Approaching a VC? Here is a checklist

Approaching a VC? Here is a checklist

By   Sikta Samantaray

Bangalore: Seeing the growth of Indian software market, Ravi Varma started its own software venture in 2005, but could not go long and had to shut company's door in 2007, as he failed to raise fund from venture capitalists (VCs). 

Currently working as a Vice President - Strategy in an IT firm, Varma graduated from IIM, Bangalore in 2004. After running the business for two years without any financial support, Ravi thought that his company had all the right credentials needed by venture capitalists, but when he pitched his ideas to around 10 VCs, he realized that his idea is premature and can not be funded by any venture firm. 

Not only Varma, there are several such start-up entrepreneurs, who are in a race to raise VC funding. So, to help these emerging entrepreneurs, SiliconIndia talked to some of the VCs to know the important factors that can help these entrepreneurs to improve their chances of getting funded. Here are some important thoughts being given by VCs:

Do you have a Team to lead?

A company may have a big business idea, but working individually may not help it to achieve the objective. It is the team which may help one's idea to convert into a profitable product or service. Anurakt Jain, Analyst, Draper Fisher Jurvetson India said, "VCs invest in a team, so sell the team. A start-up should know well about their team members before pitching to VCs."

Pitch

The process of raising fund can be one of the more physically and emotionally draining parts of starting a business. It can go on for weeks or months, taking away focus from business. As an entrepreneur seeking funding, one need to demonstrate that he/she is very clear about his/her idea and how he/she would build an economically viable business around it. Rajesh Vakil, Head, Siemens Venture Capital, India said, "Put together a good investor presentation that covers all aspects of the business plan. A weak presentation can put off VCs easily." Speaking on the similar lines, Jain said, "The first 5-10 minutes of pitch to VCs are very crucial - get VCs on the hook. Describe the company in one-two lines - that would be helpful in running the business as well."

What is your USP?

While explaining about the product or service, a company need to avoid using jargon and adjectives. VCs say that startups should explain the product or service in simple language and emphasize its competitive edge or USP. Manav Sethi, COO BigMaps said, "The basic objective of a start-up should be to show that there is a need of this product or service in the market." 

Business Plan

For any start-up, the purpose of presenting a business plan should be to show the potential to investors that if they invest in its business. Vakil said that a business plan must have a very effective executive summary, and in that summary a company should highlight the market, the product or service, management team, stage of the startup, location, market, market size, business, business model, capital structure, capital required and exit options. He also asked these startups to critically evaluate the business plan and do a market opportunity analysis to determine scalability of business. "Ask honestly "Will you fund this if it was someone else's business plan," added he.

Customer Base

Before presenting to VCs, a company needs to evaluate the customer business case, benefits and payback. Also, it needs to know in details about its existing customers as well as its potential customers. Any company can?t have any better evidence than customers to prove its claims about the marketability of its product/service.

A company needs to understand that it is in the market to sell a product, its business idea, which can't be sold unless its customers are satisfied with the product, which they plan to buy. Raghu Batta, Partner, Ojas Ventures said that startups should always make something or sell a service that people want. 

 

Source: http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Does_your_startup_have_credentials_to_get_funded-nid-66252.html?utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Subscriber

What is the plan for interceptor drains at Delhi

What is the plan for interceptor drains at Delhi. It is basically ,

 

1. laying of parallel drains along three main drains --Najafgarh, Shahdara and supplementary drain

2. the interceptor drains will intercept the outflow of all small drains before they meet these main three drains.

3. the interceptor drains will carry the sewage to STPs

4.From the STPs, treated waste water will be released to these three main drains --Najafgarh, Shahdara and supplementary drain

5. From these main drains, the treated waste water will go to the river Yamuna as it is flowing today.

 

70% of the small drains will be intercepted and 85% of the total generated sewage of Delhi will be treated in this way.

 

I helped one of my associates in chennai in an internatioal tender last year . I feel that the method of  treating waste water before it reaches yamuna should be like this. If you notice in the tender, there is just one interception at the end of the main drain before it meets the river.

 

In our case, the treated sewage from the STPs will be released to the main drains again where it will get mixed with untreated sewage from small drains that are not intercepted ( 30%) .This is the major flaw of the present scheme.

 

I was searching for this Manila tender for a long time to give it to you. This morning at 6 o clock, while searching through my old files I came across this file suddenly. Lets hope it will help you. I believe in Destiny. Everything is destined to be get done at an appropriate FIXED time.

 

There is a flaw in the manila tender also. In a highly centralised system, we cant recycle the whole load as it will require another network of pipes to carry the treated waste water back into the city.Do you think its feasible in Delhi?

 

I know from our very first meeting whats going on in your mind.You are interested in treatment of waste water at the source itself before it reaches even the interceptor drains.What you are thinking of is a network of decentralised very very small STPs all around Delhi managed by local communities. And its easy to recycle some parts of treated waste water from these small STPs at the community level .

