Indian Angel Network Announces its Indo-Pak Initiative ‘Startup Dosti’

An Angel Network with over 225 members, the Indian Angel Network (IAN) has funded nearly 50 start-ups across multiple sectors. In 2012, IAN invested in 17 companies totaling US$11 million. In a new development, IAN has announced its new cross-border business plan competition, Startup Dosti in partnership with Karachi-London based SEED Ventures and the Washington DC based Atlantic Council.The initiative will connect entrepreneurs from India, Pakistan, and the Diaspora community and facilitate collaboration. Through this business plan competition, shortlisted entrepreneurs from Pakistan and India will get an opportunity to access markets, and mentors from across the border.

Startup Dosti is a platform which aims to bring along a mix of investors and mentors from both the nations. Ms. Padmaja Ruparel, President, Indian Angel Network said

Startup Dosti will interconnect the entrepreneurial communities across India and Pakistan, thus creating a platform for exchange of ideas, mentoring, assistance in access to markets. Given the similarities in the market stages in India and Pakistan, entrepreneurs from both countries can now look forward to assisted access to a significantly sized market in their neighborhood. IAN is delighted to partner as this collaboration will help drive the economic growth in the region and build another track of seed / early stage ventures between India and Pakistan.

The launch event of Startup Dosti in London on June 3, 2013 will feature remarks by Mr. Andrew Stephenson MP, chairperson of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan; Mr. Virendra Sharma MP, vice chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group amongst others.

Startup Dosti is not IAN’s first international initiative as last year, the network launched Venture Engine in Sri Lanka to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in the country.