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Wednesday 13 December 2017
WeDoSky, Drone Data Science, solutions raises funds from Mumbai Angels Network
Wednesday 6 December 2017
Ishan Singh, Member, Mumbai Angels Network in conversation with Sachin Karnik, President Mumbai Angels Network
Sachin Karnik :
1) Hello Ishan, Thanks for taking the time out for this Interview. You have been a Mumbai Angels Network Member for a long time and known to be a practical, tough yet reasonable , hands-on Deal Lead.Your questions during the showcase indicate the studiousness with which you approach a domain. How has your journey been so far ?
1) Hello Ishan, Thanks for taking the time out for this Interview. You have been a Mumbai Angels Network Member for a long time and known to be a practical, tough yet reasonable , hands-on Deal Lead.Your questions during the showcase indicate the studiousness with which you approach a domain. How has your journey been so far ?
Ishan Singh:
Hi! Sachin, Good to meet you in this forum. I have been in this eco system for 20 years and today is as exciting as the time 20 years ago when I started my first business in 1997 in New York.
Hi! Sachin, Good to meet you in this forum. I have been in this eco system for 20 years and today is as exciting as the time 20 years ago when I started my first business in 1997 in New York.
Let me share a story with you- in 1995 in my MBA entrepreneurship
class I got on of the lowest grades in- partially as my profession thought
ecommerce was not sustainable, but also as he righty pointed out that I had not
thought through the cost of logistics and delivery. This is still the issue, so
many entrepreneurs do not factor in while starting a business.
I started a Fin tech consulting firm in New York in 1998 –
that same year I invested $100,000 from profits in eRSVP.com an online
ticketing and event management firm set up by someone who worked for me and I
assumed the role of interim CEO to help them raise $1m at $5m post money valuation. Unfortunately, that company flatlined due to
internal management issues that came up once the market tanked in 2000. This was a very powerful lesson for me.
More recently, since 2015, of the 9 angel investmentsI have
made, 7 are doing well and these are the ones where I was took interest in what
was going on - with what the founders were doing, they key client wins, tactics
being used to grow the business, plan Vs. Actual etc.This has taught me that
there is a need to work closely with first time founders.
That is why they come to seasoned investors/ business people
like me to be investors & mentors. We look at the forest, not the trees and
that is the value add we bring to the table.
Sachin Karnik :
2) I am sure the
readers will be curious to know about the Turn-Around and growth Strategies you
have recommended to Start-ups you have been a Deal Lead and Board Rep for.
Ishan Singh:
Well, hopefully we don’t need to come to a turnaround stage!
Well, hopefully we don’t need to come to a turnaround stage!
It is most important that a start-uprealises what problem
they are solving and is it a problem that needs to be solved- will people pay
for it- one needs to be able to demonstrate traction and revenue for that idea/
business.
People often forget the goal at this stage of the business - it is to demonstrate that the business
model is viable so that they can raise another round for expansion later. So, focus is very important.
Sachin Karnik :
3) Has the experience
of working so closely with the Founders been enriching and rewarding for you?
Ishan Singh:
Yes, I has I love the enthusiasm and passion entrepreneurs
bring to the table. Working with several at the same time allows me to leverage
key learning from one to the other and this helps problem solve better – for
examples best practices in social media marketing
Sachin Karnik :
4) Did interaction
with other MA members help especially when Founders feel having too many Angel
Investors on Cap Table is a tough act to manage?
Ishan Singh:
Sachin, the way MA invests, there is only one or two people
on the board, so from the founder’s perspective he has the whole network to
help, but he/ she is only interacting with one or two people daily. So, it is not tough to manage
Sachin Karnik :
5) What kind of Start-ups
or sectors will catch your attention and Investment dollars in 2018. Would you
like to share a sneak preview of your investment thesis for 2018?
Ishan Singh:
My primary investment thesis remains the same. – I am
looking for someone honest, sincere, and intelligent who is willing to work
hard and is solving a problem. I firmly
believe, especially in the Indian context, execution is the key.
I do believe in Thematic investing- for example the investment
in WE DO Sky which is a data sciencecompanyusingdrone’s is a great example of a
sector with a great future.
This year, I want to look atsustainability and use of
sustainable materials in everyday use- constriction and fashion and at low cost
medical devices for rural / home markets.
Sachin Karnik :
6) Any word of advice
for fellow Angel Investors and Founders?
Dream big, but keep it simple. Keep it real and walk before you run.
Wednesday 25 October 2017
How does Angel Network membership benefit its members?
How does Mumbai Angels Network membership benefit its members?
The members of Mumbai Angels Network
are provided with enhanced deal flow, better quality due diligence and the
negotiating power of indirectly pooling capital. The group also provides a
forum of fellowship of like-minded successful people. Investing in very early
stage companies is inherently risky. The Mumbai Angels Network brings together
successful and experienced people who by sharing their experience and vision
with the other members analyze and determine potential start up companies for
investment.
Develop an initial investing strategy – Early on, it is important to
think through why you want to invest as an angel, what kinds of deals make your
day, and how many investments you should make over time. Seasoned
Angel Investors recommends that those new to angel investing think about the
kinds of companies—industry, stage, and location—they like to deal with and how
much of their capital they are willing and able to put at risk.
Actively participate in Q&As –Your first chance to dive into the
investment experience will likely be during the Q&A session, after
entrepreneurs pitch their investments in angel group and pitch meetings. Your
best way to learn and to assess the investment potential is to ask questions
When ready, write that first check – At some point, you will find a
balance of feeling like you’ve learned the basics about the process and what
you need to know to invest in a good deal. At this time, take the big leap of
making your first investment.
How much money do the
members of the Mumbai Angels Network typically invest in companies?
A typical average ticket size
is INR 3 crores/ USD 500,000 with each investing member
contributing to average INR 30lacs/USD 50,000.
If the investment size is larger, the
Mumbai Angels Networking may syndicate the investment with other investor
groups.
Wednesday 13 September 2017
Steps to become an Angel Investor
Why is Startup investing exciting?
It's exciting to think about all the behind the scenes work going on at a start up's end and to know you had a hand in making it happen.
It's also exciting imagining the potential sky high return on investment you could make.
Educate yourself - Angel Investing Masterclass
As angel investing has become more well-known and popular, highly experienced angels with good returns have produced a growing wealth of material to help others develop and grow their angel investing skills. Mumbai Angels Network conducts workshops and events, where you can meet seasoned angel investors, industry experts & entrepreneurs, watch StartUp pitches and get a sense of how to assess & invest in a startup.
Ask experienced Angels for advice
Asking questions provides a jump start in developing relationships and building your angel network for investing together in the future. So it makes sense to start your journey by asking questions about being an angel.
Join an Angel Group
Join an angel group or Angel network whose members have expertise and successful track record. Trying to be a lone angel tends to further increase the risk of angel investing. The addition of multiple opinions and insights from others with varied and relevant experience can lead to higher probabilities of success
Wednesday 16 August 2017
The Parfait Co. raises seed investment from Mumbai Angels Network
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Wednesday 18 January 2017
Mumbai Angels Network contributes INR 3.5 Crore to a INR 4 Crore raise by Vahdam Teas.
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