ERP Insights >> Magazine >> April - 2016 issue
India's Booming Startup Sector and Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs
Author : Marion Ryan
Friday, April 22, 2016
India is the fastest-growing startup nation on the planet and is predicted by experts to become the world's next center for innovation and entrepreneurship . The Indian market provides vast opportunities for vibrant start-up businesses and recent figures suggest that more than 800 new ones are launched a year, driving new levels of innovation in the world's second most populated country.
Influx of Investment
Due to the massive potential India has to offer, high-profile venture capitalists from all over the globe are rushing to cash in on this lucrative market. Last year, a total of US$5.3 billion was injected into the startup ecosystem owing to big names including Japan's Softbank who invested US$627 million in ecommerce site Snapdeal, and US$210 million in taxi app Ola as part of a massive US$10 billion investment earmarked by the company for India's booming ecommerce, telecom, and aviation industries. In addition, in early 2015, Alibaba invested in Paytm and Snapdeal, to help reinforce their position against global rival Amazon. Indeed investment in ecommerce accounted for nearly half of the US$6.4 billion of funding in Indian startups in the first three quarters of 2015.
In addition, Sapphire Ventures, with more than US$1.4 billion under management as of July 2013 and 135 investments since its founding in 1996, is focused on helping today's most innovative expansion-stage technology companies in India and across the globe become global category-defining leaders by investing capital, resources and expertise that enables them to scale rapidly. Sapphire Ventures provides a powerful platform for business development and operational excellence for the next-generation of leaders in enterprise and consumer technology. In India, Paytm is an example of a start-up that has leveraged Sapphire Ventures' experience and extensive global enterprise network to scale rapidly.
Innovation will play a significant part in the way investments are handed out, encouraging startups to embrace the disruptive technology that has the potential to put them at the forefront of their respective industries.
The New Digital Economy
The meteoric rise of entrepreneurship in India is due in part to the government's commitment to enhancing the nation's IT infrastructure. Digital India, for example, is an initiative launched by the Indian government to help increase Internet connectivity in the country. The results are impressive: as of June 2014, there were an estimated 243 million users in the country , effectively putting India ahead of US as the world's second largest internet base.
It is in part this broadening internet user base that is paving the way for a thriving startup environment. As ideas flow freely with heightened connectivity, profound changes begin to take place in the economy: disruption, in the form of cutting-edge technology, fresh ideas and reimagined business models, are helping to redefine India's new digital economy. In this hyperconnected economy, it is also imperative for startups to remain agile and innovative, using technology as a key facilitator. In short, to stay ahead of the curve, embracing technology to drive competitive advantage is a must for startups in all geographies.
While all of the advancements in mobility and connectivity have improved our lives and provided greater opportunities for innovation, they have also accelerated the rise of an entirely new problem to contend with: unprecedented and crippling complexity. The world may be getting smarter, but it hasn't gotten any easier.As an entrepreneur in India, if you can cut through the clutter and manage to run simply and smartly, you will have a significant advantage over your competitors.
The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs
Interestingly, India's vibrant startup scene is producing a rise in the number of female entrepreneurs. This comes as the global gap between male and female entrepreneurs narrows: in 2014, the divide between male and female founders shrunk by 6 percent, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor special report of Women's Entrepreneurship. This is particularly true in India, which saw a 50 percent increase in women entrepreneurs compared to the previous year.
In India, there are multiple efforts from both the private and public sector to help provide opportunities for female entrepreneurs. For example, in November 2015 Hyderabad hosted the inaugural Angel Summit in Hyderabad, which brought together more than 700 female participants from all walks of life to pitch ideas, share their stories of struggle and success, showcase their talents, and brainstorm new ideas.Based on the success of the conference, a second edition is now planned in February this year in New Delhi. In addition, organizations such as WEConnect International help connect certified women entrepreneurs with multinational corporate (MNC) members and the organization is expanding its coverage in India.
If you're a woman looking to enter India's burgeoning startup scene, there is no better time than now. The new Digital Economy presents entrepreneurs with endless opportunities - whether it is an opportunity to start a business online, to develop a disruptive new business model, or an opportunity to better market your business by using digital marketing.
