CEO-in-Residence

CEO-in-Residence (CIR): Artha Quest Fund Location: Mumbai (Full-time, Onsite, No Remote Option) Duration: 3 to 4 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…