Shruti Gandhi vs Capitaly.vc: Check Size, Stage, Speed to Yes, and Founder Support Compared

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When founders search for the ideal early-stage VC backer, the Shruti Gandhi comparison to Capitaly.vc is a hot topic. Which one offers bigger checks, faster decisions, or stronger support? This guide puts Array Ventures (Shruti Gandhi’s fund) head-to-head with Capitaly.vc so you can pick the best fit. If you’re raising your seed round, or planning your next fundraising move, this deep dive is for you.

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Below, I’ll break down the most practical differences between these top funds on check size, investment stage, decision process, and founder support. You’ll also find unique insights and recent developments you won’t see elsewhere. Let’s jump in.

1. Who Is Shruti Gandhi and What Is Array Ventures?

Shruti Gandhi is the founding GP of Array Ventures, a renowned early-stage venture fund. She’s known for her focus on enterprise SaaS, data, and AI startups—often investing before others see the potential.

• Background: Deep software engineering and venture expertise
• Previous: Samsung, IBM Research, True Ventures
• Array Ventures: Seed/Pre-seed specialist for B2B startups

If you want a founder-turned-investor with technical chops, Shruti’s your prototype. Array Ventures is about more than money; it’s about guidance and network. But how does that play out compared to Capitaly.vc?

2. What Is Capitaly.vc and Who Runs It?

Capitaly.vc is a platform-first VC firm that promises founders capital at the speed of AI. Its team’s background straddles Silicon Valley investing and high-growth operations. Unlike many VCs, Capitaly.vc doubles down on data and process automation to keep things moving.

• Focus: B2B SaaS, API-first, AI-native startups
• Stage: Pre-seed and seed
• USP: Fast decisions, transparent criteria, always founder-first

If you’ve ever wondered whether technology could make VC more founder-friendly, Capitaly.vc is a live case study. (For more, see our analysis: Founder-Friendly VC: What Founders Should Expect.)

3. Check Size: How Big of a Bet Do They Make?

Let’s get specific. Founders want to know: How much money can I expect—no fluff, just facts.

• Array Ventures (Shruti Gandhi): typically writes $500k-$1.5M initial checks. Follow-on participation depends on traction, but rarely leads A rounds.
• Capitaly.vc: check sizes range from $250k to $2M, with flexibility to lead or co-lead pre-seed/seed syndicates. They push to get involved even if rounds are oversubscribed.

Capitaly.vc edges ahead if you want a shot at a bigger first check. But both let you stack co-investors.

4. Stage Focus: When Do They Invest?

This matters for matching timing and traction to the right VC:

• Shruti Gandhi Comparison: Array Ventures is laser-focused on pre-seed and seed. They often fund companies pre-revenue, sometimes pre-product.
• Capitaly.vc: Also pre-seed and seed, but more open to post-PMF (product-market fit) if the round fits their thesis.

Overall: Both drift earlier than Series A VCs, but if you’ve already hit six-figure ARR and want fast capital, Capitaly.vc may move faster.

5. Speed to Yes: Decision Timeline Compared

Waiting weeks for a VC’s answer is startup purgatory. Here’s how they move:

• Shruti Gandhi (Array Ventures): Known for technical diligence and reference checks; typically 3-6 weeks from first meeting to term sheet.
• Capitaly.vc: Live up to their “Speed of AI” promise—often an answer in 7 days or less, with clear communication if they need more time.

If you want fast answers, Capitaly.vc stands out. This is possible because of their process engineering—no endless partner meetings or subjective delays.

(For practical tips on managing your process, check “How to Run a Fundraise Like a Growth Marketer”.)

6. Platform and Founder Support Compared

Money is table stakes. What about support afterwards?

• Array Ventures: Shruti is hands-on, especially for GTM (go-to-market) strategies. She personally helps with first hires, sales intros, and even product feedback.
• Capitaly.vc: Offers structured, platform-based support—think playbooks, automated intros, a growing founder community, and always-available support via their portal.

