New Delhi/January 17, 2022: Agility Ventures, one of the leading Angel Investors Networks in the country, organised a Fireside Chat on the topic: A US perspective on Indian Startup Ecosystem on Saturday. Prof Viney Sawhney, a Harvard-based professor, who is an expert in private equity, venture capital (VC) and investment banking, described the Indian venture capital (VC) scene as stunning.
While giving details about the US perspective on the Indian Startup Ecosystem, he said, “India is not new territory for the US-based VC investors. The country has seen a dramatic escalation in dollar terms that has been invested in the last year-and-a-half. The growth doubled as far as unicorn count is concerned and that I think has spurred and attracted a lot of attention here in the US. As soon as the news started to trickle from the Indian press and other reliable financial and governmental resources that India is not only receiving significant VC dollars but is also having a home run as far as the unicorns are concerned, I started receiving lots and lots of phone calls from hedge fund managers, pension fund managers and institutional investors, who typically have always shied away from India.”
Dhianu Das, co-founder, Agility Ventures and angel investor, presided over the webinar and noted that Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi had also met 160-plus startups in the country on Saturday. Calling startups the backbone of the country, PM Modi declared that January 16 would now be celebrated as National Startup Day. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal added that they should target and add 75 unicorns this year.
Prof Sawhney informed that India had surpassed a record level of investments in the year 2021, touching an all-time high of almost about $42 billion. He also added that by funding a record number of unicorns, which is more than the total of 2020 and 2019 combined, has put India on the world map as far as the VC scene is concerned. He also rattled out the latest startup figures according to a survey till December 31, 2021. These include 1436 startups being launched in 2021, 1583 funding deals being recorded in 2021 and Bengaluru topping as the numero uno city in the country as a startup hub with maximum deals in 2021. While 2487 investors participated in the startup funding, $42 billion were raised by Indian startups in 2021.
Prof Sawhney concurred, “India deserves to get a lot more than $42-billion in the VC space. The potential for India is simply stunning and we have not even scratched the surface as yet of what is yet to come.”
Meanwhile, Agility Ventures has received approvals from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an angel fund with a total corpus of the angel fund is INR 450 crore (USD 60 Million). It is also looking to deploy the entire corpus in the next 3-4 years.
![New Delhi [India], January 9: Visually impaired cricketer and captain of Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the Blind Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy on Tuesday was conferred with Prestigious Arjuna Award from the President of India at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games is given for good performance over a period of the previous three years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. Illuri Ajay Kumar Reddy (Blind Cricket) is among the 26 sportspersons who were honoured with Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2023. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports last month had announced the National Sports Awards 2023. The nominated stars received their awards from the President of India. “I am overwhelmed with this recognition. I dedicate this award to my Parents and Family members for their support. I also would like to thank Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and all the players with whom I have played,” Ajay Reddy said in a statement. Congratulating Arjuna awardee Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman- Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said “It is an honour and proud moment for all the blind cricketers across the world. It is the good recognition for the hard work and dedication in taking Cricket for the Blind to the next level through various achievements by the Indian Men’s Cricket Team for the blind under the leadership of Ajay Reddy. CABI is happy that cricket for the blind is getting the recognition with other major sports.” Following the Award ceremony, Illuri Ajay Reddy, the chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar and CABI secretary Shailender Yadav also met Indian pacer Mohammad Shami. Shami is also among the 26 sportspersons who were honoured with Arjuna Award on Tuesday. Illuri Ajay Reddy is currently working in SBI regional office in Bangalore. He is a B2 category player, who is representing India since 2010. He has been part of winning two ODI World Cups, 3 T20 world cups, 1 Asia Cup. Ajay is the captain of the Indian cricket team for the blind since 2016. Under his captaincy Team India has won 1 ODI world cup, 2 T20 world cups, 1 Asia Cup and the Silver Medal in IBSA World Games and many bilateral and triangular Series. Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) acknowledges the great support received from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports through this award. The continuous support and patronage received from the esteemed ministry has helped CABI to achieve this milestone.](https://thisweekindia.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Arjuna-Award-to-Ajay-Kumar-Reddy-Captain-of-Indian-Blind-Cricket-Team-thisweekindia.png)
