Categories
Startup

5 Top VC Funding Firms Focusing On Women-Led Startups

Gone are those days when women were confined within the four walls of the kitchen. Today, from sports to business, women are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the world; dominating every sphere unabashedly and fearlessly.

And as more and more women are realizing the significance of being financially independent, India is experiencing a great surge in the number of female entrepreneurs. However, the number of female entrepreneurs is still low as compared to men as seven out of 100 entrepreneurs in India are women.

Nonetheless, female entrepreneurs are excelling with their ideas and execution techniques. Some are even becoming business motivational speakers to help others who are trying to make a mark in their respective fields. But despite their good ideas, they are facing challenges when it comes to funding. Here is a list of five VC funding firms that are helping women entrepreneurs in India:

1. Kalaari Capital

Founded by a true leader Vani Kola, Kalaari Capital is a leading VC that strives hard to help founders succeed and flourish in the business world. Vani is referred to as The Mother of Venture Capitalism in India, and there is a reason behind it. Kalaari Capital is an early-stage, technology-focused venture capital firm with $650 Mn in assets. Based out of Bengaluru, it has been empowering visionary entrepreneurs since 2006. Not content with being one of the first homegrown VC firms in India with a steadily growing list of startups in its portfolio, Kalaari launched Kstart, a seed fund initiative, in 2016.

Kstart focuses solely on seed-stage funding and differs from other funds in that it doesn’t set a valuation at the time a startup is raising funds from it. Kalaari has built a reputation for picking the best young minds and mentoring them to build successful enterprises, some prime examples being Myntra, Urban Ladder, Zivame, Power2SME, YourStory, and Bluestone, among others.

2. LetsVenture

Founded in 2013, LetsVenture provides a common platform for startups and investors alike to connect. LetsVenture works with startups and investors on discovery, syndication, and closure. This involves managing due diligence and paperwork closure. There are 12000+ startups and 2200+ investors on the platform. Founded by Shanti Mohan LetsVenture has enabled more than 100 startups to raise over $40mn. Since its inception in 2013, LetsVenture has facilitated over $100 million in investments. Startups like Testbook, DailyNinja, Wishberry, MyUpchar, and Ketto as part of its portfolio, have 3,700 members.

3. Saha Fund

Founded by Ankita Vashista, Saha Fund is a Bangalore-based venture capital and private equity firm. Saha Fund is India’s (and Asia’s) first venture capital fund that promotes women’s entrepreneurship and is dedicated to making investments in women-led companies across different sectors. Saha is keen on companies that use technology to scale. If you too have a startup and are looking for funding, you can watch this video by Dr. Vivek Bindra- the best motivational speaker in India

4. She Capital

According to research conducted by She Capital, when women business owners pitch their ideas to investors for early-stage capital, they receive significantly less – a disparity that averages more than $1 million – than men. Hence, to encourage more women to participate in the Indian startup ecosystem and take on the boys’ club in the Indian unicorn ecosystem, Founder and former CEO of Mydala, Anisha Singh launched an early-stage venture capital fund, She Capital. The company was founded with a belief to help the next generation of phenomenal female-led businesses scale to their maximum potential.

5. Qualcomm Ventures India

Founded in the year 2000, Qualcomm Ventures is the $1 billion venture capital arm of global tech giant Qualcomm, and the arm is highly optimistic about India’s technology-driven startup ecosystem. The firm believes in diversity and encourages different points of view and aims to help connect entrepreneurs to the resources, relationships, and deep industry expertise they need to succeed in the entrepreneur journey.

The idea of managing a business is easier said than done and we completely agree with you. This is why to help you move forward with your business goals, we at Bada Business offer an exclusive Business Coaching Program that comes with Foundation courses, specialized courses, and value-added courses. To know more, visit: www.badabusiness.com

Categories
Motivational

8 Powerful Yet Hard Truths That Will Change Your Life!

“Life is what you make of it”- we must have come across this adage millions of times, however, only a few of us must have understood the true meaning behind these golden words. Whether you are looking to achieve your professional goals or personal goals, understanding the mysticism of the universe and how it works can surely help you to become successful.

