Sambhavami Foundation

Sambhavami Foundation is a social entrepreneurial organization (a non-profit organization) devoted to the cause of generating employment opportunities in the society by providing the right platform to the people residing in the bottom of the economic pyramid and help them convert their IDeaS into enterprise. Empowering people to the extent of self-sustainability is the prime objective.

Two of the major problems existing in India today is poverty and unemployment. Many social-economic problems can be attributed to these two particular problems. At the same time, unemployment/underemployment is one among the major causes of poverty, especially in the third world and developing countries. It is of high importance that unemployment/underemployment must be eradicated in order to solve various other socio-economic issues so as to ensure steady and fast development of the nation. Various non-governmental organizations are presently operating in India in this respect. Sambhavami Foundation is comparatively new in the field. It intends to be the platform where the virtue of the old (successful entrepreneurial leaders) shall drive the zeal of the budding entrepreneurs creating a perfect learning environment.

Sambhavami Foundation is based in Kolkata, India. The foundation is presently operating in West Bengal and is expanding infrastructure to bring the entire country under its arena.

Vision

The foundation states its vision as 'To create a platform for people in the bottom of the economic pyramid of the society, to come up with their ideas and convert them into enterprises'.

Mission

The foundation states its mission as 'Sambhavami Foundation aims to create, in the next 10 years, 100 new enterprises and 10,000 job opportunities in India'.

The Operation Concept

The root of most of the problems in the society is Poverty. One among the best ways of fighting poverty is by removing unemployment and/or underemployment and this May Be done by creating more and more job opportunities in the country. An organization or an individual can create a limited number of jobs. So the best way of creating more jobs is by creating new companies/organizations.

This is possible through promoting entrepreneurs to come up with ideas, supporting and mentoring them and then leading them to become successful organizations. The beginning has to be from the common mass – from the common man, who has an entrepreneurial idea but cannot realize it due to a plethora of socioeconomic factors. There lie the major problems of the society and around these major problems lie the key solutions for which people are willing to pay. These key solutions are the route to new enterprises.

Sambhavami Foundation will conduct workshops on “Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Skills, Motivation to come up with ideas, Dreaming big and following the dreams, converting society’s problems into solutions through enterprising ideas (Pain Killer Approach)” etc among people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Many of these people have fantastic ideas and they dream of doing something of their own. But due to reasons like lack of motivation, guts, money or opportunities as well as family issues, other responsibilities, etc people are not able to follow their dreams and make it to the enterprising and leadership state. the foundation intends to inspire such people to come up with the ideas and form enterprises. By doing so, they will not only follow their dreams but will also create job opportunities for many. The Foundation is creating a “Mentor Club” with renowned leaders. They are either working or retired professionals who are or have been the top brass of major organizations.

The Workshops will be conducted by members of the Mentor Club. The interested candidates attending the workshop will be registered and allotted to mentors for one-on-one mentoring. This process will evolve their crude proposals into concrete Business Plans. A special panel will be appointed to finally select the business plans to be incubated. The foundation will incubate these enterprises to the extent that they are able to sustain the business. The following issues will be resolved, if justified and to the best possible extent–

1. Legal and Statutory issues.
2. Accounting and Audit related issues.
3. Logistics related issues.
4. Branding issues.
5. Remuneration of the core team.

The foundation will try to resolve all major issues and help to nurture and realize the idea during the incubation period.The idea is to work in an inclusive manner and show the path to objective realization. The enterprises will be helped to get established as self-sustained enterprises within 3 years. During this incubation period, the help will not be extended by directly paying out the money. The foundation shall provide financial support indirectly by taking care of the above mentioned five issues usually faced in a start-up. The various issues will be resolved and if needed, tasks will be out-sourced to external agencies. The entrepreneurs will be able to concentrate on developing services or products, creating market, dealing with clients, do business developments, deliver product/services and realize the money. The entrepreneurs will have the full freedom to deal with the money he makes out of the business. The foundation will nominate one director in the organization on behalf of themselves for the period of 3 years (This director will be the respective mentor of the entrepreneur).

The new organizations will be formed only as “Private Limited” companies. They will be monitored strictly for two years. Based on their progress, the foundation shall start decontrolling in the 3rd year. By the end of the 3rd year, these organizations are expected to be completely self sufficient.

