AMVS Capital: A 360-Degree Approach to Investment and Consulting: Anamaria Meshkurti

In this interview, Anamaria Meshkurti, Partner and co-founder of AMVS Capital, shares her insights into the domains of investment and entrepreneurship. AMVS Capital is a thriving firm that specialises in investment, supporting startups, and providing strategic consulting services to governments, NGOs, and IGOs. With a strong focus on innovation and accessibility, the firm assists in everything from digital transformation to personal branding. Anamaria Meshkurti’s extensive background, spanning various sectors and countries, has shaped the foundational vision of AMVS Capital, driving its success in supporting companies and entities worldwide.
Q: Welcome, Anamaria, to The Founder’s Story! We are genuinely excited to have you with us today. We can’t wait to hear about your journey, the inspiration behind AMVS Capital, and how your experiences have shaped the company. It is a pleasure to have you here!
Anamaria Meshkurti: Thank you so much! I look forward to our conversation and sharing more about AMVS Capital and the work we are passionate about. It’s an honour to share more about AMVS and my journey as an entrepreneur with your readers.
Q: Let us start. What inspired you to start your own business, and how did you come up with the idea?
Anamaria Meshkurti: I have always worked with a lot of entrepreneurs in my life. Their passion, their work ethics, and how they enjoy being entrepreneurs made me want to become one myself. So, I decided to focus on what I’m good at, team up with trusted people, and tap into my network to make it happen. My strengths are in investment and helping startups and governments with digital transformation, personal branding, and their investment journeys. That is why I felt it was time to officially turn what I was already doing into a formal business.
Q: And that leap of faith certainly paid off for you. Why AMVS Capital specifically, and how did your extensive experiences shape the firm’s core philosophy?
Anamaria Meshkurti: I have been in the investment space for years, and it became clear that joining forces was the key to unlocking better deals. Solo investors can’t access the same opportunities as a group. As a group, you get better deals and can support more companies. That is why I founded AMVS Capital—to connect with more startups and offer them more support.
We’re not just about investing. We help startups get investment-ready, and by that, I mean we help them prepare for investment rounds, craft compelling pitches, and build their brands. If an individual wants to work on his or her brand, AMVS can support him or her. We also assist entities looking to partner with governments or participate in major events like COP29. It’s a full-service approach covering investments, startups, the UN, and government relations.
My background—a mix of UN, government, and investment experience across various countries—has been invaluable. I have been lucky to partner with Viktoriia Savitska, our energy and sustainability expert, and Alesia Ahmetaj, who drives our pre-seed and seed investments and operations.
Q: How do AMVS Capital’s core values, like accessibility and innovation, influence the way you handle investments and consulting?
Anamaria Meshkurti: We focus on investing in the right people at the right time—those who are making a real positive impact. Like everyone else, we are after strong returns, but we also want to back ventures that truly inspire us and our network of investors. Our approach is very much centred on the region; we believe that a successful regional player can eventually go global, or we will see a return on our investment soon enough. We are always on the lookout for innovative products, but what is most important to us is the team behind them. You see, many investors overlook this, but in this space, it is all about having a top-notch team.
Q: Absolutely! Building on what you mentioned earlier, can you share how you go about identifying and evaluating promising tech investment opportunities on a global level?
Anamaria Meshkurti: See, our approach is pretty straightforward: we focus on areas that interest us and match the expertise of our investor group. We look for top teams who we believe can make a company succeed—it is all about the people, not just the ideas. Timing is also crucial since some industries might struggle during tough times, so we want to invest in things that will remain in demand in the future. We prefer investing in strong regional players rather than chasing global unicorns. We believe these regional experts are the ones who can eventually take on the world.
Q: What are some common hurdles early-stage startups run into when trying to get funding, and how does AMVS Capital tackle these issues with your specific approach?
Anamaria Meshkurti: Raising funds can be tough for startups, especially for first-time founders. If you are new to fundraising, it is important to have the right board members to back you up instead of going it alone. Another big challenge is valuation—it is tricky to set a value on a company that doesn’t have traction yet. At AMVS Capital, we help startups navigate these challenges. We offer guidance on the best times and strategies for raising funds; that way, it would be a win-win for everyone involved.