Many entrepreneurs want to turn their startup business into a large venture. But due to a lack of guidance and the inability to have the right mindset they seldom succeed in taking their business to the next level. While there are many business motivational speakers in India, very few small business owners and entrepreneurs think about consulting them. However, working with a business coach can yield fruitful results in the long term.

A good business mentor will not only guide you with their years of expertise that they have experienced first-hand but can also help you to navigate the uncertainties of the business world. Many people often give up easily as soon as the situations begin to go haywire. But only with consistency and determination, you can fulfill your dreams.

On World Mental Health Day, let us give you eight golden truths that might shake you, or might hit you differently, but will bring you closer to the reality of life.

1. Consistency = Success

If you type the word ‘Success’ on Google, you will come across thousands of articles talking about tips and tricks and smart hacks to become successful in your life. From making small changes in your routines to big changes in your lifestyle, you will come across various tips claiming to produce guaranteed results.

But truth to be told, success is 5% brains and 95% consistency! Often people try to achieve something but give up soon. Others do not even attempt to achieve because they think they are not equipped with the required skills or knowledge. However, it is the consistent efforts and determination of a person that helps him win the race. You can watch some of the most amazing videos by Dr. Vivek Bindra- the best motivational speaker on how to create and set your goals.

2. Energy Flows Where the Focus Goes

Your energy and focus can make anything possible. And hence, you must focus your attention and channel your energy in the right place. Finding multiple time management tips will not help unless you figure out what are the activities that are taking up most of your time.

Most often people waste a lot of their energy on overthinking and meaningless relationships which are not at all constructive. Another thing on which the majority of people waste their energy and time is social media platforms. Although social media platforms also have lots of benefits, very few take advantage of it. So, before you start trying to find out excellent time management tips to increase your productivity, try to stop your time and energy from leaking from these three cracks.

3. Lack of Self-Awareness is the Most Dangerous Flaw

To evolve and grow in life, it is very essential to be self-aware. When you know what your strengths and weaknesses are; only then you can try to be a better version of yourself. However, one of the most dangerous flaws is the lack of self-awareness. If someone can’t tell you what their flaws are, they can never outgrow them.

4. Invest Your Money Before Spending it

In today’s world, people try to impress the people they don’t like by purchasing the things that they don’t need by spending money they don’t even have. The irony of this situation is that many people die while paying their debts and installments.

Hence, it is very important to have your finances in place. If you spend more than you earn to buy the things that you don’t even need, you will end up struggling for money. Always invest your money in buying assets or investment plans that generate income.

5. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

People often boast about the kind of person they are or about their character. But actions speak louder than words. A person’s ability to resist material things speaks volumes about their character rather than their ability to obtain them. The things that you possess say a lot about the kind of person you are in real life.

Many entrepreneurs often use their profits in buying expensive cars and other luxurious things instead of investing in their business growth. This can stall the progress of their business and might result in limited business operations.

6. Know When to End Partnerships & Relationships

Sometimes the things that we tend to hold for a long time are the things that stop our growth- professionally and personally. Many times entrepreneurs carry the baggage of partnerships with investors and clients just because they have been friends for a long time.

However, know that it is not the duration of a relationship or a partnership that matters, but the quality of it. How much value is it bringing to the table? Is it helping you to keep your mental peace or you are struggling hard to keep it going? Analyze it closely and know when to forge new partnerships and when to end them.

7. People Pleasing Can Cost Your Self-Worth

Whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee working in the corporate world, networking can help you to grow and find new opportunities. However, people have built a culture of appeasing peers and seniors for professional gains and opportunities. But can we blame them entirely? Not really!

The culture of ego-massaging and people-pleasing has been encouraged from top to bottom. And people who have this skill ensure a comfortable professional journey in their organization. However, it may help you to achieve short-term goals. But in the long run, it will cost you your self-respect. You will never be able to respect yourself because you will become like a slave to external validation and people-pleasing just for a momentary gain.

8. You Are Where You Were Meant to Be

The world went digital for the convenience of human lives. Unfortunately, it has also caused a lot of mental health problems associated with too much consumption of information, negative feedback, criticism, and addiction to things that are filled with hatred and self-doubt.

