How many can sing?
Humbled by overwhelming response for NAN Coimbatore Launch. 42 angels signed up and two investment announcements were made.
Nagaraja Prakasam, chairman and co-founder of Native Angels Network, said start-ups can be of three kinds. They can replicate models of successful ventures, tap the country’s strengths, and have disruptive innovation. The Angels Network will support grassroot innovation, those who have solutions to the city’s problems, and build businesses that will remain strong for years to come.
Angels come calling
Coimbatore has had some radical investments and innovative businesses – huge ventures – that fostered the city many years ago. Be it getting into textile machinery or setting up a viscose plant, these ventures manufactured quality products and generated jobs.
However, over the years, entrepreneurship became repetitive and there was no innovation.
“We need aspiration. There can be innovation in textiles, textile machinery, foundries, compressors, pumps and motors that are made here. There are opportunities in Coimbatore in all these sectors,” said Jairam Varadaraj, Managing Director of Elgi Equipments. He was speaking at the inauguration of Coimbatore chapter of Native Angels Network, which is a forum of angel investors, here on Monday.
Mr. Varadaraj spoke about the opportunities for innovation in not just technology-oriented areas, but also in the manufacturing sector. There were as many potential investors as potential innovators and hence resources should not be a problem, he observed.
Nagaraja Prakasam, chairman and co-founder of Native Angels Network, said start-ups can be of three kinds. They can replicate models of successful ventures, tap the country’s strengths, and have disruptive innovation. The Angels Network will support grassroot innovation, those who have solutions to the city’s problems, and build businesses that will remain strong for years to come.
According to R. Sivarajah, founder and president of Nativelead Foundation, Coimbatore has over 150 start-ups. The network will look at innovations in different verticals, apart from technology.
With about 40 investors in Coimbatore, the network has decided to invest Rs. 21 lakh first in a mobile application, developed by an Erode-based entrepreneur, for the mechanics in the unorganised sector. The network members will also invest soon in Buddies Café, a Coimbatore-based venture that serves 60 varieties of teas.
Mechanic app to raise funds from Coimbatore angels
When Sridhar Iyer graduated from Kongu College three years ago, he probably would not have dreamt that his idea would draw the attention of members of the Coimbatore chapter of Native Angel Network (NAN), a region-focussed angel investment forum.
But, as luck would have it, Sridhar’s venture “Mechanic App” became the first start-up to be funded by the regional investors. The 25-year old said that the app helps connect car and two-wheeler mechanics with customers on the one hand and auto component vendors on the other.
He has on date connected with over 600 mechanics in Erode District. He is looking to widen the base and launch the app in Coimbatore as well.
With the app, customers will be able to locate the nearest mechanic, know his profile and even fix an appointment for servicing the vehicle.
Pension scheme
Besides getting mechanics under one umbrella, Iyer is also trying to provide a pension system for them. A corporate group is said to be guiding this youngster to develop the application.
Iyer has indicated that he will require funds to the tune of ₹22 lakh in the first phase of this venture.
Action For India announces the 5th Edition of its Annual Forum on social entrepreneurship.
~A platform where 100 leading social entrepreneurs and 100 key influencers come together enabling collaborations for scaling social impact~
~The 2 day Forum will be organized on 30th & 31st, January at IIT Delhi~
New Delhi, January 21, 2016: The mission of Action For India (AFI), a not for profit with presence in New Delhi and Silicon Valley, USA, is to stimulate social enterprises in India. The upcoming 5th edition of the AFI Annual Forum at IIT-Delhi will bring together 100 leading social entrepreneurs from around the nation to interact with 100 key influencers at the intersection of business, technology, entrepreneurship and social impact. The influencers include eminent personalities from diverse sectors including donors, investors, IAS officers, technology executives and policy analysts.
The Forum will witness sector-specific, cross-sectoral intensive discussions along with speed-dating sessions between social entrepreneurs and influencers. The Forum will also host a unique Silicon Valley Challenge where 5 leading social entrepreneurs will win a 2 week all-expense paid trip to Silicon Valley, California to interact with leading investors, executives and entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley.
The forum will be graced by the presence of Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Parliamentary Affairs. Other thought leaders who will be speaking at the Forum include: Sam Pitroda, Former adviser to Prime Minister of India & Honorary Chairman, AFI; Desh Deshpande, Former Advisor to the US President, Barack Obama and Founder of Deshpande Foundation; R. Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM; Ashish Dhawan, Founder & CEO, Central Square Foundation; Rajeev Gowda, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; and Nagaraja Prakasam, Co-Founder IAN Impact.
AFI Forum 2016 will also feature several panel discussions on themes such as “Leveraging Technology for scaling impact”; “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”; “Vision 2020” – AFI’s pan India network of Regional Social Innovation Hubs; Impact Investment and a special panel on “StartUp India – Impact Bharat.”
The invitees to the Forum, both social entrepreneurs and influencers, are selected through a rigorous evaluation process to ensure quality interactions and to maximize chances of fruitful collaborations for growth of the social enterprises. Interactions at the past Forums have benefited more than 350 social enterprises with 400 influencers coming together to encourage their ventures.
About Action For India Action For India’s mission is to help social innovators in India overcome barriers to scale and achieve greater impact at the Bottom of the Pyramid. AFI connects social innovators with impact investors, mentors, technology resources, government contacts and local partners. AFI is headquartered in New Delhi, India and has a chapter in Silicon Valley, California. Launched in 2012, AFI is inspired and guided by Sam Pitroda, Former Adviser to the Prime Minister of India. AFI’s financial supporters include Desh Deshpande, Former Adviser to the US President Barack Obama & Founder of the Deshpande Foundation.
