Team Insights Focus

Maintaining consistent performance is a crucial indicator for evaluating a business. Hence, entrepreneurs aiming for long-term sustainability and seeking meaningful capital for scaling up should prioritise consistency above all else.

Speaking at the VCCircle Limited Partners Summit 2024 in Mumbai, Aviom Housing Finance Founder and Managing Director Kajal Ilmi shared her perspectives on various aspects of building an impact-oriented enterprise.

Ilmi, who created Aviom Housing Finance and has raised equity capital from Gojo &amp; Company, C4D Asia Fund, Sabre Partners, and Nuveen, besides a whole host of offshore lenders and domestic banks, touched upon the role of development financial institutions and how Limited Partners (LPs), who are the real investors behind the private equity and venture capital ecosystem, shape up investee companies.

DFI Quotient

As part of a fireside chat with Srini Nagarajan, Managing Director and Head of Asia, British International Investment (BII), formerly CDC, she noted how development finance institutions (DFIs) are critical in a market like India.

&ldquo;DFIs set the agenda of the social problems that are going to be solved. If there are more DFIs today focusing on climate, a lot more entrepreneurs are trying to find solutions to the common issues of climate and they know the DFIs will back them directly or indirectly (via other funds). So, DFIs have a responsible role to play as they define the direction of the movement of funds,&rdquo; she said.

On the flip side, she observed that nobody can hide behind the fact that they are a social impact company.

Profitability and sustainability need to go hand in hand, she said.

&ldquo;Consistency in performance is very important and I would rather go in for average profit consistently rather than high profit erratically. When you have consistent profits, you can build consistent processes and policies around it. Policies, processes, and governance are going to be issues that will be the hallmark of companies that will be there for decades,&rdquo; she added.

Changing Contours

Ilmi, who has also attracted several international LPs as direct investors into her firm as lenders, also touched upon the changing contours of investor commitments. She spoke about the investor imperatives and the need for a communication directly with LPs while sharing the stage in a panel with Neha Grover, South Asia Lead, Private Equity Funds, IFC, Sampath Reddy, CIO, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, and Akhil Awasthi, Managing Partner, Tata Capital Growth Fund.

She stressed on the importance of internal rate of return (IRR) and said, &ldquo;Any well-run company is a service to society, any well-run company where you do what you say and you say what you do, creates good impact.&rdquo;

Ilmi said that LPs decide the course of the business for entrepreneurs. &ldquo;Today if climate is a buzzword a lot of people are trying to find sustainable businesses that can create returns in climate. Earlier tech was there and then AI became a spiel.&rdquo;

As a result, a lot of entrepreneurs go astray trying to conform with the buzzwords but they realise in the long run that you cannot fake it and one needs to own what you do really well.

&ldquo;There has to be more clear and transparent dialogues so that entrepreneurs are not forced to colour their business based on the flavour of the day. We (Aviom) do housing, micro mortgage and we have helped more than one lakh customers but we are very honest about the fact that we have not been able to crack the rooftop solar energy (financing) area currently,&rdquo; Ilmi said.

Net-net, there needs to be greater communication between LPs and downstream investee companies.

&ldquo;Sustainability and consistency over a longer period of time, helps a company build a reputation in the market,&rdquo; quipped Ilmi.

She also shared her perspective based on her conversations with LPs that most of them, whether they are investing directly or indirectly through third party funds or other PE-VC funds, that they are more bullish on India compared with other emerging markets like countries in Southeast Asia.

&ldquo;LPs who also invest in Southeast Asia are happier with Indian regulators and their checks and balances compared to a lot of other countries. All LPs are also answerable somewhere. Entire conversation needs to sync up with profitability, answerability and then followed by social impact,&rdquo; she signed off.

No VCCircle/TechCircle journalist was involved in the production of this content.

Insights Focus

Maintaining consistent performance is a crucial indicator for evaluating a business. Hence, entrepreneurs aiming for ......

Sustainability and consistency are key metrics for building a business: Aviom's Kajal Ilmi

In today&#39;s fast-paced and interconnected world, efficient communication and seamless collaboration hold exceptional significance for enterprises, spanning a spectrum of scales and dimensions.&nbsp;

With the future of work evolving at breakneck speed, hybrid or remote work routines have become the new norm for many businesses across the globe. To adapt to this changing landscape, businesses are turning to innovative solutions to optimise collaboration and productivity.