Beautiful pictures on Instagram and Facebook make others believe that they are leading a life that is far from picture-perfect. This fills them with disappointment, self-criticism, envy, and dissatisfaction with their own lives.

But it is very important to know that you are exactly where you are meant to be. There will always be someone better, smarter, prettier, and more successful than you. But that does not diminish the struggles you have faced and the things you have achieved in your life. If you keep thinking that your happiness lies in a particular place, or you will attain happiness after achieving a particular milestone, you will never find happiness.

Stay happy and confident with whatever you have and wherever you are currently and keep aiming for more. The idea of managing a business is easier said than done and we completely agree with you. This is why to help you move forward with your business goals, we at Bada Business offer an exclusive Business Coaching Program that comes with Foundation courses, specialized courses, and value-added courses. To know more, visit: www.badabusiness.com

Categories
Motivational

Boost Your Confidence With These 5 Effective Public Speaking Tips

Summary: Does speaking in front of people give you nightmares? Here are five ways in which you can tackle your fear of public speaking.

The fear of public speaking is a common social phobia that affects approximately 25% of the global population. This makes it extremely difficult for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are looking to widen their prospects by bringing in a new line of products and services.

Though there are many business coaching programs on public speaking, learning from a business motivational speaker will speed up your progress, if you are willing to learn. Whether you are a student, a young entrepreneur seeking investors, a small business owner looking for customers or a CEO of a Multinational Company, public speaking is a way for you to make yourself accessible to your respective target audiences. It not only helps to create a bond but also shapes company culture.

Here are five ways that will immediately improve your public speaking skills:

1. No Introduction Please!

This might come as a surprise to many as our first point simply goes against the rule book of many online business programs. However, there is a logic behind it. Would you like a speaker on the panel to thank the organizers and share information about himself that you already know? Definitely not! You must have received an introduction about the speaker and all the related information through mail.

So instead of repeating the same information, you can start by beginning with a compelling or funny story. Make your audience laugh and create an experience that’s worth the audience’s time and attention.

To get easy techniques on public speaking skills, you can watch this amazing video by Dr. Vivek Bindra, the best business coach in India, here:

2. Hook Your Audience Fast

Our second point is about capturing your audience’s attention. Catching your audience’s attention in the first 30 seconds is an essential factor that people don’t often get right. Often many business motivational speakers jump straight to their presentation as they are too concerned about delivering all of the content in the time available. Start with a short and relevant anecdote that illustrates the idea you are presenting. Don’t forget to link it with a powerful call for action.

3. Minimize the use of PowerPoint

Would you rather want your audience to listen to you or furiously scribble notes? Permit the audience to listen, ask questions, and make eye contact without having to worry about retaining technical information. If you have a lot of data, plan to send it to the audience afterward.

If you have to use a PowerPoint presentation, follow the 10/20/30 rule. Your presentation should have 10 slides, last no longer than 20 minutes and the font should be at least 30-point. However, the best way to create a PowerPoint slide is the 6/6/6 rule. The best presentations are those with an opening and closing slide and six slides of content, no more than six bullet points on each slide, and no more than six words per bullet point.

4. Keep Your Audience Engaged by Asking Questions

Many business motivation speakers talk for 30-45 minutes and leave the end for questions. But, this can make your audience zone out from the ongoing session in which you might be sharing relevant information with them. Plan for questions throughout your speech and take breaks to prompt questions. This allows you to read the audience, and if you’re losing them, pull them back with an engaging question.

This strategy also creates an opportunity to learn from the audience and use their insights to make the speech even more compelling.

5. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Well, speaking in front of a large audience can surely give you nightmares, if you are not comfortable. This is why rehearsals are paramount. Rehearsing is a full-body experience of visualizing the audience and considering your verbal and nonverbal communication—body language, tone, physical position on the stage, inflection, and how you’ll make eye contact with the people sitting to listen to you.

Make notes and use them for run-throughs. Try to reduce your dependence on the notes by practicing more. Finally, rehearse in front of a mirror. Notice your body language, facial expressions, and hand gestures to evaluate whether they align with the information you are representing.