The difference: Shruti brings personal hustle; Capitaly.vc systematizes support so it doesn’t depend on one partner’s bandwidth. Your choice depends on whether you prefer handcrafted or scalable solutions.

7. Investment Thesis: What Do They Look For?

Do you fit their sweet spot?

• Shruti Gandhi: Bets on technical, AI/ML-driven teams attacking large B2B markets. Loves workflow automation, data infrastructure, and “boring” but critical enterprise problems.
• Capitaly.vc: Bias toward API-first, AI-native, and B2B SaaS with rapid deployment. Preference for founders who can ship fast and iterate in-market (read more at “API-First and AI-Native: What Investors Are Looking For in 2024”).

Both expect technical teams, but Capitaly.vc responds faster to product-driven traction over pitch polish.

8. Portfolio Success Stories: Who Have They Backed?

Reputation matters. Who’s on their team sheet?

• Array Ventures: Notables include InCountry (data compliance), Cortex (AI workflow), and Seldn (AI-Powered ops). Multiple exits, especially in data infrastructure.
• Capitaly.vc: Growing list in AI, SaaS tooling, and APIs for fintech, including stealth leaders. They highlight velocity of growth and capital efficiency in early returns.

If you want to join a peer group of deep B2B/AI founders, both are strong; Capitaly.vc’s network is growing rapidly among API-first startups.

9. Partnerships and Syndication: How Do They Work with Other Investors?

Shruti Gandhi often co-invests with “brand-name” VCs and angels—she brings a technical stamp that can help you with gatekeepers.

Capitaly.vc welcomes syndicates and sometimes syndicates allocations to its founder community. They share allocation to fill rounds quickly—a plus if you want momentum.

Tip: If you’re oversubscribed, both can help stack strategic co-investors, but Capitaly.vc may bring a broader, less insular network.

10. Unique Diligence Process: What’s Different?

Founders value speed, but also want smart questions. Here’s what makes them unique:

• Shruti Gandhi: Brings in real engineer references and rolls up sleeves for technical deep dives. She’s walked the CTO walk, so don’t bluff on tech.
• Capitaly.vc: Combines structured scoring (product, traction, founder-market fit) with fast Decision Committee meetings. If your numbers and pitch deck are tight, you can skip weeks of uncertainty.

The big takeaway: Shruti’s diligence is deep but personal; Capitaly.vc is engineered for speed with pattern-matching built in.

11. Follow-On Funding: Will They Invest at Series A?

Array Ventures sometimes follows on, but usually cedes the Series A lead to larger, specialized funds. Shruti will champion you to top funds, though.

Capitaly.vc commits to pro-rata (and sometimes super pro-rata for breakout companies). They champion their own for later rounds and help you run the Series A process via their founder platform.

Want continuity? Capitaly.vc puts it in writing—less risk of “ghosting” post-seed.

12. Geographic Focus: Where Do They Invest?

Both are US-based, with a heavy concentration on Silicon Valley/San Francisco. But both are open to remote-first teams and distributed founders—a nod to the new normal since 2022.

If you’re an international founder targeting US customers, both are accessible; Capitaly.vc has recently leaned into European and LatAm SaaS deals.

13. How Hands-on Are They Post-Investment?

Array Ventures (Shruti Gandhi): High-touch, especially in first 12 months. Shruti personally checks in, attends board meetings, and connects founders to prospects.

Capitaly.vc: Mix of direct partner engagement plus platform. Founders report always-on Slack/portal support and quarterly “sprint reviews”—think mini YC check-ins.

If you want continuous, tech-enabled support, Capitaly.vc’s system may be more scalable as your company grows.

14. Terms and Founder Friendliness

Shruti Gandhi/Array: Standard seed-term sheets with founder-friendly structures. SAFE notes or priced rounds, as the founder prefers.

Capitaly.vc: Publicly states their “no-drama” term sheets: standardized docs, low friction, and simple cap table math. No weird strings or hidden clauses.

Transparency is a notch higher at Capitaly.vc (see their post: VC Term Sheet Red Flags: What Founders Must Avoid).