 

Are there any new thoughts ? As you travel a lot outside India, maybe you are having more ideas.

 

Saleem Asraf Syed Imdaadullah,
M.E.(Env. Engg.)
Mobile: 9899300371
New Delhi, India
TECHNICAL BLOG : LOTS OF INFO ON WATER TREATMENT
www.saleemindia.blogspot.com
www.vermisindia.blogspot.com

 

Follow me on twitter : http://twitter.com/saleemasraf

Homeopathic remedy-Frozen shoulder with wasting of the deltoid muscle

Frozen shoulder with wasting of the deltoid muscle (Adhesive capsulitis, Periarthritis)

My Mother is suffering from it.

 

It is also known as 50 shoulder in alternative medicine in Asia because its victims are usually people around the age of 50. It affects more women than man .

Frozen shoulder syndrome is considered to be the end-point for other shoulder problems – yet it is an enigma! It seems to occur mainly in women as they enter the menopause prompting some authorities to suggest a 'hormonal' component.

Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain and loss of motion or stiffness in the shoulder. The recovery is very slow.

• Exact cause is unknown.

Frozen shoulder, medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, is a disorder in which the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the gleno-humeral joint of the shoulder, becomes inflamed and stiff, and grows together with abnormal bands of tissue, called adhesions, greatly restricting motion and causing chronic pain.

Movement of the shoulder is severely restricted. Pain is usually constant, worse at night, when the weather is colder. This condition can last from five months to three years or more and is thought in some cases to be caused by injury or trauma to the area. It is believed that it may have an autoimmune component, with the body attacking healthy tissue in the shoulder. The condition may also cause chronic inflammation. Adhesions grow between the joints and tissue, greatly restricting motion and causing a number of painful complications. There is also a lack of fluid in the joint, further restricting movement.

 

GENERAL MANAGEMENT of Frozen Shoulder

• Rest to joint during acute stage.

• Provide sling.

• Mild passive shoulder exercises.

Exercise is a very important part of the treatment. Exercises will help break up the scar tissue in the shoulder and should be done twice a day. The doctor or physical therapist will show the patient what kind of exercises should be performed. Since the exercises may be painful, using ice packs afterwards may help. With all exercises, the patient should warm up before attempting to do them.

 

Frozen shoulder treatment mostly involves physiotherapy. Some dietary supplements and pain management methods are also helpful in dealing with a frozen shoulder. Do some mild physiotherapy exercises every day so that the shoulder muscles do not become stiffer. Initially, the physiotherapy exercises may seem to increase the pain, but you should continue to exercise so that the range of shoulder movements does not get restricted. For suitable physiotherapy exercises to treat frozen shoulder you can get in touch with a physiotherapist. Besides physiotherapy you should also get a massage to relieve the pain. You can use warm body oil to get a message. However, it is best if someone can give you the massage rather than you doing the massage yourself. An aromatherapy massage will be better as it has therapeutic effects as well. You can also manage the pain by using heat and cold therapy on the shoulder. Take a heating pad and press it upon the shoulder muscles to warm up and relax the muscles. Thereafter, take an ice pack and press it upon the shoulder. Alternate heat and cold treatment can significantly relieve the pain in your shoulder. Another good method would be to use a water pillow to support your shoulder while sleeping. If the pain becomes unbearable and does not let you sleep at night, you may also take some NSAID medications, which are also commonly known as over the counter painkillers. If the frozen shoulder is not showing any sign of improvement you may need to undergo special medical treatment like surgery, electric stimulation, or corticosteroid injections. You will need to consult your doctor before undergoing these treatments.

Successful treatment of adhesive capsulitis include:

Anti-inflammatory drugs

Cortisone injections to the shoulder

Physical therapy

Anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections reduce the inflammation of the shoulder allowing the shoulder to be more easily stretched. Physical therapy is essential because it helps regain the range of motion in the shoulder.

Treatment can be a long process. Initial treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation and pain and increasing the range of motion of the shoulder.

 

Homeopathic Treatment for Frozen Shoulder

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. To study any of the following remedies in more detail, please visit our Materia Medica section. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.

Homeopathic Remedies : Case Studies

Two tested remedies Rhus Tox 30C and the Causticum 30C

Doctor: For frozen shoulder , the left shoulder and left hand affected , start with Causticum-30 thrice a day for a week

Patient: Taken Causticum-30 for frozen shoulder as advised by you for one week , he is also taking PHYSIOTHERAPY. Now he is feeling 10%-15% improvement in his pain and the range of hand and shoulder movements has also increased 10% - 15%. Please advice further medication.

Doctor: Please continue physothreropy and this week take Rhustox-30 (thrice a day 3 drops per dose )and stop causticum30C. and report after a week the changes.

Patient : No further improvement in pain and stiffness even after continuing the Rhustox-30 for two weeks. My father's total improvement is still around 40%.

now

Dr.Mahfooz: Please give him Rhust-200 once a day after every 4 days and he will be insha Allah alright. Report after two weeks. Continue physiotherapy.