Google Workspace, a comprehensive suite of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools, has emerged as a game-changer in elevating collaborative efforts, optimizing workflows and fostering innovation.&nbsp;

A recent in-depth interview conducted by TechCircle delves into the transformative power of Google Workspace, shedding light on how this tool has improved collaboration within organisations. Through the perspectives of Ravi Toshniwal, Managing Director of Banswara Syntex Limited, Asia&#39;s prominent vertically integrated textile mill, delivering top-tier yarn, fabric, and garments; and Ammol Petwe, Associate Director, Future of Work Practice at Searce, a fast-growing modern technology consulting firm that helps businesses in their digital transformation journey, the interview presents valuable insights into how Google Workspace enables innovation, efficiency, and unified teamwork.

The power of technology in unleashing business transformation

Technology&#39;s prowess in reshaping both individual lives and organisational landscapes is undeniable. The interview commences by tracing Google&#39;s trajectory - from empowering individuals with tools like Gmail and Google Drive to eventually revolutionizing the enterprise landscape.&nbsp;

Ravi aptly encapsulates technology&#39;s essence, stating, &quot;Technology acts as a catalyst, automating routine tasks and allowing you to relinquish from administrative duties, thus enabling you to concentrate on essential priorities.&quot; This perspective underscores technology&#39;s potential to streamline operations and catalyse productivity.

Google Workspace: catalyst for collaborative transformation

Google Workspace is a classic example of how technology propels collaborative efforts. The cloud-based application empowers teams to work seamlessly in a virtual environment. With smooth integration of tools like Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive and Google Meet, Google Workspace helps teams to connect, create and collaborate securely from anywhere in the world.

Collaboration is at the heart of Google Workspace. It lets teams join meetings remotely, share ideas instantly, collaborate in real-time, and more.&nbsp;

Furthermore, Ammol explores the profound impact of Google Workspace on organisational dynamics. He highlights three key areas of improvement brought about by collaboration: innovation through collective brainstorming, operational efficiency amplified by technology tools, and change management implementation facilitated by robust processes.&nbsp;

With the integration of smart features like Generative AI into the collaboration paradigm, Google Workspace further improves productivity, creativity, and collaboration for enterprises. Supporting this statement, Ravi highlights the potential of Generative AI in revolutionizing core business functions such as sales and marketing, human resource management and customer operations, among others. He adds, &ldquo;The integration of AI capabilities in Google Workspace coupled with human expertise can lead to more efficient and informed decision-making processes within organisations.&rdquo;

Navigating digital transformation with Searce

Searce empowers businesses to improve outcomes and accelerate their digital transformation by leveraging cloud data, AI and analytics solutions. With Searce&rsquo; applied AI expertise, businesses can improve process efficiency and productivity.&nbsp;

Ammol outlines Searce&#39; holistic approach, encompassing advisory services, technology implementation, and ongoing management. He accentuates the significance of collaboration and technology adoption, effectively transforming enterprises into agile and responsive entities. He states, &quot;Our mission is to enable enterprises to unlock the true potential of technology by fostering engagement and ensuring the smooth integration of these technological solutions.&quot; This approach underscores the importance of continuous evolution and sustainable technological integration.

Fostering business excellence with Google Workspace implementation by Searce

Future of work experts at Searce brings profound proficiency in deployment, data migration, change management and user adoption, ensuring seamless implementation of the Google Workspace collaboration tool.

The implementation of Google Workspace by Searce not only bridges the collaboration gap but also cultivates a lasting affinity toward innovation and technological adaptation.

Brand Solutions is a marketing initiative for posts. No VCCircle journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, efficient communication and seamless collaboration hold exceptional ......

Elevating Collaboration with Google Workspace: Insights from Industry Leaders

VCCircle successfully organised the 2nd edition of Fintech Summit, a hybrid event presented by Perfios Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. The summit was held on July 15th 2022 at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. Themed &lsquo;Renaissance of the Financial Experience&rsquo;, the event was centered on identifying new-age business models and strategies that FinTechs may adopt to improve user experiences while surviving in the market. Furthermore, the event highlighted the importance of collaboration for financial inclusion using embedded finance.

This year&#39;s edition set a lot of momentum with a powerful line-up of 17 industry speakers who shared their perspectives with 80+ in-person and 100+ digital attendees. Leaders from across industries discussed relevant topics like: Decrypting the code to Fintech&#39;s acceleration, Making money in fintech space - opportunities, challenges &amp; pitfalls, Re-imagining the FinTech Landscape with Embedded Finance, Next generation banking via bank-fintech partnerships, and BNPL Business Model - Outlining Opportunities, Challenges, and Best Practices.

This highly interactive event was proudly supported by our esteemed partners: Presenting Partner - Perfios Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Session Partner - Cashfree Payments, Data Centre Partner - Capitaland Investments, and Payments Partner - Innoviti.

Watch this video to get more insights!

VCCircle successfully organised the 2nd edition of Fintech Summit, a hybrid Event presented by Perfios Software ......

