UVC: Aldi Adrian Hartanto from Arise, MDI Ventures on his “language of business”, why being a genius is not a prerequisite for success, and Arise’s unique model of due diligence which goes beyond a simple pitch or product idea
Understanding VC is a deep dive on how Venture Capitalists work. In this episode, I talk to Aldi Adrian Hartanto Partner at Arise, an early-stage VC fund in partnership with Telkom Indonesia-backed MDI Ventures and Bank BCA-backed Finch Capital. Aldi shares with us his knowledge about two things that are often overlooked in the early stages of startups, especially while implementing due diligence: finance and budgeting. He talks about his experience working with Japanese LPs, the kind of work ethic that they uphold. He explains his due diligence process, and how it is different from the conventional methods. In response to the question about the kind of companies he is interested in, he mentions his concept of “venture indexing”, and the ways in which it has come to replace venture investing for him. Towards the end of the conversation, Aldi shares his insights on the stereotypes attached to Corporate VCs, and the correct way for founders to find the perfect investment match for their company.
In this episode, you will find out:
- Aldi’s early real-life experiences which fanned his interest in understanding finance
- Aldi’s experience working with Japanese LPs. What are the differences and similarities between their approach in business and that of other Asian countries?
- What was the driving force which led to the establishment of Arise, a fund in limited partnership with MDI Ventures?
- How has the business of innovation evolved over the last decade? Have VCs been able to keep up with this evolution?
- Why does Aldi not endorse the “spray and pray model”? What is his alternative strategy? How is it beneficial to founders trying to raise early stage funds?
- Arise’s robust due diligence structure which ensures a business relationship based on not just trust and faith, but also facts and data.
- Aldi’s concept of “venture indexing”. How is it better than good old venture investing?
- Why should startups have a sound budgeting and finance model? How can Arise help them achieve that?
- What is Aldi’s method for filtering the best investment prospects? How is it different from the general approach of “investing in founders, not companies” which prevails in startup ecosystems?
- What is a Corporate VC? Is it the devil it is made out to be, or do we lack the conceptual understanding of how VCs operate?
- Where does Aldi see the Indonesian market a couple of decades down the line?
- What is Aldi’s personal value system which encourages him to continue his journey as a VC?
About
Aldi is the Partner at Arise, an early-stage VC fund in partnership with Telkom Indonesia-backed MDI Ventures and Bank BCA-backed Finch Capital. Arise enables the next generation of startup founders to scale up and build a real business with interesting tech in Southeast Asia.
He is also the Vice President of Investments at MDI Ventures, an $830 Million AUM Global Multi-Fund VC Firm investing in local founders. Aldi is leading the overall global investment activities to focus on seed-to-growth equity stage startups across 5 Funds and 3 Offices (ID, SG, USA) with portfolios that represent 12+ Countries including 3 Unicorns (Nium, FinAccel, and MPL) and leading Centaurs such as PayFazz (YC S17), aCommerce, SiCepat, ObserveIT (Exited to Proofpoint), Wavecell (Exited to 8x8), RDP (Exited to PayU Naspers), Whispir (IPO at ASX), and Geniee (IPO at TSE).
Prior to MDI Ventures, he was in charge of setting up, leading, executing, and managing investments of a Silicon Valley-based Venture Capital firm in the SEA region and #1 Fintech focused VC arm of Indonesia largest Corporate Lender with top SEA portfolio which includes Alodokter, Investree, Koinworks, Amartha, Bridestory (Exited to Tokopedia), Moka (Exited to Gojek), Urbanindo (Exited to 99.co) Jurnal (Exited to Mekari), Talenta (Exited to Mekari), and Cashlez (IPO at IDX).
Recently, Aldi was awarded as the only GCV Powerlist Top 100 from SEA region among other top global CVCs such as Softbank, Intel Capital, GV, M12, Naspers, Tencent Investment, and Alibaba Innovation Ventures.
Aldi Adrian Hartanto
Partner at Arise
Aldi is the Partner at Arise, an early-stage VC fund in partnership with Telkom Indonesia-backed MDI Ventures and Bank BCA-backed Finch Capital. Arise enables the next generation of startup founders to scale up and build a real business with interesting tech in Southeast Asia.
He is also the Vice President of Investments at MDI Ventures, an $830 Million AUM Global Multi-Fund VC Firm investing in local founders. Aldi is leading the overall global investment activities to focus on seed-to-growth equity stage startups across 5 Funds and 3 Offices (ID, SG, USA) with portfolios that represent 12+ Countries including 3 Unicorns (Nium, FinAccel, and MPL) and leading Centaurs such as PayFazz (YC S17), aCommerce, SiCepat, ObserveIT (Exited to Proofpoint), Wavecell (Exited to 8x8), RDP (Exited to PayU Naspers), Whispir (IPO at ASX), and Geniee (IPO at TSE).
Prior to MDI Ventures, he was in charge of setting up, leading, executing, and managing investments of a Silicon Valley-based Venture Capital firm in the SEA region and #1 Fintech focused VC arm of Indonesia largest Corporate Lender with top SEA portfolio which includes Alodokter, Investree, Koinworks, Amartha, Bridestory (Exited to Tokopedia), Moka (Exited to Gojek), Urbanindo (Exited to 99.co) Jurnal (Exited to Mekari), Talenta (Exited to Mekari), and Cashlez (IPO at IDX).
Recently, Aldi was awarded as the only GCV Powerlist Top 100 from SEA region among other top global CVCs such as Softbank, Intel Capital, GV, M12, Naspers, Tencent Investment, and Alibaba Innovation Ventures.
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