At the 2025 Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, tech leader Aarthi Ramamurthy announced the launch of Schema Ventures, a $20 million solo general partner (GP) fund. The fund will back early-stage founders building developer tools and infrastructure software. This moment marked a major pivot in Ramamurthy’s career—from product builder and media personality to venture capitalist.
Held in Saudi Arabia for the first time, the Fortune Summit attracted over 150 powerful women from 35 countries. Notable guests included H.H. Princess Haifa Mohammed Al Saud and Adwa Al-Arifi, reflecting the nation’s progress under Vision 2030. The event underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing support for women in leadership and technology, with women now owning 45% of SMEs and making up 28% of the tech workforce—higher than Europe’s average.
Schema Ventures and the Rise of the Solo GP
Schema Ventures has strong backing from some of Silicon Valley’s most respected names. Limited partners include Marc Andreessen, Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, Elad Gil, Charlie Songhurst, Gokul Rajaram, and Lachy Groom. It also gained support from Y Combinator’s fund-of-funds, signaling trust in Ramamurthy’s vision.
In a tough funding climate, Ramamurthy’s ability to raise capital as a solo GP is no small feat. These types of funds are growing in popularity, but many still face hurdles when it comes to gaining traction. Schema Ventures breaks the mold—not just through financial strength, but also through its founder’s credibility and extensive network.
Ramamurthy’s mission with Schema Ventures is simple: to support outsiders who are building from experience, not just credentials. As she wrote on LinkedIn, “Schema backs exceptional outsiders: early-stage founders building from lived experience, not from pedigree or proximity.”
Born in Chennai, India, Ramamurthy studied computer science before moving to the U.S. to start her tech journey at Microsoft. She later led product teams at Netflix and Meta. As the founder of Lumoid, a Y Combinator startup, she created a service that let users try gadgets before they bought them—blending consumer tech with hands-on experience.
She also made a name in media. In 2020, Ramamurthy co-founded The Good Time Show with her husband Sriram Krishnan, a tech investor and AI advisor to the White House. First launched on Clubhouse, the show featured tech heavyweights like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg and helped shape public conversations about innovation.
That blend of product knowledge, startup experience, and media savvy gives Ramamurthy a rare advantage as a solo GP. She understands the builder’s journey and brings both technical insight and empathy to the table.
Schema’s Early Bets on Tech Infrastructure
Schema Ventures has already made early investments in startups across critical sectors:
- Cosmic Robotics: Automates solar panel maintenance, improving clean energy efficiency.
- Confido Health: Streamlines back-office operations in healthcare, reducing bottlenecks in clinics.
- Powerhouse: Builds modern workflow software for law firms to manage their operations more efficiently.
Rather than leading large rounds, Schema writes what Ramamurthy calls “collaborative checks.” These investments aim to offer value beyond money—by bringing product expertise, networks, and guidance to early-stage founders.
Schema’s focus on infrastructure and developer tools plays to Ramamurthy’s strengths. With her product background, she can help founders shape not only their technology but also their go-to-market strategies.
A Signal of Change for Women in VC
Schema Ventures is more than a fund; it’s a statement. Ramamurthy joins a small group of women—especially women of color—who lead their own venture firms. Her launch at a global summit filled with influential women leaders highlights a growing wave of change. Yet, the reality remains: women-led VC firms still receive only 3% of total venture funding.
With Schema, Ramamurthy is helping shift that narrative. She’s betting on people like her—builders who may lack connections or pedigree but have vision, grit, and insight.
As global leaders like Theresa May and Lubna Olayan emphasized at the summit, the world needs ethical leadership, innovation, and inclusive capital. Schema Ventures delivers all three.