Highlights of Fintech Summit 2022

Rapid technological advancements have occurred in the aftermath of the outbreak. Today, businesses, including fast-growing enterprises, use technology to leverage new advancements and reimagine their operations for hypergrowth.&nbsp;

If you look at the statistics, SMBs account for about 50% of India&rsquo;s businesses. 83% of fast-growing companies now count on digital resiliency initiatives for business continuity, and 57% of companies have already incorporated automation for improved operational efficiency. In 2022, 74% of India&rsquo;s fast-growing companies plan to increase or retain their IT security, risk management, &amp; governance spending.&nbsp;

This improved outlook toward technology promises accelerated regrowth of India&rsquo;s economy and high-end sustainability. But, how is technology enabling this need for hastened revenue and customer acceleration, especially for fast-growing businesses?

Check out this invigorating and inspiring session where Harish Laddha, CEO, Airtel Business, and Shalil Gupta, CBO, Mosaic Digital discuss &lsquo;Ushering A New Era of Economic Growth&rsquo;- the one factor that is changing the foundation of businesses especially fast-growing enterprises across multiple sectors. Gear up to #getaheadwithairtel!&nbsp;

Brand Solutions is a marketing initiative for sponsored posts. No VCCircle journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

Rapid technological advancements have occurred in the aftermath of the outbreak. Today, businesses, including fast-growing enterprises,...

Ushering A New Era of Economic Growth

Manufacturing in India is among the strongest pillars of the economy, leading to the post-Covid recovery. The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of economies and has brought forth the importance of new technologies, process innovations, fresh input trends, and demand patterns. There is a need to analyze the manufacturing playbook more closely, initiate discourse around it and see how we can innovate smartly.&nbsp;

If you look at the statistics, today, India, as a global manufacturing hub, has the potential to add over the US $500 bn annually to the global economy. By 2025, India&rsquo;s manufacturing sector will reach US $1 trn. Government Impetus - PLI schemes to unlock India&rsquo;s manufacturing capacity and draw the US $53 bn CapEx.

Having said that, it&rsquo;s imperative to have the right steps in the right direction. And the Mint-Zetwerk Smart Manufacturing Summit 2022 is all about it.&nbsp;

Check out this invigorating and inspiring session where Vishal Chaudhary, Co-Founder, Zetwork, and Shalil Gupta, CBO, Mosaic Digital discuss &lsquo;India - A Manufacturing Powerhouse in the Making&rsquo;- the one factor that talks about how Zetwerk&rsquo;s manufacturing capabilities are helping customers reduce costs of existing and new production parts, optimize many suppliers and execute high-quality production faster.&nbsp;

Brand Solutions:&nbsp;No VCCircle journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

Manufacturing in India is among the strongest pillars of the economy, leading to the post-Covid recovery. The pandemic has exposed...

India - A Manufacturing Powerhouse in the Making

VCCircle organised the 13th edition of its flagship event, &ldquo;Limited Partners Summit&rdquo;, co-partnered by ICICI Ventures on February 18, 2022. The digital event featured some incredible insights and facts from top experts, including what 2021 looked like in terms of big exits for many companies, as well as what all points should be kept in mind for fundraising.

The summit also captured the views and expertise of Puneet Nanda, MD &amp; CEO, ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Limited on Industry view &amp; the role of domestic LPs, in conversation with Jaideep Mehta, CEO, Mosaic Digital &amp; Head &ndash; Mint.

Watch this video to get more insights!

Brand Solutions is a marketing initiative for sponsored posts. No VCCircle journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

VCCircle organised the 13th edition of its flagship event, “Limited Partners Summit”, co-partnered by ICICI Ventures...

Limited Partners Summit 2022 - Fireside Chat on Industry view & the role of domestic LPs

TEAM VCC

Estimates suggest that in just another 10 years, the edtech market size would account for $30 billion. While the K12 segment continues to garner the Lion&rsquo;s share, Test Prep, Reskilling, Higher Education, &amp; casual learning are expected to catchup. But what could be the non-consumption markets that predict these high growth rates? The session would decipher the possible segments of edtech that will drive growth in the next decade.

Estimates suggest that in just another 10 years, the edtech market size would account for $30 billion. While the K12 ......

