1Mby1M Virtual Accelerator AI Investor Forum: Felix Hartmann, Hartmann Capital (Part 3)

Sramana Mitra: I have a different question, but we’ll go on to your next case study in just a moment because what you’re describing is so interesting. I did one of the first online fashion companies—real fashion, regular fashion—back in 1999.

The question that’s swirling in my mind is: you have so many users and so much activity. It must be segmented though, right? Is it the fashionistas who are on there, or is it more the geeks who like t-shirts and fashion?

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Best of Bootstrapping: Bootstrapped an AI Deep Learning Venture to $5M+

It is always thrilling for me to listen to 1Mby1M entrepreneurs achieving great things. This interview capture’s CEO Bharath Gaddam’s 6-year journey of bootstrapping to over $5M ARR. At this point, I am fairly confident that Data Poem can blitzscale to become a legitimate Unicorn. Not fluff, not fumes, clear, concrete ROI-driven revenue growth that is set up for repeatability and velocity. 

This is a text book case study of the 1Mby1M Bootstrap first, raise money to Blitzscale later philosophy. I have no doubt that VCs are going to salivate to get into this rocket.

Sramana Mitra: Bharath, let’s start at the very beginning of your journey. Where were you born? What were the circumstances and what kind of background did you come from?

Bharath Gaddam: I was born in a small town in Andhra Pradesh called Tenali. My father is a production manager in a large dairy farm, and my mother is a professor in a graduation college. I did my graduation from Osmania University in instrumentation. During that time, I realized that maybe I’m not cut out for hardcore engineering, but some of that still stays with you.

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1Mby1M Virtual Accelerator AI Investor Forum: Felix Hartmann, Hartmann Capital (Part 2)

Sramana Mitra: So, you’ve already laid out your investment thesis. Just a couple of quick things. How big is Fund Two right now?

Felix Hartman: It’s a $50 million fund. We’ve already closed the first $10 million and have seven companies in the cohort. The goal is to back 40 companies at the pre-seed to seed stage.

Video FAQs

1Mby1M Virtual Accelerator AI Investor Forum: Felix Hartmann, Hartmann Capital (Part 1)

Felix Hartmann, Managing Partner at Hartmann Capital, discusses his firm’s investment thesis. This segment triggered an excellent discussion on Human Augmentation.

Building an AI Platform Company for Real-Time Applications: Vantiq CEO Marty Sprinzen (Part 6)

Sramana Mitra: Can you talk to me a bit about your go-to-market strategy? I understand the system integrator part is straightforward. You do partnerships with system integrators who build on top of your platform.

When you’re choosing to work with startups or product companies who are building their products on your platform, how do you find these people? How do they find you? What’s the go-to-market strategy for that?

July 24 – 695th 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are invited to the 695th FREE online 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 8 a.m. PDT / 11 a.m. EDT / 5 p.m. CEST / 8:30 p.m. India IST.

If you are a serious entrepreneur, register to Pitch and sell your business idea. You’ll receive straightforward feedback, advice on next steps, and answers to any of your questions. Others can register to Attend to watch, learn, and interact through the online chat.

You can learn more here and and REGISTER TO PITCH OR ATTEND HERE. Register and you will receive the recording by email, even if you are unable to attend. Please share with any entrepreneurs in your circle who may be Interested.

694th 1Mby1M Entrepreneurship Podcast with Alex Benik, Encoded Ventures

Alex Benik, Partner / Founder at Encoded Ventures, discusses the fund’s investment thesis. Great discussion on how we each view the disruptions AI is causing on multiple fronts.

VCs investing today have to think about the next 5-7 year window and what changes are likely to come.

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694th 1Mby1M Roundtable Recording

In case you missed it, you can listen to the recording of this roundtable here: