Scout Program
Gemba Capital’s Scout Program is an open, part‑time track that turns well‑connected founders, operators, angels and community builders into the fund’s extended eyes and ears. Scouts use their local insight to surface high‑potential Indian startups that match the firm’s thesis—capital‑efficient, technology‑first companies addressing large markets at pre‑seed or seed stage.
Once accepted, scouts sign a standard carry agreement and complete a short onboarding that explains Gemba’s investment filters, preferred metrics, diligence templates and the internal Airtable pipeline. Thereafter they operate autonomously: identifying founders, collecting basic data points and sharing deals via a lightweight online form. Every qualified lead receives partner feedback, giving scouts an inside view of how term‑sheets are shaped and decisions are made.
Learning is “on‑demand”. A monthly Zoom call with the investment team unpacks live cases and market trends; ad‑hoc Slack channels connect scouts to portfolio CEOs for sector deep dives and hiring requests. Quarterly meet‑ups in Bengaluru or on Zoom bring the broader network together for workshops and portfolio demos. Throughout the year scouts also gain access to invite‑only founder dinners and Gemba’s internal resource library of pitch decks, cohort benchmarks and vendor discounts.
Incentives are straightforward: for each investment that closes because of a scout’s introduction, the scout receives a predetermined share of Gemba Capital’s GP carry in that deal. There are no quotas, fees or lock‑ups—scouts choose how much time to commit and can exit at any point after giving written notice.
Join the Superscout community!
🌍 Meet other scouts globally.
👀 Get first dibs on new scout programs and VC openings.
✨ Get feedback and investor recommendations for your deal memos.
✌️ Learn and grow together as a community!
Applications are accepted year‑round via a short Google form requesting background, focus areas and two recent startup referrals. The investment team reviews submissions on a rolling basis, conducts a brief Zoom interview and issues onboarding paperwork within two weeks for successful candidates.
Gemba shares a fixed percentage of its GP carried‑interest in every deal that originates from a scout’s introduction. Carry is documented in a side‑letter at onboarding and pays out pro‑rata when the fund realises returns. There is no salary, retainer or equity claw‑back, and scouts keep any angel allocation they negotiate directly with founders.
The program charges no tuition or platform fees. Gemba covers software licences for deal tracking and the cost of official community events; scouts only fund personal travel if they choose to attend in‑person meet‑ups.
The program is self‑paced. Most scouts dedicate 3‑5 hours per week to founder outreach, initial calls and monthly learning sessions while continuing their full‑time roles.
All sourcing, submissions and feedback happen online; optional in‑person gatherings are hosted quarterly in major Indian tech hubs.
How do scouts get paid?
Carry is assigned at deal close and paid out when the fund realises returns; there is no salary.
Is the program exclusive?
No. Scouts may work with other funds provided conflicts are disclosed.
Do I need prior VC experience?
No. A strong founder network and curiosity about early‑stage investing are the main requirements.
Are there minimum deal quotas?
No quotas, but scouts who remain inactive for six months may be off‑boarded.
Can I invest personally?
Yes, subject to founder consent and conflict‑of‑interest guidelines.
What sectors does Gemba prefer?
Capital‑efficient B2B or consumer tech with large addressable markets—fintech, SaaS, marketplaces and climate tech.
Is there any cost to join?
None. The program is completely free.
How long is the commitment?
Initial term is 12 months with an option to renew annually.
Will Gemba hire fellows full‑time?
High‑performing scouts may be invited to apply for venture‑partner or investment‑associate roles.
Do I have to attend the quarterly meet‑ups?
Participation is encouraged but not mandatory; all content is streamed.
How quickly will my application be reviewed?
Most applicants receive an answer within two weeks of submission.
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