Meet the Mentors 2.0: TechHR Startup Program 2018
Our previous article revealed some names of the mentors of TechHR Startup Program 2018 and deep dived into their professional lives and interests. In the second article of the series, learn more about the rest of the mentors of the program.
Technology entrepreneur, Sairee started her entrepreneurial journey in 1999 with Newslink Services - first localized newspaper for mariners globally. Later, in 2006, she also co-founded SAITA Consulting, a consulting firm working with SMBs. After founding Fleximoms in 2010, Sairee enabled women to make most suitable work-life choices and connected them to the world of work. Later, in 2013, Fleximoms went on to be known as Sheroes.
Through Sheroes, Sairee impacts the lives of more than 3 Mn women. She is credited with building up women at work and future-of-work conversations in India, besides being responsible for building a strong technology play to solve the problems of gender disparity in India. Prior to Sheroes, Sairee has also worked with various companies like Heidrick & Struggles and CII.
With a great passion for technology and women for change, her areas of interest include Internet, Communities, Future of Work, Entrepreneurship, Investing, Gender, Media and Economies of transition.
A strategist and a technology evangelist, Avnish has about 25 years of extensive experience around market making, growth hacking, corporate innovation, digital transformation and leadership development for Top 500 Fortune clients in both mature and emerging markets. An ex-Army officer, Avnish has worked with companies like IBM and Accenture. Currently, in Accenture he takes care of designing and leading the Open Innovation programme for India including managing relationships with startups, VCs, PEs, Accelerators, Incubators, Industry bodies like Nasscom and iSpirt as well as academia.
Accenture works closely with startups in the areas of digital, artificial intelligence; industrial Internet of Things; augmented reality/ virtual reality and new IT like DevOps and Agile. Some of the startups that Accenture has worked with include Uncanny Vision, MintM, and AI-based conversational engagement platform Yellow Messenger.
Having returned to India from Silicon Valley in 2005, Rahul has played a key role in the development of the venture capital ecosystem in India and is recognized as an active investor in several high growth companies. He supports the startup ecosystem by advising early-stage companies and making angel investments as a member of the Mumbai Angels (Delhi Chapter). Rahul has an experience of nineteen years of operating and investing in Technology, Media and Telecoms.
Before founding Trifecta Capital in 2014, he has served as Managing Director in Canaan Partners India. He has also worked in companies like Sonim Technologies and Clearstone Venture Advisors. His current venture, Trifecta’s portfolio includes startups like Big Basket, Paper Boat, UrbanClap and Urban Ladder.
Vikram has been building and funding internet businesses across the world since 1999. His Venture Firm, Eight Innovate has seeded 26 seed to early-stage startups over the last decade. These include names like Carwale.com, HCG Global, EzeTap, Blue Tokai, MoneyTap, Online Tyari, Eatigo, Signzy, amongst others. Vikram started Eight Innovative in 2007 and has also worked with companies like Snapfish.com,Banco Santander and HCL Technologies. Currently, he is also a board member of Signzy and OnlineTyari.com.
Eight Innovate’s current portfolio also includes payment platform Paytm and specialty coffee brand, Blue Tokai.
Venture capitalist and tech startup enthusiast, Rama has an experience of more than 10 years. He loves to work with tech entrepreneurs and helps them transform their ideas and innovation potential into successful businesses. He became the Director of Qualcomm Ventures in 2017, where his key areas of interest include Mobile/Enterprise software, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, VR/AR and Digital Health.
Before Qualcomm, he has worked in Ventureeast as Principal. He has also worked with Sun Microsystems in Silicon Valley for close to 7 years, initially as a systems programmer and later as a senior product manager. Qualcomm Ventures has recently invested in ideaForge, Gizwits and Dover Microsystems.
An HR and Tech enthusiast, Sanjeev started his professional journey in 1999 with Berger Paints India as Area Sales Manager. After that he worked with big names like GE Healthcare, Infosys Technologies, Tesco and Accenture. In 2011 he joined Google as Program Manager (Staffing Operations) in Singapore. Ever since then,he has been in Google and has been leading Staffing for APAC since 2015. With a strong background in both technology and HR, Sanjeev brings with him immense knowledge and experience in the space.
Entrepreneurship is a deep dive into finding a specific formula that works. Some people stumble upon it early and some never hit upon it, writes Rajul in one of his blogs.
Rajul is an early stage investor, who has invested and advised companies like HealthAssure, Shuttl, Sheroes and Edureka. Before starting Leo.Capital India in 2017 he made several investments in various companies independently. He has also been serving as the Non Executive Director in Sunstone Eduversity since 2011. He also worked as a Consultant for a year in Venture Capital Firms. His firm Leo Capital currently invests in early stage, technology-centric opportunities, primarily in India and invests anywhere from $300K to $1.5M in early seed rounds or pre-Series A rounds. The firm’s current portfolio includes Flixstoc, BeatO, LoanSimple and learning platform Edureka.
With expertise in domains like education, healthcare, real estate, electronics and media tech, Ashwin currently advises investors and venture capitalists.
He believes, “It’s important that investors work on niche ideas because when its niche, they not only invest but also contribute in even more important ways. And that's what defines a successful business.”
Ashwin has an experience of over 18 years in various businesses. He has worked as SME Consultant, COO and Director. For a long time now he has been an advisor, venture capitalist and angel investor with an experience in private equity investments, startup funding and acquisitions, along with a successful serial entrepreneurship of building multiple multi-million dollar companies (in India and UAE) from scratch. According to his LinkedIn profile he is interested in all things nerdy.
The early stage startups that are looking for building mentorship relationships can take part in the People Matters TechHR Startup Program and make most of this opportunity. Click here to register.