Keiretsu Forum to open 2nd Indian chapter in City

In a move that is sure to give an impetus to upcoming start-ups in the City and the country at large, the US-based angel investor network Keiretsu Forum has decided to open its second Indian chapter in Bengaluru. The forum has entered into a partnership with the NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).

The partnership will help facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship with an emphasis on educating entrepreneurs, investors and venture funding ecosystem participants on business formation, new technology platforms and global best practices.

Explaining the impact of the association, Dr G Sabarinathan, Chairperson, NSRCEL, said that while angel investors have an important part to play in facilitating the growth of entrepreneurship, a global forum like Keiretsu can make a positive difference to the funding phenomenon. “IIMB and NSRCEL are happy to partner with Keiretsu to launch a joint endeavour to augment the availability of early stage funding. IIMB is also pleased with the opportunity to partner with Keiretsu for the potential academic benefits it hopes to realize, such as a closer understanding of the phenomenon of early stage funding of enterprises and opportunities for its students to intern with the Keiretsu Forum in its investment activities,” he said.

Unlike bigger venture capital funds and corporate investors, Keiretsu Forum members focus on very early stage investments in companies which they personally mentor and help grow before taking to bigger investors or the IPO market using its network of angel investors and entrepreneur communities, as well as leading academic institutions and other stakeholders. The first chapter of Keiretsu in India was opened in Chennai a year ago. Globally it has 39 chapters with more than 1500 investors and members.

“We want to bring angel funding within the reach of every start-up with a commercially viable business model. We want to ensure that investors who are looking for opportunities are provided a steady flow of quality deals and the opportunity to meaningfully engage with their investee companies,” said Randy Williams, Founder and CEO, Keiretsu Forum who is the City. Keiretsu Forum Bangalore will be formally launched on Friday.

Robin Bisarya, Co-President of Keiretsu Forum Bangalore will be based in San Diego, USA, as the Bangalore chapter’s main link between investor and entrepreneur communities in the two countries.