present your Search strategy to Artha's Investment Committee

Build your investor long-list, outreach materials, and data room

Present your 100-day sourcing plan, culminating in Demo Day

Who We're Looking For

We do not screen for enthusiasm. We screen for evidence.

Must-Have Experience

8 to 10 years of full-time professional experience

Direct P&L ownership, business leadership, or operating roles

Exposure to investment banking, M&A, private equity, or strategic consulting

Strong analytical, financial, and communication skills

Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred

Ideal Candidate Profile

Former founders or C-level leaders at fast-scaling businesses

Individuals who’ve run business units, functions, or companies

Experience in conducting or managing due diligence

Proven ability to operate with autonomy, discipline, and velocity

Deep curiosity about MSMEs, value investing, and operational scale

Non-Negotiables

Full-time onsite presence in Artha’s Mumbai office

Strong bias toward ownership, structured thinking, and sharp communication

If either of these gives you pause, do not apply

The Stipend

A stipend of ₹1,25,000 paid at the end of each 30 day cycle

The program runs for 4 to 5 months.

If selected post-program, you may be funded to launch your Search entity

The stipend covers the training. The prize is ownership. If the number is what draws you, this is not your program