STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, under the leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, hosted the second session of its Angel Investor Masterclass series, at the STEM program being organised in association with SIDBI. Organized in association with Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) of IIM Jammu, the session brought together aspiring entrepreneurs, angel investors, and industry leaders to explore the nuances of angel investing and startup funding.
The event featured an exceptional lineup of speakers lead by Suraj Malik, a Private Client and Funds Structuring Expert. It was joined by Pranav Obhroi, Syndicate Lead Manager at Alluvium Capital. Naveen Jain, Founder of Centriti and Co-Manager at Atrium Angels and Saurabh Sharma, Investment Funds Specialist and Angel Investor.
The session was moderated by Vivek Sharma, CIO Jammu, IIM Jammu, who served as a bridge between the esteemed speakers and participants. His ability to simplify the complex topics and foster meaningful dialogue created an engaging and interactive atmosphere, ensuring the session’s success.
Suraj Malik played a pivotal role as the facilitator, contributing significantly to the session’s organization and execution. The event commenced with insights from Pranav Obhroi, who shared his extensive experience evaluating over 100 startups and investing in more than 10 early-stage ventures in the past year.
He emphasized the dynamic nature of India’s startup ecosystem, highlighting the importance of understanding regional variations- “the many mini Indias within India.” Discussing key evaluation criteria for pitches, he stressed the significance of a founder’s vision, competition analysis, industry trends, and the startup’s unique value proposition. Drawing from his journey, he advised participants to cultivate an independent perspective and diversify investments to manage risks effectively.
A highlight of the event was the mock pitch session, where Naveen Jain presented Centriti, an end-to-end e-procurement solution tailored for the HoReCa sector, to Pranav Obhroi, who acted as the investor. This session offered participants a real-world glimpse into the dynamics of startup pitching, challenges, and strategic solutions.
Following the mock pitch, an engaging discussion unfolded. He shared insights on managing business intricacies, addressing seasonality in the HoReCa industry, and scaling businesses to new locations. Saurabh Sharma provided valuable perspectives by analysing major competitors and illustrating how businesses can manage and leverage data effectively to gain a competitive edge.
The masterclass provided attendees with actionable insights on crafting compelling, investor-ready pitches while addressing challenges in the HoReCa sector and uncovering potential opportunities. Participants gained a strategic understanding of thriving as a startup in emerging markets, equipping them with essential tools to navigate today’s competitive landscape.
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A session led by Saurabh Sharma and other angel investors, exploring sector-specific investment opportunities. Contributions from STEM (Skill to Enterprise Module) members enriched the discussions further.
The Entrepreneurship Development Cell of IIM Jammu, in collaboration with STEM members, extends its gratitude to the speakers, participants, and angel investors for making this session an outstanding success. The masterclass demystified angel investing and empowered participants with actionable insights to navigate their entrepreneurial and investment journeys.
