I also invest in innovative companies through my growth fund. My journey to this point has been long and challenging, and I owe much of my success to the mentors and incredible entrepreneurs who generously shared their wisdom with me.
And, of course, countless sleepless nights and persistent trial and error.
I established my innovation fund to collaborate with exceptional entrepreneurs, helping them elevate their businesses by sharing my experience and resources. Beyond financial investment, I work closely with each entrepreneur to identify growth levers in their business and implement the right processes to unlock significant revenue growth.
Each company gains access to my playbooks for product development, growth, and operations. We also hold bi-annual meetings, and you'll be invited to join a private founders' community.
Additionally, you'll get exposure through our media properties and full access to our PR team.
We never set out to become investors. When we started our business, our focus was on talking to our users, understanding their needs, and building the tools to help them succeed. This approach led to our products being getting good recognition worldwide.
As our success grew, we attracted private equity and venture capital investors, but these experiences were consistently unpleasant. Many investors didn't understand the our ecosystem. They dragged out deals for months, constantly renegotiated, and made the whole process miserable.
We found that other bootstrapped entrepreneurs shared similar frustrations:
This approach felt wrong, so we decided to create a new way. Our goal is to be the investors we wish we had when we first started out.
Our fund is exclusively supported by other founders , ensuring fast, friendly, and simple deal processes for entrepreneurs while providing exceptional care for their businesses. In addition to financial investment, we work closely with each team to refine and optimize their products and processes using our extensive experience and resources. Our portfolio companies benefit from our vast media resources and the business network weʼve built over the last two last decades.
We found that other bootstrapped entrepreneurs shared similar frustrations:
Iʼve seen Arshad grow businesses with unparalleled skill and thoughtfulness. He effortlessly breaks down complex challenges across various industries and transforms them into actionable growth opportunities. It's truly impressive to witness. Additionally, Arshad is a wonderful person, making him an exceptional partner for any entrepreneur. ONE OF AH FUNDS PORTFOLIO COMPANIES
Arshad Hisham has always excelled at tackling complex business challenges and uncovering hidden growth opportunities. His passion for innovation and expansion garnered numerous requests from experienced entrepreneurs and leaders seeking his expertise. In response, Arshad established the AH Innovation Fund, which focuses on investing in businesses that have achieved product-market fit and are ready for rapid growth.
This fund exemplifies his commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Arshad's methodology integrates a unique combination of capital, time, and networks. He believes that while capital is readily accessible, it is the networks and experience that truly drive significant impact. Due to his extensive capital commitments across various initiatives, Arshad often invests more of his time and networks, providing strategic guidance and leveraging his connections. Each investment is tailored to the specific needs of the business, ensuring that his support is both impactful and meaningful. Additionally, he invests capital in startups based on his liquidity and on a case-by-case basis.
Thorough Market Analysis: Before making any investment, Arshad conducts an exhaustive market analysis, evaluating the competitive landscape, identifying market trends, and understanding the target customer base. For instance, when assessing a SaaS company, he looks at the total addressable market, the companyʼs market share, and their competitive advantages.
Detailed Financial Assessment: Arshad examines the financial health of potential investments by analyzing revenue streams, profitability, and growth projections. He uses advanced financial modeling techniques to forecast potential returns and risks.
Founder's Vision and Team Evaluation: Arshad places a strong emphasis on the vision and capability of the founding team. He believes that the right leadership is crucial for scaling a business. An anecdote from his past investments involves a startup led by a former colleague whose vision for revolutionizing healthcare technology impressed Arshad and led to a successful partnership.
Tailored Strategic Advice: Beyond capital, Arshad offers strategic guidance tailored to each business's unique needs. He helps entrepreneurs refine their business models, optimize operational processes, and develop go-to-market strategies. For example, in a recent fintech startup investment, Arshad guided the founders on navigating regulatory challenges and scaling their customer acquisition efforts.
Leveraging Networks: Arshad uses his extensive network to connect entrepreneurs with industry experts, potential clients, and other investors. This network has been instrumental in helping startups forge key partnerships and gain market traction. An anecdote highlighting this involved a logistics startup that Arshad introduced to a major e-commerce player, leading to a significant business contract.
Providing Resources: The AH Innovation Fund offers access to a wealth of resources, including talent acquisition support, technology infrastructure, and marketing resources. Arshadʼs innovation labs, known for rapid prototyping, provide startups with the opportunity to test and validate their concepts before full-scale implementation.
Operational Support: Arshad actively participates in the operational aspects of his portfolio companies. He has been known to roll up his sleeves and work alongside startup teams to solve complex problems. A notable example is his involvement with a robotics company where he helped streamline their production processes, resulting in a 30% increase in efficiencyy
Investment and Guidance: One of the most successful partnerships of the AH Innovation Fund was with a Facilities Management startup focused on engineering and facilities management. Recognizing the startupʼs potential to revolutionize facilities management Arshad invested his time, capital, and network. He provided strategic guidance on navigating the regulatory landscape and scaling the company offerings .
Result: The firm was able to reduces costs and hit close to $10M ARR.
Initial Engagement: Arshad was approached by a cybersecurity startup with a unique offerings. The startup had achieved product-market fit but needed strategic support to scale.
Strategic Intervention: Arshad introduced the startup to key industry stakeholders, facilitating valuable partnerships.
Result: The cybersecurity company saw a rapid increase in user adoption and transaction volumes, facilitating them to hit their next milestones .
Investment Decision: A robotics company with innovative automation solutions for education caught Arshadʼs attention. He was impressed by the technology and the founderʼs vision.
Hands-On Support: Arshad provided hands-on support in optimizing manufacturing processes and scaling production capabilities. He worked closely with the team to implement lean manufacturing principles and enhance operational efficiency.
Impact: The company significantly improved its production output and reduced costs, positioning itself for substantial market growth.
The AH Innovation Fund is highly selective, partnering only with entrepreneurs who share Arshadʼs core values of integrity, innovation, and impact. He believes in building long-term relationships based on mutual trust and shared vision. This selectivity ensures that each investment aligns with Arshadʼs mission to drive meaningful change and foster sustainable growth.
Arshadʼs approach to investing goes beyond providing capital. His commitment to offering strategic guidance, resources, and execution support has transformed numerous businesses, helping them achieve their most ambitious goals. His extensive network, hands-on involvement, and unwavering dedication make him a sought-after partner for entrepreneurs looking to scale their ventures and make a significant impact.