Seed Capital: Independent Investor Rehan yar Khan

The entrepreneur ecosystem in India is growing by leaps and bounds. Still, almost all of those who apply for funding are rejected, and it’s not always because they don’t have viable products or services. Often, entrepreneurs get rejected because they pitched to the wrong investor. An entrepreneur with an e-commerce company should not be pitching to an investor who specializes in green tech or manufacturing. Read carefully, entrepreneurs, if you want to pitch to Rehan yar Khan. >>>

Seed Capital: Independent Investor, Mukund Mohan

Sometimes, the reason an entrepreneur is denied funding isn’t because he doesn’t have what it takes to succeed. And it’s not because he doesn’t have a viable idea. Sometimes the only reason an entrepreneur gets turned away is because he didn’t pitch to the right investor. Read on to see what Mukund Mohan and his wife are looking for in a company and in an entrepreneur.

Sramana Mitra: Hi Mukund. Tell us briefly your background.

Mukund Mohan: My wife and I have been investing as individual investors in early stage technology companies for over 10 years, since 2001, in the Bay area, and since 2008, in India. We have invested in seven companies so far in India, and in the US we had invested through an investment vehicle called Zodiac Ventures LLC. >>>

Calling All Angel Investors

We are doing a retrospective on my blog on Seed Capital from Angel Investors as part of the 1M/1M project. As we speak with a variety of angels in different regions, what strikes me is the number of startups out there looking for seed capital. >>>

Angel Investing: A Growing Phenomenon Around the World

By guest author Karen E. Wilson

A new book from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) looks at seed and early stage financing for start-up companies and notes the impact of the recent economic crisis. With banks reluctant to provide loans to startups and venture capital firms preferring to invest in later stage companies, a growing class of experienced entrepreneurs and business people are stepping in to fill this funding gap. These “angel investors” not only provide funding but also leverage their expertise to provide mentoring to the entrepreneurial teams in which they invest, according to a new OECD report. >>>

Seed Capital: Kosch Capital Management Managing Partner Scott Kosch

Sramana Mitra: Hi, Scott. Tell us briefly about your background.

Scott Kosch: I studied economics and psychology at Claremont McKenna College, prior to trying out management consulting, and then business school at Wharton, but all along I was interested in entrepreneurial pursuits.  I’ve worn many hats: company founder, advisor, and investor. My passion has remained with the early stages of new businesses and the process of invention.  >>>

How To Achieve Great Media Coverage For Your Incubator

By guest author Irina Patterson

Who doesn’t appreciate great PR? It leads to brand recognition and more business.

Let me use a case study to explain how simple it is with 1M/1M. One of our partners, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT, KGP), held a custom roundtable with us in January 2012. >>>

Strong Entrepreneurs vs. Weak Entrepreneurs

By guest author Irina Patterson

Which kind of entrepreneur do you want to be?

Great entrepreneurs always find the time to study even when they are very busy. They find the time to fill the gaps in their knowledge of how to build a business.

Weak entrepreneurs keep doing the same thing over and over again. They repeat the same mistakes that thousands of others have made before them and in doing so put themselves out of business. >>>

How to Explain One Million by One Million (1M/1M)

By guest author Irina Patterson

One of our partners asked me for an overview of 1M/1M in a letter form. He wanted an easy way to explain 1M/1M to a government agency that he is part of. >>>