Angel Investor Masterclass at IIM Jammu Spurs Investor Engagement in J&K's Startup Ecosystem
Rahul Sahai Graces the Event as Chief Guest
Sep 15, 2024
JAMMU: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, under the leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, conducted a highly anticipated Angel Investor Masterclass in collaboration with JK Angel Network at Jagti.
Rahul Sahai, a prominent business leader, Chairman PHDCCI Jammu was the chief guest for the event.
The event was organized to foster a deeper understanding of angel investment, encourage entrepreneurship, and build a robust angel investment network within Jammu and Kashmir.
The session featured several notable dignitaries, including the Guest of Honour, Ruchika Gupta, Chairperson FICCI FLO J&K & Ladakh, and Dr. Muqbil Burhan, Chairperson CEISD. Other esteemed speakers included Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer of CEISD, Suraj Malik (CA), Saurabh Jain (Investment Banker) and Tushar Gandotra, a founding member of the JK Angel Network.
The event was attended by Office bearers of PHDCCI Samar Dev Charak, Ashish Jain, Raj Dua Co Chairs of PHDCCI Jammu and Office bearers of FICCI FLO Varuna Anand, Varsha Bansal, Members of PHDCCI and leading CEOs of various business houses from Jammu and Kashmir. Notably Shantnu Gupta, Ankush Jain, Harpreet Anand, Archit Puri, Gautam Daluja, Sandeep Mengi, Rohit Gupta also attended the program.
In his keynote address, Rahul Sahai commended the efforts of Vivek Sharma from IIM Jammu for conceptualizing and initiating the Angel Investment Master Class. He emphasized the need for Jammu to build a thriving angel investment ecosystem, highlighting the absence of such networks in the region, which are already well-established in other states across India.
"When I interact with government departments on startup matters, there is always a sense that the angel investment network is missing in Jammu and Kashmir," remarked Rahul. "When Vivek shared this initiative with me, I immediately recognized its importance and supported it wholeheartedly. It is the need of the hour, and I congratulate Vivek and his team for taking this crucial first step."
The master class aimed to educate participants on the nuances of evaluating and investing in startups. Sahai encouraged the attendees to embrace this new frontier of investment, emphasizing the potential rewards of angel investments compared to traditional avenues like stocks and real estate. He also urged the business community in Jammu to spread awareness about angel investing, to help build a strong and vibrant J&K Angel Network.
"Many business houses in Jammu are searching for opportunities to diversify their portfolios. Investing in startups might seem risky, but once you understand the process, it can be more rewarding than many conventional business models," Sahai said. "With our collective wisdom and business acumen, we can build this J&K Angel Network and make it a success."
The event concluded with Rahul expressing his best wishes to the speakers and participants, hoping the session would empower them to become informed investors and contribute to the growth of startups in the region.
