[AAV LIMITED PARTNER] An angel, 500 founders, and the room that changed how he invests
Osman Ahmed did not set out to become a venture partner. He set out to invest well, and he quickly hit the same wall every angel hits.
"As an investor, I had real problems filtering for the types of companies I was interested in," he says. "You are restricted to cold inbound, cold approaches on LinkedIn, and it is very hard to qualify any of it."
He is a founder himself, so he knew what he was actually looking for, and it was not a tidy deck. "I look at the founding team, their capability, their ability to execute, rather than the solution. Is the problem real? Do these people have the tenacity to pivot and keep going? Do they have the integrity to do right by their investors?" Those are not questions you can answer from a cold email.
What changed it for Osman was getting inside the process. As a Limited Partner he could do something most investors never get to do: sit in on Selection Week, interview founders directly, and help decide who makes the cut.
"I learn by doing. I do not like theoretical education," he says. "Being in the investment process, doing the due diligence, that is the experience I had always craved. If I have met five hundred founders and worked through them, that is real experience. Not getting lucky with one."
It worked well enough that the relationship deepened on both sides. Osman is now both a Limited Partner in the fund and a Venture Partner at Accelerating Asia. The thing he values most has not changed. It is the access.
"I get to meet the founders, understand their business models, and be as involved as I want. Other funds are a black box. You invest, and you hear about performance once a quarter without even knowing who is in the portfolio."
There is also, he admits, a simple pride in it. "Knowing you are part of the fund, part of the investor profile in those startups, is something to be proud of. You get to show it to other investors and to other founders."
Demo Day is all of that in a single night.
The five companies of Cohort 13, Driftly AI, DIGIBOX, Meza AI, Govaly and meed, pitch live in Singapore on Wednesday, July 15, and online on Thursday, July 23. Every one is already in market and earning revenue. By the time they reach the stage, they have been through exactly the filter Osman describes: hundreds of applications narrowed to five.
If you have ever wanted to invest in this part of the world but were not sure where to start, this is the room. See RSVP details below ⬇️
And if you want the access Osman is describing, not just for one night but as a standing seat at the table, that is what Fund II is. One decision, a portfolio of more than 100 companies across 16 markets, and a front-row seat to all of it. Fund II is in its final close.
See the fund deck: acceleratingasia.com/investors
Or just ask: team@acceleratingasia.com
COME SEE COHORT 13 PITCH
🇸🇬 In person, Singapore, Wednesday July 15
Join us in Singapore for an exclusive, in-person experience where investors, ecosystem leaders, and partners gather to meet eight high-growth startups solving critical problems across South and Southeast Asia.
💻 Virtual, Thursday July 23
Accelerating Asia is hosting a virtual edition of Cohort 13 Demo Day live for our global community of investors, founders, and partners. This is your chance to experience the pitches, meet the founders, and explore investment opportunities.
Invest with us
These five startups join a portfolio of over 100 companies in the Accelerating Asia Ventures family. These five, including many already in the portfolio, are at various stages of fundraising right now. You can choose to invest in one, or in all of them through the Fund.
Fund 2 is in final close.
Start with the fund deck. Choose your path at acceleratingasia.com/investors and we'll send access.
Ask a question first. Email team@acceleratingasia.com and we'll get back to you.
Ready to invest? Book a call here with a partner.
See the portfolio. Check out acceleratingasia.com/portfolio. Filter by country, sector, or fundraising status. Request an introduction directly to any CEO.
For investors and partners. Choose your path at acceleratingasia.com/investors. Whether you're looking to co-invest in individual startups or invest in the fund, the next step is there.
* Carta Q4 2025 VC Fund Performance. US benchmarks used as Asian fund comparables remain limited.
About Accelerating Asia Ventures
Accelerating Asia Ventures is an independent accelerator and venture capital fund investing in early-stage startups across Southeast and South Asia. Founded by operators, the organisation is committed to supporting founders with capital, credibility, and a long-term community.
For interviews, data requests, or portfolio introductions, contact: team@acceleratingasia.com
