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IAN (Indian Angel Network), India’s first and largest horizontal platform for seed & early stage investments and IIM Alumni Singapore, which brings together alumni of the Indian Institutes of Management, announce a win-win strategic partnership to link up two of the largest start-up ecosystems in Asia – India and Singapore.

The Indian startup ecosystem today is the third-largest globally and the fastest growing. IAN is the pioneer of angel investing and has played a pivotal role in transforming India’s startup industry. Comprising the Angel Group and two VC Funds, the IAN enables entrepreneurs to raise from US$50K to US$ 5mn on a single platform.  The IIM Alumni Singapore partnership is strategic. It will provide IAN investors access to high quality investment opportunities, with robust IP protection rights and supportive government based schemes in Singapore.  It is also aligned with IAN’s vision of investing and breeding valuable companies with global foot prints. This partnership will provide a fillip to IAN’s vision of investing in “500 startups with Rs. 5000 crores to create 500,000 jobs” which will help create high value jobs in both India and Singapore. 

Similarly, one of IIM Alumni Singapore’s key objectives is to provide value to its members and this partnership provides them access to engage with the Indian and South East Asian start-up ecosystems. Partnering with IAN will provide IIM Alumni Singapore members high quality investment opportunities  and the ability to engage with them to leverage the South East Asian markets. 

This partnership will enable both IAN & IIM Angel Investors’ portfolio companies to leverage the Indian and South East Asian markets: bringing value to both startups and investors. The well governed SEBI approved AIF structure  provides cross border investors  a well governed mechanism to invest and engage. This partnership will also provide India based angel investors in the IAN network a unique opportunity to support innovative IIM alumni Singapore linked startups in Singapore, through a SEBI approved structure. This will strengthen the early stage India-Singapore startup corridor.  

Speaking on the same, Mr. Suresh Shankar, President, IIM Alumni Singapore, said, “It is game changing for us to be associated with IAN, the pioneers of angel investing in India. The group is pivotal in upscaling the entrepreneurial landscape in the country and is known for its strong startup and investor portfolio. Our partnership will bring abundant opportunities for IIM Alumni in Singapore who are keen to invest and mentor startups and get access to IAN’s platform for the same. IIM Alumni  Singapore linked startups will also receive access to the required financial assistance and mentorship to grow and build profitable businesses through IAN’s VC Funds and members comprising the who’s who of successful entrepreneurs/CXOs around the world.”

Mr Saurabh Srivastava, Co-Founder, IAN & Chairman Emeritus TiE Delhi-NCR & Past Member of TiE Global Board , said, “This strategic partnership will accelerate the growth of jobs both in India & Singapore. IIM Alumni Singapore is the nodal coordinating body of IIM Alumni in the city. The alliance between IAN & IIM Alumni Singapore will bring together high quality investors from two leading organisations to help  create path breaking valuable companies, with innovative solutions for some of the world’s real problems. through a well governed and active cross border platform for investing and growing startups. ”

Mr Amit Gupta, President TiE Singapore, said “ One of TiE’s mission is to focus on generating and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. The partnership between IIM Alumni SG and IAN, both of whom are partners who share many members with TiE, is another step to creating a cross border platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs. TiE supports such partnerships and indeed breeds similar models on its own platform”

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