Empowering Entrepreneurship and Creativity

The enterprise of entrepreneurs

Pik A Venture

The world economic environment is going through a transformation, United Nations report over the last decade GDP per capita of developing world has grown at three times faster rate than that of the developed world. As per World Bank, by 2020 emerging economies are forecasted to have more than 50% share of the word GDP. As China and India are leading the pack for this shift in economic balance, the global wealth is rapidly moving Eastwardly. Given the growing importance of money as a measure of wealth – especially in a developing country like India where the burgeoning middle class is shining through an accelerated growth in prosperity – it’s always a tantalising thought to find ways to generate more of it. By 2020 India is projected to grow its GDP per person by 150%; whereas by middle of the current decade, Indian healthcare industry is expected to grow at 17% (given India only holds only <1% of global medical technology market), it is more than evident that India has just about begun to savour the good life. The prospering Indian middle class is keen to find ways for generating more money than even the best-paid jobs can offer. Gone are the days when bright kids ended up in hospitals as doctors or became engineers or joined the Indian Administrative Service. The smart ones nowadays are into business – whether it’s inherited or a ‘start-up’ — where there is literally no limit to earnings and also the chance to be one’s own boss, with enough time (supposedly) to do what one pleases with it.

The Indian economy has witnessed a surge in entrepreneurship ever since the big stock market boom in the mid-90s when masses of people turn to the stock market to become investors. It was around then that businesses started by first-timers, referred to as ‘start-ups’, became common. The start-ups became a common norm in the advertising and marketing industries, as well as in other industries such as the travel, hotel and aviation industries.

As more and more private companies came into being, the biggest entrepreneur that emerged was undoubtedly Dhirubhai Ambani, who showed everyone living in this country that it was possible to build a business empire to rival the world’s biggest — out of nothing. The burst of entrepreneurship further bloomed with the dotcom boom, from the late 1990s to 2000. Several success stories were created then with an ease and pace that could never have been thought of before eg a tech start up Paymate, a mobile payment company which opened new avenues for e-commerce

The flourishing entrepreneurial ventures came from all sectors and were not only limited to technology industry. A fast-food chain Hot Millions created raves in Chandigarh before McDonalds came calling children, youth and families alike. Passion for adventure sports and personal hobbies turned into successful businesses like river rafting in Rishikesh or scuba diving in Bangalore (Planet Scuba India). Explore TV, a free air 24×7 travel channel came through by bringing together innovation and pleasure whereas personal creativity in field of journalism gave India Man’s World, a monthly magazine and BrandSmith, a movie production house which made last year’s surprise hit “Saheb, Biwi and Gangster”. Bringing creativity to new heights, Rashi Bansal  a great home-grown motivator for entrepreneurs, created a youth magazine called Just Another Magazine before turning into India’s top bestseller with Stay Hungry Stay Foolish, Connect the Dots, I Have a Dream and Poor Little Rich Slum.

But while there are many success stories, they still remain a privileged few Indians, there are still many in different corners of India who in spite of having talent, vigour and perseverance lack resources and relevant capital to turn their dreams into a reality.  “I would say raising capital is one of the weakest things for most entrepreneurs,” says Robert Kiyosaki, the best-selling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, “PIK A VENTURE” attempts to bring power of people to empower entrepreneurship and provide impetus to all unrealised dreams of individuals, by helping them raise capital. It brings concept of democracy to field of Venture Capital through crowd funding, where fund is raised “by the people for the people”. PIK A VENTURE provides Silicon Valley expertise and aim to bring entrepreneurial revolution in India by providing creative minds, budding artists, technical brains, entrepreneurs and innovators alike a common medium to get financial backing and encourage them to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. Mahatma Gandhi said: “Find a purpose and the means will follow”.

Success or failure? — you will never know till you dare!!