India Inc: How India’s Top Ten Entrepreneurs Are Winning Globally

Tuesday 16 February 2010
Hosted by Fasken Martineau
Organised by: Asia-Pacific Technology Network

Speakers

  • Vikas Pota, Managing Director, Saffron Chase and author of ‘India Inc: How India’s Top Ten Entrepreneurs Are Winning Globally‘
  • Alpesh Patel, Principal at Praefinium Group & Dealmaker at UK Trade and Investment

The emergence of India as a future superpower might have been the talk of countless summits and conferences in recent years, but as we move into a new decade, without a doubt, her strides become increasingly confident and bring into the spotlight some of its most prolific and successful entrepreneurs, who’re taking on and beating their global competitors in their own back yards.
Through this book, Pota narrates the phenomenal and inspiring journeys of these icons, many of whom have gone from being garage start ups to achieving stunning global success in their lifetimes. Through his book, he argues that Indian sensibilities will increasingly shape business debates around the world.
This book is an effort to sift through the jargon, dust off the myths and spell out in simple terms what the future of India Inc holds for the country in particular, and the world at large.

Location: Fasken Martineau, 17 Hanover Square London W1S 1HU
Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus
Timing: Registration from 5pm: Seminar starts at 5.30 pm: drinks from around 7.15 pm.
Pricing:

  • Free to Fasken Martineau clients and APTN annual subscribers
  • £40 + VAT (Executives)
  • £20 + VAT (Asian citizens/institutions, officials, executives from Small Companies)
  • £10 + VAT (Academics),
  • Free for the Media.

Vikas Pota
is the Managing Director of Saffron Chase, a leading government relations & PR consultancy, and is the author of ‘India Inc: How India’s Top Ten Entrepreneurs Are Winning Globally‘. He is often asked to provide his commentary and insight into Indian business and political matters to the media. He writes a blog on globalization and India, and appears regularly on CNN, BBC News 24, BBC World TV and Al-Jazeera. He has commented in the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Observer, and The Independent on Sunday on issues ranging from the contentious subject of off-shoring and outsourcing, the impact of the Indian Elections on economic reforms, to terrorist attacks such as those experienced in Mumbai in 2008. In his book ‘India Inc: How India’s Top Ten Entrepreneurs Are Winning Globally‘, Vikas narrates the phenomenal journey’s of ten Indian entrepreneurs, many of whom have gone from being garage start ups to achieving stunning global success in their lifetimes. Through his book, he provides examples of how Indian entrepreneurs are taking on and beating their global competitors in their own back yards and argues that Indian sensibilities will increasingly shape business debates around the world. He has advised some of the world’s leading firms that have invested billions of dollars in India. In addition to briefing CEOs, Ministers, Parliamentarians, and senior journalists on breaking developments in South Asia, he has taken part in discussions; authored submissions to influential Parliamentary Select Committees, and has delivered speeches to think tanks and the Trades Union Congress on critical subjects like the off-shoring and the globalisation of services. Saffron Chase has been described as displaying “excellence in every aspect of what they do” by TATA Director S.A Hasan. Through Saffron Chase, Pota launched the India Briefing Centre in 2008 to provide the first bespoke training courses for firms needing an in-depth understanding of the Indian political, economic, and cultural climate. He followed this up by establishing the first UK-India Public Affairs company, Chase India. He lives with his family in London.

Alpesh Patel

Global

  • Praefinium Prtners, Founder Principal. Global venture capital, multi-asset management company. -
  • (formerly Agile Partners Asset Management,) Founder Director, (Hedge Fund) (2004-)
  • ICICI Bank, Private Bank’s Investment Advisory Committee, (India’s largest bank) (2005-7)
    • Advising on global economy and best structured products & funds for global high net worth market
    • -Evaluating best of breed global funds for funding and distribution by bank
  • Montague Pitman Stockbrokers, Non-exec Director (2008-9)
  • Aranca,  Non-exec Chairman  since inception,  (Independent Financial Research) (2003-)
    • Employing over 400 research analysts serving investments banks, VCs and hedge funds in Europe and US

India

  • Co-Chairman, UK-India Business Angel Network, launched by the PM (2008-)to bring Indian scientific innovation, entrepreneurs and investment to the UK
  • UK Trade & Industry, Dealmaker for India (2005-)
    • Sourcing VC deals from India
    • Hunting for innovative early-stage technologies from leading entrepreneurs and scientists
    • Capital raising globally through banks and VCs for entrepreneurs
  • UK India Business Council Director & Board Member, (UK-India Govt Body to promote bilateral trade) (2004-)
    • Advice on strategy for bilateral trade growth
  • UK-India Roundtable, Board Member
    • Appointment by UK Foreign Sec to promote closer bilateral ties (2000-5). Providing policy initiatives to Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign & Commonwealth Office

UK

  • AllTrue Investments Plc, Director, (Traditional broker, corporate financier and UK largest private investor expo and training company) (2005-7)
  • The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Board Member, (A global organisation mentoring entrepreneurs) (2000-)
  • Governor University of Luton, (and on Strategic Planning and Finance Committee – advising on suitable investments) (2004-7)
  • Chatham House, Trustee, (and Member of Investment Committee – advising on suitable investments) (2004-)
  • University of Reading,  Board of Advisors, (Centre for Entrepreneurship) (2002-4)
  • Trapezia Venture Capital Fund, Advisory Panel, (2004-2006)