By 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices in Asia, setting the stage for entrepreneurs to capitalize on the opportunities in an increasingly connected population. Combine this with the swathes of capital streaming into India's economy and the message is clear: as more and more Indians access the internet and as the digital economy gathers momentum, there's never been a better time to enter the country's thriving startup scene.
India's Booming Startup Sector and Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs
Author : Marion Ryan
Friday, April 22, 2016
India is the fastest-growing startup nation on the planet and is predicted by experts to become the world's next center for innovation and entrepreneurship . The Indian market provides vast opportunities for vibrant start-up businesses and recent figures suggest that more than 800 new ones are launched a year, driving new levels of innovation in the world's second most populated country.
Influx of Investment
Due to the massive potential India has to offer, high-profile venture capitalists from all over the globe are rushing to cash in on this lucrative market. Last year, a total of US$5.3 billion was injected into the startup ecosystem owing to big names including Japan's Softbank who invested US$627 million in ecommerce site Snapdeal, and US$210 million in taxi app Ola as part of a massive US$10 billion investment earmarked by the company for India's booming ecommerce, telecom, and aviation industries. In addition, in early 2015, Alibaba invested in Paytm and Snapdeal, to help reinforce their position against global rival Amazon. Indeed investment in ecommerce accounted for nearly half of the US$6.4 billion of funding in Indian startups in the first three quarters of 2015.
In addition, Sapphire Ventures, with more than US$1.4 billion under management as of July 2013 and 135 investments since its founding in 1996, is focused on helping today's most innovative expansion-stage technology companies in India and across the globe become global category-defining leaders by investing capital, resources and expertise that enables them to scale rapidly. Sapphire Ventures provides a powerful platform for business development and operational excellence for the next-generation of leaders in enterprise and consumer technology. In India, Paytm is an example of a start-up that has leveraged Sapphire Ventures' experience and extensive global enterprise network to scale rapidly.
Innovation will play a significant part in the way investments are handed out, encouraging startups to embrace the disruptive technology that has the potential to put them at the forefront of their respective industries.
The New Digital Economy
The meteoric rise of entrepreneurship in India is due in part to the government's commitment to enhancing the nation's IT infrastructure. Digital India, for example, is an initiative launched by the Indian government to help increase Internet connectivity in the country. The results are impressive: as of June 2014, there were an estimated 243 million users in the country , effectively putting India ahead of US as the world's second largest internet base.
It is in part this broadening internet user base that is paving the way for a thriving startup environment. As ideas flow freely with heightened connectivity, profound changes begin to take place in the economy: disruption, in the form of cutting-edge technology, fresh ideas and reimagined business models, are helping to redefine India's new digital economy. In this hyperconnected economy, it is also imperative for startups to remain agile and innovative, using technology as a key facilitator. In short, to stay ahead of the curve, embracing technology to drive competitive advantage is a must for startups in all geographies.
While all of the advancements in mobility and connectivity have improved our lives and provided greater opportunities for innovation, they have also accelerated the rise of an entirely new problem to contend with: unprecedented and crippling complexity. The world may be getting smarter, but it hasn't gotten any easier.As an entrepreneur in India, if you can cut through the clutter and manage to run simply and smartly, you will have a significant advantage over your competitors.
The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs
Interestingly, India's vibrant startup scene is producing a rise in the number of female entrepreneurs. This comes as the global gap between male and female entrepreneurs narrows: in 2014, the divide between male and female founders shrunk by 6 percent, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor special report of Women's Entrepreneurship. This is particularly true in India, which saw a 50 percent increase in women entrepreneurs compared to the previous year.
In India, there are multiple efforts from both the private and public sector to help provide opportunities for female entrepreneurs. For example, in November 2015 Hyderabad hosted the inaugural Angel Summit in Hyderabad, which brought together more than 700 female participants from all walks of life to pitch ideas, share their stories of struggle and success, showcase their talents, and brainstorm new ideas.Based on the success of the conference, a second edition is now planned in February this year in New Delhi. In addition, organizations such as WEConnect International help connect certified women entrepreneurs with multinational corporate (MNC) members and the organization is expanding its coverage in India.
If you're a woman looking to enter India's burgeoning startup scene, there is no better time than now. The new Digital Economy presents entrepreneurs with endless opportunities - whether it is an opportunity to start a business online, to develop a disruptive new business model, or an opportunity to better market your business by using digital marketing.