And last, but not the least, leave something valuable behind. You can also ask your audience to sign up for your email newsletter. Try these five ways we have mentioned above, and see yourself improving at public speaking.

The idea of managing a business is easier said than done and we completely agree with you. This is why to help you move forward with your business goals, we at Bada Business offer an exclusive Business Coaching Program that comes with Foundation courses, specialized courses, and value-added courses. To know more about this program, visit: https://www.badabusiness.com/BCP-Event/?pp_code=BHBB000078&ref_code=SM

Categories
Business motivation Powerful Personalities

4 Business Leaders Who Bounced Back From Their Mistakes!

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”  – Meg Cabot

One of the scariest things that almost every human being feels to do is to make mistakes, to take risks and meet failure, to try out of the league and fall hard. But mistakes are essential for professional as well as personal growth for both the individual and the organization.

We all make mistakes, every one of us. Making mistakes is a sign of business motivation, and that we are trying something new in your life. It is the pathway to great ideas and innovation. It is the best way to learn and grow. If you are not making mistakes, then we likely are not doing enough new things outside our comfort zone, and that itself is a blunder.

If you thought only common people like you and me are prone to making mistakes in the business, think again! Legends like Ratan Tata, Narayan Murthy, Satya Nadella, Steve Jobs, and many other successful millionaires have made mistakes and learned from them too!

Here are some mistakes that these leaders made, but learned from them to bounce back in their lives:

1. RATAN TATA

One of the most esteemed and respectable personality in the business world, Ratan Tata needs no introduction. The Chairman of Tata Trusts and former head of Tata Sons  has achieved great success with his incredible business ideologies and strategies. However, even he admitted his mistake when his ambitious project TATA NANO failed to create waves in the market.

According to him, his greatest mistake was branding the Nano car as the cheapest instead of ‘most affordable’, which was the true intention behind bringing it into the market. By using the word ‘cheapest’ instead of ‘most affordable’, a negative impact was created on the market.

You can watch the full story of what led to the failure of TATA Nano, right here to get some business motivation from this legendary industrialist.

2. SATYA NADELLA

Indian-born Satya Nadella made headlines when he replaced billionaire Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO in 2014. Before he replaced the former CEO, Nadella was Microsoft EVP of the cloud and enterprise group. Since he took over the charge, Microsoft`s stock has increased by more than 150%. However, this was not always been the case.

In July 2015, the Microsoft CEO acknowledged that thinking that the personal computer (PC) will reign supreme forever was his biggest mistake. Today, smartphones have overshadowed PC as the hub for everything to some extent.

He has steered Microsoft away from a failing mobile strategy of NOKIA, and focused on other segments, including cloud computing and augmented reality.

Watch the full story here:

3. ELON MUSK

Elon Musk, who is the founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer at Space X is also the CEO of Tesla Motors. A successful entrepreneur and a business magnate  has also made mistakes that he still regrets. While participating in a Q&A at South by Southwest, the Tesla CEO said that the biggest mistake that he committed in his entire career was not being more involved with Tesla in his initial days.

From 2004 to 2008, Elon Musk was a lead investor in Tesla. However, he was also the CEO of SpaceX, a space exploration company. Today, he has moved past his mistakes and regrets to run a successful million-dollar company.

Watch his inspiring journey, right here: 

4. WARREN BUFFETT

The year 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of Warren Buffett and his partner`s decision to take control of Berkshire Hathaway. However, the current CEO of Berkshire Hathaway once considered this to be the biggest investment mistake and called it a “monumentally stupid decision”. He said that the only reason behind him acquiring the company was because it was cheap.

Watch his amazing entrepreneurial journey, here: 

The majority of entrepreneurs and professionals are not particularly interested in making mistakes and reliving them. However, many self-made millionaires are masters at learning from their successes and failures. That is the only way to analyze what went right, and what didn’t work out for the business.

So, keep making new mistakes, but find reasons for their failures and ensure that you do not repeat them. That’s the key to success and gaining incredible experiences in the journey called LIFE.

Prepare yourself to counter the challenges that you might encounter on your entrepreneurial journey with our online business courses for entrepreneurs. You can take ‘Entrepreneurship Course’ and take the first step towards achieving your dreams.