Dr D Hemachandra Sagar:

Entrepreneurship has always been an integral thread in the fabric that is the Indian Business Ecosystem. With India reaping the benefits of its demographic dividend, younger, sharper and faster minds have taken over the ecosystem and have paved the way for a new wave of first-generation entrepreneurs.

It is an exciting time to be a part of the startup ecosystem in India and more so to be at the heart of all the action, the Silicon Valley of India- Bangalore. Gone are the days when resources were scarce and internet connectivity was considered a luxury.

Institutions like DERBI were set up with the mission of providing easy access to resources such as a network of mentors, investors, and advisors – all things that were severely lacking in years past. Today we live in a world where a seasoned investor sitting in Bangalore can advise and invest in a startup in Santiago – all with a click of a button.

I believe that the Indian startup ecosystem has evolved past its nascency and now has the potential to produce as many unicorns as that of the United States or China. We have the investors, we have the infrastructure, we have the educational resources and most importantly, we have the entrepreneurs! It is only a matter of time before San Francisco will be known as “the Bangalore of America”.

With this maturity in the ecosystem, comes the responsibility of creating sustainable, ethical and equal opportunity businesses. Businesses that value the human behind the screen. Businesses that stand on the right side of history. Businesses that will better the lives of generations to come.

DERBI has a large responsibility on its shoulders to pave the way forward for our young minds and I am certain that with all that it has achieved in the past few years, it is poised to leap forward in this endeavor. Our valued proposition as a devoted organization.