By 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices in Asia, setting the stage for entrepreneurs to capitalize on the opportunities in an increasingly connected population. Combine this with the swathes of capital streaming into India's economy and the message is clear: as more and more Indians access the internet and as the digital economy gathers momentum, there's never been a better time to enter the country's thriving startup scene.
Influx of Investment
Due to the massive potential India has to offer, high-profile venture capitalists from all over the globe are rushing to cash in on this lucrative market. Last year, a total of US$5.3 billion was injected into the startup ecosystem owing to big names including Japan's Softbank who invested US$627 million in ecommerce site Snapdeal, and US$210 million in taxi app Ola as part of a massive US$10 billion investment earmarked by the company for India's booming ecommerce, telecom, and aviation industries. In addition, in early 2015, Alibaba invested in Paytm and Snapdeal, to help reinforce their position against global rival Amazon. Indeed investment in ecommerce accounted for nearly half of the US$6.4 billion of funding in Indian startups in the first three quarters of 2015.
In addition, Sapphire Ventures, with more than US$1.4 billion under management as of July 2013 and 135 investments since its founding in 1996, is focused on helping today's most innovative expansion-stage technology companies in India and across the globe become global category-defining leaders by investing capital, resources and expertise that enables them to scale rapidly. Sapphire Ventures provides a powerful platform for business development and operational excellence for the next-generation of leaders in enterprise and consumer technology. In India, Paytm is an example of a start-up that has leveraged Sapphire Ventures' experience and extensive global enterprise network to scale rapidly.
Innovation will play a significant part in the way investments are handed out, encouraging startups to embrace the disruptive technology that has the potential to put them at the forefront of their respective industries.
The New Digital Economy
The meteoric rise of entrepreneurship in India is due in part to the government's commitment to enhancing the nation's IT infrastructure. Digital India, for example, is an initiative launched by the Indian government to help increase Internet connectivity in the country. The results are impressive: as of June 2014, there were an estimated 243 million users in the country , effectively putting India ahead of US as the world's second largest internet base.
It is in part this broadening internet user base that is paving the way for a thriving startup environment. As ideas flow freely with heightened connectivity, profound changes begin to take place in the economy: disruption, in the form of cutting-edge technology, fresh ideas and reimagined business models, are helping to redefine India's new digital economy. In this hyperconnected economy, it is also imperative for startups to remain agile and innovative, using technology as a key facilitator. In short, to stay ahead of the curve, embracing technology to drive competitive advantage is a must for startups in all geographies.
While all of the advancements in mobility and connectivity have improved our lives and provided greater opportunities for innovation, they have also accelerated the rise of an entirely new problem to contend with: unprecedented and crippling complexity. The world may be getting smarter, but it hasn't gotten any easier.As an entrepreneur in India, if you can cut through the clutter and manage to run simply and smartly, you will have a significant advantage over your competitors.
The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs
Interestingly, India's vibrant startup scene is producing a rise in the number of female entrepreneurs. This comes as the global gap between male and female entrepreneurs narrows: in 2014, the divide between male and female founders shrunk by 6 percent, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor special report of Women's Entrepreneurship. This is particularly true in India, which saw a 50 percent increase in women entrepreneurs compared to the previous year.
In India, there are multiple efforts from both the private and public sector to help provide opportunities for female entrepreneurs. For example, in November 2015 Hyderabad hosted the inaugural Angel Summit in Hyderabad, which brought together more than 700 female participants from all walks of life to pitch ideas, share their stories of struggle and success, showcase their talents, and brainstorm new ideas.Based on the success of the conference, a second edition is now planned in February this year in New Delhi. In addition, organizations such as WEConnect International help connect certified women entrepreneurs with multinational corporate (MNC) members and the organization is expanding its coverage in India.
If you're a woman looking to enter India's burgeoning startup scene, there is no better time than now. The new Digital Economy presents entrepreneurs with endless opportunities - whether it is an opportunity to start a business online, to develop a disruptive new business model, or an opportunity to better market your business by using digital marketing.
By 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices in Asia, setting the stage for entrepreneurs to capitalize on the opportunities in an increasingly connected population. Combine this with the swathes of capital streaming into India's economy and the message is clear: as more and more Indians access the internet and as the digital economy gathers momentum, there's never been a better time to enter the country's thriving startup scene.