Q: Your firm helps governments, NGOs, and IGOs boost their digital skills and foster innovation. How do you go about this, and can you share a success story from this area?
Anamaria Meshkurti: My background is in digital transformation with the United Nations, focussing on helping governments, NGOs, and companies embrace the digital age. One particularly memorable project was working with a small European country that needed to evaluate its innovation ecosystem and chart a new path forward. After six months of collaboration, we found that their existing programs were not aligned with their vision. We implemented some small changes. but they were impactful and set them on a successful course. It was a fun and rewarding experience, and it is now one of the core services we offer.
Q: Let us talk about brand strategy. What are the key elements that make a personal branding strategy effective? How do you customise your consulting services to fit each individual’s unique needs?
Anamaria Meshkurti: We believe that personal branding is essential for success. Today, your online presence matters a lot, so it is important to make sure it reflects how you want to be seen. If it doesn’t, you might miss out on great opportunities, including investments. When we evaluate companies and founders, we often look at their online persona. This is to get a sense of them, though it is just one factor among many. I recommend everyone work on their personal brand. It is one way to ensure that you effectively communicate your intended message.
Q: That is great advice. It is undeniable that technology is evolving. How does AMVS Capital keep up with market trends and new technologies to offer valuable insights to your clients?
Anamaria Meshkurti: We have a team of experts who keep us informed about the latest developments, and we also stay connected through various networks, private business clubs, and ongoing events. This helps us stay on top of emerging trends and technologies.
Q: Strong, long-lasting partnerships are important in any business. How do you go about building and maintaining them? And how does this contribute to AMVS Capital’s success?
Anamaria Meshkurti: You see, everything we do is rooted in honesty and integrity. That is why our partnerships endure—we focus on what is best for everyone involved, not just what benefits us. It is important for us to build and sustain the right partnerships, which we have been doing from day one. This approach applies not only to investors and stakeholders but also to the companies we have invested in.
Q: How do you measure the success of your digital transformation initiatives for clients in the public and non-profit sectors?
Anamaria Meshkurti: For us, success means hitting the KPIs our clients set at the start. When we take on a new project, we make sure to fully understand what the client wants and create a solid plan to achieve it. We always stick to our commitments and are upfront with clients if we think something might not be achievable within the agreed timeline. To us, a satisfied client is the real measure of success.
Q: I admire how your focus on client satisfaction drives your approach. Looking ahead, what are AMVS Capital’s future goals and aspirations? How do you plan to keep pushing for growth and innovation across different industries?
Anamaria Meshkurti: We are excited to keep helping startups on their path to investment and supporting entities through digital transformation. One of our goals is to launch our first small fund focused on startups in the Balkans. We are eager to team up with others to make this happen.
Q: I hope you don’t mind me asking a few personal questions. Can you walk me through a typical day in your life as an entrepreneur?
Anamaria Meshkurti: Not at all. My day is pretty similar to many others: lots of calls, attending events, networking, looking for the right deals, and thinking about expansion. I also make sure to balance it with my personal time and focus on health and wellness. I always find time to exercise, even if it is just a 20-minute walk. So, future entrepreneurs, listen to me when I say it is easy to let daily routines take over and neglect your health. Make sure to find time for yourself amidst your busy schedules.
Q: I hope that future entrepreneurs among TFS readers take your advice to heart. How do you stay motivated and driven throughout your entrepreneurial journey, especially when things get tough?
Anamaria Meshkurti: I get my motivation from my team and our mission. Seeing the startups we support succeed is incredibly rewarding and keeps me going.
Q: What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to start their own business?
Anamaria Meshkurti: I only have one simple piece of advice. Start in an area you are really passionate about. That passion will help you push through the tough times.
Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur for you?
Anamaria Meshkurti: For me, it is all about making a positive impact on people’s lives and challenging myself to see how far I can push my own limits.
Anamaria, thanks a lot for sharing your valuable insights with us today. It has been great learning about your journey, the vision behind AMVS Capital, and the exciting work you are doing. I wish you and your team all the best as you continue to grow and make a positive impact across industries.
Thank you! It has been wonderful speaking with you. I appreciate the opportunity to share our story, and I’m grateful for your well wishes. We are excited for what the future holds and look forward to continuing our work to support startups and make meaningful contributions. Thank you again!