Speciale Investment Trust II

Arya is part of the investment team at Speciale Invest. He combines a strong foundation in finance and economics with rigorous business and industry research experience. He began his career through internships at Carborundum Universal Limited and Corporate Database (India), a family office, where he conducted deep-dive industry research, operational due diligence, and detailed business model assessments across sectors. He holds a B.B.A. Honours in Finance and Economics. At Speciale Invest, Arya draws on his analytical background to evaluate business fundamentals, industry dynamics, and investment opportunities across the portfolio. Outside of work, Arya enjoys strength training and reading.

Arsh Maheshwari is part of the investment team at Speciale Invest. He comes to deeptech investing from a background in research, where he learnt to look past the technology itself to the conditions that decide whether it gets adopted. With a double major in Economics and Computer Science from Krea University, Arsh has worked across roles in both research and the early-stage startup ecosystem. He researched market access for rural self-help groups at IFMR LEAD, a research centre in Chennai, and co-authored a field study on AI and automation adoption among manufacturers in Sri City. He has also supported founders through AIC Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum, a startup incubator in Pune, and as Investor Relations Lead at Krea's Centre for Entrepreneurship, where he helped student founders prepare to raise their first rounds. He is drawn to founders working on problems most people haven't noticed yet, and to the science that makes solving them possible. Outside of work, Arsh follows Formula 1 closely, spends weekends playing pickleball or swimming, and is always looking for a new place to explore.

Balaji works with founders building category defining deep technology companies across semiconductors, AI infrastructure, robotics, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and enterprise software. His work spans investment research, technical and commercial diligence, market analysis, and partnering with founders as they scale breakthrough technologies into enduring businesses. Before joining Speciale Invest, Balaji was part of the Founder's Office at Ixana, a semiconductor startup developing next-generation wireless communication technology, where he worked across fundraising, financial strategy, commercial planning, partnerships, and business operations. An engineer by training, Balaji holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Thiagarajar College of Engineering. He is drawn to companies building defensible technologies with global potential and believes that exceptional engineering, paired with thoughtful execution, is the foundation of every enduring business. Outside of work, Balaji is an avid reader with a bookshelf spanning technology, business strategy, and business history. His favorites include Chip Wars, Barbarians at the Gate, The Everything Store, and How Google Works. He also enjoys strength training and unwinding with a good thriller series.