Deciphering the New Playbook of the $1 billion EdTech Market

In the third episode of &ldquo;Microsoft Capital Circle Dialogue&rdquo; in partnership with VCCircle, we discussed&mdash; the role of AI in the digital ecosystem, the role of hyperscalers such as Microsoft in the development of the start-up ecosystem, and what does 100X.VC look for in founders? Our guest speakers are Ninad Karpe, Partner, 100X.VC, Dr. Jyoti Joshi, CEO &amp; Co-Founder, Kroop AI, and Jaideep Mehta, CEO- Mosaic Digital, &amp; Head-Mint.&nbsp;

Artificial intelligence is not just gaining traction in our everyday conversation. But it&#39;s becoming more and more real. And this is creating a whole different paradigm of competition for varying levels of profitability, completely new dimensions of growth, and most importantly, helping start-ups resolve tomorrow&#39;s problem seamlessly.&nbsp;

Dr. Jyoti Joshi said, &ldquo;Kroop AI is a deep tech start-up that generates synthetic data for the different use cases. They have a multimodal explainable, deep fake detector that aims to project a reality and uncover falsified information.&rdquo; She further highlighted, &ldquo;Current focus areas: Audio, Video &amp; Image.&rdquo;

Ninad Karpe said, &ldquo;We look for companies that solve problems for tomorrow. There will be only 2 types of companies in the future: Hyperscalers and one that doesn&#39;t scale at all. Without technology, scale is not possible.&quot; He further added, &ldquo;We are a discovery platform. Our DNA: our willingness to take the risk.&quot;

Jaydeep further asked about the role of Microsoft in building a company like Kroop AI. Dr. Jyoti said, &quot; Hyperscalers such as Microsoft help us to bring ideas into a product form. They help us to pursue dreams, passion, and ideas. &quot;&nbsp;

Click here to get complete insights and learn why 2022 seems a watershed year for start-ups from an investor lens and an inspiring year for youngsters from a start-ups lens.

Brand Solutions is a marketing initiative for sponsored posts. No VCCircle journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

In the third episode of “ Microsoft Capital Circle Dialogue” in partnership with VCCircle, we discussed— the...

Capital Circle Dialogues Episode 3

In the second episode of &ldquo;Capital Circle Dialogue&quot;, in partnership with VCCircle, Jaideep Mehta, CEO of Mosaic Digital and Head of Mint, discussed with Puneet Jaggi, Founder, Prescinto Technologies and Mitesh Shah, Co-Founder at Inflection Point Ventures. The discussion was around the importance of clean tech to our civilization, how the world of data applies to cleantech, and how this sector is poised for disruption with greener energy sources.

Given the sea change in the ecosystem today, the top agenda across leadership is to build resilient businesses for the longer term. And this is creating a whole different paradigm of competition for varying levels of profitability and completely new dimensions of growth. In such a scenario, how cloud platforms are helping in enabling cleantech, how IPs are going beyond finance &amp; supporting startups, what makes them different from VCs. Last but least, how has that benefited your company as part of the Microsoft startup ecosystem.

Said Puneet Jaggi, &ldquo;Solar &amp; Wind technology is the new disrupter. At Prescinto, we collect data from both solar &amp; wind projects, get them to the cloud, use cloud abilities, run our data science &amp; AI models on them to gain insights and understand to improve generation. This sector is gathering more and more pace &amp; momentum. YoY investment = $400 billions minimum. By 2030 = 50% of the entire energy mix will be powered by renewable energy, largely solar and wind.&quot;

Said Mitesh Shah, &ldquo; Future = Clean-tech. Azure = indispensable tool for an early-stage startup, Partners like Microsoft = God Gift.&quot;

Jaideep further asked what&#39;s exciting about the Microsoft program. Puneet said, &quot; Microsoft helps us to develop a go-to-market faster globally, thanks to familiarity and deep penetration across the world. They provide us capabilities, migration ability, and architecture support.&quot;&nbsp;

Click here to get complete insights.

Brand Solutions is a marketing initiative for sponsored posts. No VCCircle journalist was involved in the creation of this content.

In the second episode of “Capital Circle Dialogue", in partnership with VCCircle, Jaideep Mehta, CEO of Mosaic Digital and Head ......

Capital Circle Dialogues Episode 2

Staff Writer

The global healthcare data is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36% by 2025. To make healthcare more equitable, affordable and accessible, there is a need to find ways to unite and generate actionable insights from data. How collaborations and strategic partnerships can harness the data to tackle the issues faced by the sector? With the rise of data, the sector is also increasingly becoming vulnerable to cyber-attacks and frauds. India continues to remain the second-largest country to face cyber-attacks and has already seen a 37% increase in cyber-attacks in November and December of 2020. Moreover, hospitals in India allocate maximum of 5% of their budget which makes them unprepared for cyber-attacks. What are the means to handle the rising cyber threats and data breaches? What actions and initiatives will help the Indian healthcare system to counter cyber-attacks?

Healthcare

The global healthcare data is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36% by 2025. To make healthcare more equitable, ......

How can we harness data for healthcare and safegaurd ourselves from cyber threats?

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Aman Rawat

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Lok Capital onboards offshore LP for fifth PE fund

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VC-backed laundry services firm Quick Clean in talks for Series B round

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