Biography of Seema Chaturvedi: Founder and Managing Partner at AWE Funds
Biography of Seema Chaturvedi:
Seema Chaturvedi is the Founder and Managing Partner at AWE
(Achieving Women Equity) Funds, a gender-smart early growth fund dedicated to
investing in innovative enterprises that promote gender equity. Since March
2019, her work has focused on empowering women through investments in
businesses owned, led, or influenced by women, aiming to enhance gender parity
and multi-dimensional women empowerment.
Founder and Managing Partner at AWE Funds
Seema, with over 20 years of experience in capital markets
and financial management, is the Founder and Managing Partner of AWE Funds. Her
platform focuses on investing early-stage capital in women-owned, led, and
influenced businesses. With her extensive background as an entrepreneur,
investor, and investment banker, she offers a distinctive perspective on
strategic planning to enhance stakeholder value. Seema is the Founder and
Managing Partner of Achieving Women Equity (AWE) Funds, dedicated to investing
in women-owned and women-led businesses in India. Her goal is to balance gender
representation in business while achieving significant commercial returns and
economic development.
Educational Background
Seema holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Boston College
and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Honors) from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi
University. She also completed a Certificate in Corporate Director from Harvard
Business School Executive Education.
Past Leadership and Consulting Experience
Her previous roles include Managing Director at Accelerator
Group from 2002 to 2022, and she has contributed as a Senior Consultant at
Amherst Partners from 1996 to 2002. Seema’s earlier career saw her working as
an Associate at JM Morgan Stanley and as an Analyst at Shearson Lehman.
Passion for Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Seema is deeply committed to fostering entrepreneurship. She
co-founded the Detroit chapter of TiE in 2002 and served as its president. Her
leadership extended to the Global Board of Trustees of TiE Inc., where she also
founded and chairs TiE Global’s prominent women’s entrepreneurship initiative,
Project All India Roadshow for Women’s Economic Empowerment through
Entrepreneurship (AIRSWEEE). AIRSWEEE 1.0 mentored 125 women from 27 Tier 2 and
3 cities in India, and AIRSWEEE 2.0 aims to support 450 women entrepreneurs
across 30 cities.
Biography of Seema Chaturvedi: Founder and Managing Partner at AWE Funds/ Entrepreneur/Investor/Success story of Seema Chaturvedi/Life story of Seema
Founding AWE Funds for Gender Balance
Seema Chaturvedi is the driving force behind Achieving Women
Equity (AWE) Funds, an organization dedicated to investing in businesses owned,
led, or influenced by women. Her mission is to enhance gender balance in the
economic landscape by supporting innovative enterprises that contribute to both
commercial success and societal progress. AWE Funds focuses on empowering women
and promoting gender parity through strategic investments.
Thought Leadership
As a thought leader, Seema has lectured at Johns Hopkins’
SAIS on Gender Lens Investing and Women’s Economic Empowerment and has spoken
at international conferences such as the Mackinac Leadership Conference and TiE
Global Summit. She is also an advisor to Bain & Company’s study on Women
Entrepreneurship in India.
Board and Advisory Roles
Seema has served on various boards, including the Michigan
IT Summit and Marygrove College. She has also been involved with the Economic
Advisory Council of the Center for American Progress and the boards of TiE
Detroit, TiE Miami, and TiE Global. She is a member of Indiaspora, an
organization focused on amplifying the impact of Indians.
Recognition and Honors
Seema has been recognized with numerous awards for her
contributions to business and entrepreneurship. These include Crain’s Detroit
Business “40 under 40,” “Detroit’s Most Influential Business Women,” Detroit
Historical Society’s Enterprising Women, and the Asian Indian Women’s
Association’s Women of Distinction. She has also been inducted into Michigan’s
Hall of Fame for Enterprising Women and received a Certificate of Recognition
from the US House of Representatives.
Leadership in Women’s Empowerment
In February 2019, Seema also founded and became Chair of the
AWE (Achieving Women Enterprise) Foundation, an organization committed to
building communities of economically empowered women to support gender-balanced
economic growth. Her dedication to entrepreneurship extends to her role as
Chairperson of AIRSWEEE (All India Roadshow for Women’s Economic Empowerment
through Entrepreneurship) from September 2016 to June 2020. This initiative,
funded by the US State Department, aims to promote entrepreneurship as a viable
career option for women in India.
International Speaking and Advisory Roles
Seema has been an International Speaker for the U.S.
Department of State since September 2017, engaging with stakeholders across
India on entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment. She has also served as a
Senior Advisor on Sustainable Finance to the Country Representative of UN Women
in India for a brief period in 2022.
Conference Participation
A well-regarded speaker, Seema was invited to the US
Department of State’s International Speakers Program in 2017 and has
participated in various international conferences such as the Mackinac
Leadership Conference and the TiE Summit. Her speaking engagements and panel
participation reflect her expertise and influence in the field of entrepreneurship
and economic development.
Board Involvements
Beyond her professional achievements, she has been a
founding member of the Great Lakes Manufacturing Council and served on various
boards, including co-chairing the Michigan IT Summit and contributing to the
International Business Council at Automation Alley. She currently serves on the
boards of TiE Detroit and the Miami-Dade Urban Debate League.
Expertise and Passion for Women Entrepreneurship
With over 25 years of experience in capital markets and
financial management, Seema brings a wealth of expertise to her role as an
entrepreneur and investor. Her unique perspective enriches the strategic
planning and investment processes at AWE Funds. She is particularly passionate
about advancing women entrepreneurship, which is reflected in her leadership of
TiE Global’s Project AIRSWEEE. This initiative, funded by the US Department of
State, has supported 575 women entrepreneurs across India, creating a ripple
effect that has impacted over 6,500 additional women.
Global Influence and Thought Leadership
Seema’s influence extends beyond investment, as she has
played a significant role in promoting women’s economic empowerment through
various platforms. She has been a key advocate and thought leader on gender
lens investing, having lectured on the topic at Johns Hopkins SAIS and
participated in international conferences. Her work with the U.S. State
Department and as a member of Bain & Company’s advisory team underscores
her commitment to advancing women entrepreneurship globally.
