Dear Investors,
‘The times, they are a changing’ – must be the most repeated statement and yet it holds true every time. “Every crest is followed by a trough, and the trough, inevitably, by the crest.” And so the waves of fortune lap the shores of effort. The best amongst us know how to make the most of the changes, and use changing situations to change fortunes.
YourNest endeavors to find those Indians and Indian businesses that seek to dive deep into the ocean of opportunity and reap the pearls of its great bounty. Since our first close, we have invested in 3 such ideas. And in a short time, these warriors of the corporate world have grown – to over 100 bright, energetic people, 3 completely different businesses, in an investment of just around ?4 crores. We continue to search for the brightest amongst the bright ideas and the most passionate amongst the passionate.
We have also actively supported our investee companies in building their teams, encouraging them in their effort to enhance speed to market and product development. We have tried to be sounding board for their ideas, and encouraged them to develop roots and wings – wings to soar high, and roots to remain firmly grounded in reality.
The changes around us are also palpable. This year has witnessed a major fillip for “angel funding and early stage venture capital” with a comprehensive recommendation by Planning Commission committee on “Creating a Vibrant eco-system for entrepreneurship”. YourNest, we are proud to share, is championing this cause and is leading representations with relevant ministries for spreading awareness on how they can enable Indian start-ups and early-stage venture capital to prosper.
India’s presence in the start-up world is on the up. A recent study by Kauffman, the foundation for entrepreneurship highlighted that of the immigrant founded tech-companies in US 33.2% of the President, CEO, CTO’s are of Indian origin. Indians have founded more such companies than immigrants born in the next top seven immigrant-founder-sending countries combined (China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Israel, Russia, Korea, Australia, and the Netherlands). The genes have always been there. All that’s needed is a more fertile eco-system in the country. And with your support, foresight, and encouragement, YourNest will endeavour to continue to build on the opportunity that every change presents.
In the end, I would like to extend Seasons Greeting and Warm wishes to you and your family from the YourNest team.
Sunil K Goyal
November 6, 2012