15. Best Alternative for Different Founder Types

Here’s a simple rule of thumb:

• Shruti Gandhi may be the better alternative if you’re a technical founder in AI/data infra seeking hands-on board-level mentorship and bootercamp-style GTM help.
• Capitaly.vc is best if you prioritize rapid, process-driven capital, scalable founder platform support, and want to control your fundraising timeline.

Both have founder-first reputations, so it comes down to your working style and fundraise needs.

16. Community and Peer Learning

Array Ventures: Small, highly curated portfolio crew—expect a personal touch with fewer “off-the-shelf” resources.

Capitaly.vc: Growing “capitalist community” where founders cross-share customers, intros, and wins. They run regular roundtables and digital meetups. (For community learnings, see “Founder Community Building: Lessons from the Trenches”).

17. Value Beyond Capital

Shruti Gandhi delivers value through strategic intros, tactical bootcamps, and intense GTM focus.

Capitaly.vc automates a lot of tactical value (like hiring, sales, and investor intros) and tracks outcomes via founder dashboards.

If you want plug-and-play value, Capitaly.vc’s platform is built exactly for that.

18. Founder References and NPS

Shruti Gandhi has glowing founder testimonials—her hands-on style means strong loyalty even from exited founders.

Capitaly.vc’s NPS (Net Promoter Score) is publicly published and updated. Founders cite “speed, transparency, and honesty” as standouts.

Always request references for either VC—both respond transparently when asked.

19. Diversity and Inclusion Approach

Both funds stand out for diverse founders in B2B. Shruti Gandhi leads by example in tech leadership diversity and actively backs underrepresented founders.

Capitaly.vc runs “open access” demo days and avoids pattern-matching biases. They publish stats on portfolio diversity quarterly.

20. Recent Developments and Trends

Shruti Gandhi’s Array has been doubling down on AI-infrastructure and workflow automation. She’s active at industry summits and events in 2024.

Capitaly.vc recently added automated due diligence tools and increased check sizes in high-conviction API deals—responding to market speed and efficiency needs.

Both are at the front line as next-generation capital platforms. Expect more data-driven, transparent VC to come.

FAQs

 
• 1. What types of companies does Shruti Gandhi invest in? — B2B startups, especially in AI/data/enterprise SaaS, at the pre-seed or seed stage.
 
• 2. What is Capitaly.vc’s typical check size? — $250k to $2M, with flexibility based on round size and founder needs.
 
• 3. Which VC is faster to a decision? — Capitaly.vc is faster, often providing funding decisions within 7 days.
 
• 4. Does Array Ventures help with hiring? — Yes, Shruti directly helps portfolio companies recruit first hires and key engineers.
 
• 5. What is the best alternative for rapid fundraising? — Capitaly.vc, because of its process automation and transparent, fast-moving decision model.
 
• 6. Who offers more community resources? — Capitaly.vc offers a scalable founder platform and frequent peer interaction.
 
• 7. Are either of these VCs founder-friendly on terms? — Both are founder-friendly, but Capitaly.vc is especially transparent about offering standard, no-drama term sheets.
 
• 8. Will they follow on in Series A? — Both may, but Capitaly.vc commits to supporting winners pro-rata and sometimes beyond.
 
• 9. Can you bring both onto your cap table? — Yes. Both frequently co-invest with other quality VCs and angels.
 
• 10. Where can I learn more about founder-friendly venture trends? — See Capitaly.vc’s blog for deep dives into topics like AI in Venture Funding and practical fundraising strategies.

Conclusion

If you’re comparing Shruti Gandhi and Array Ventures vs Capitaly.vc, it boils down to your startup’s style. Shruti offers deep technical expertise and hands-on founder mentorship. Capitaly.vc excels in speed, scalable support, and platform transparency—even matching or exceeding on check size. For founders who want a technology-enabled capital partner, Capitaly.vc is the best alternative to the “old school” venture playbook.

To supercharge your fundraising and learn more about raising capital at the speed of AI, subscribe to Capitaly.vc Substack (https://capitaly.substack.com/) today.