The Mentor Club

Sambhavami Foundation has created a “Mentor Club” with renowned leaders. They are either working or retired professionals who are or have been the top brass of major organizations.

With the members of the Mentor Club, the foundation will conduct a number of workshops and seminars at various locations. At these events, the Mentors will inspire the people from the bottom of the economic pyramid to dare, to step forward and come up with their ideas to us. At Sambhavami Foundation, they shall be heard and with the help of the Mentor Club, they shall be mentored and supported to realize their dreams and create inspiration for the fellow co-inhabitants of the society.

Once a chosen plan is incubated, the Mentor who mentored the plan at its idea stage will be appointed as the director of the incubated company.

For the first two consecutive years, the foundation will assist the incubated companies in various ways to make them self-sustainable and the Mentors will guide them in their journey of intellectual development as an entrepreneur and as a leader. During the third year, the foundation will start disassociating itself from the companies. By the end of the third year, the foundation will completely disassociate itself thus helping the companies get established as self-sustained enterprises.

Objectives

• Conduct workshops for open minded Indians seeking entrepreneurial opportunities.
  
• Create enthusiasm among the populace to come up with their ideas.
  
• Coach & mentor budding entrepreneurs and help them shape the ideas.
  
• Mobilize Innovative business ideas and create enterprises.
  
• Mentor the enterprises with “special members” and guide them through the first 3 years.
  
• Organize events for raising funds.
  
• Provide a platform to future entrepreneurs to interact with industry leaders they intend to work with.
  
• Create platform for nurturing of ideas.
  

The Differentiator

The Indian Government has several organizations to promote and support entrepreneurship. However, Sambhavami Foundation is much different from them and at the same time is addressing issues which are outside the arena of those organizations and plans

There are several policies to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India like:
• SME Venture Capital Fund
• National Commission for Small Industries (informal sectors)
• SME development bill
• Small Industries Development Organization

BUT

To take advantage of these policies, one first has to be an SME. And the criteria for being an SME are:
• For being a small enterprise one has to have an investment of not more than Rs 50 million in plant and machinery.
• And for being a medium enterprise one has to make an investment of over Rs 50 million but less than Rs 100 million in plant and machinery.

Sambhavami Foundation will support an enterprise from the idea stage. The only criterion is to have an innovative idea. From basic training, mentoring to funds everything will be provided by the foundation.

Aren’t there any Government policies to support individual innovators?
There are some such policies.

TEPP Project Fund (TPF)

Eligibility
• Unattached independent innovators like micro and small entrepreneurs working on new designs.
• Start-up firms / incubated firms with turnover less than Rs 45 lacs.
• Independent innovators scouted, documented, mentored by various agencies like NIF, RIN, RIF, ISB, SPJIMR, CIIE, CII, FICCI, Stanford Bio Design.
• Finalists of competitions like Techfest, GE Edison Challenge, Tata NEN, Proto.in, Indian Angel Network, TIE, Eureka, India Innovation Pioneers Challenge, Lockheed Martin India Innovation growth program, Innovation for India awards, Piramal Prize , Economic Times, National Geographic.

BUT

Maximum support under this category is Rs 15,00,000/- subject to 90% of approved project cost.
Sambhavami Foundation has no set limit for supporting the right idea. The idea can come from an individual or a start-up firm.

Aren’t there any Government organizations providing VC funding?

The Government also has organizations to support seed ventures. Like Indian Venture Capital Association (IVCA). It is a member based national organization that represents venture capital and private equity firms. The members represent most of the active venture capital and private equity firms in India. These firms provide capital for seed ventures, later stage expansion, and growth finance for management buyouts/buy-ins of established companies.

BUT

Venture capital is not suitable for all businesses, as a venture capitalist typically seeks:
Superior Businesses
Venture capitalists look for companies with superior products or services targeted at large, fast growing or untapped markets with a defensible strategic position such as intellectual property or patents.

Quality and Depth of Management
Venture capitalists must be confident that the firm has the quality and depth in the management team to achieve its aspirations.

Exit Opportunity
Lastly, venture capitalists look for the clear exit opportunity for their investment such as public listing or a third party acquisition of the investee company.

Sambhavami Foundation will help create the right management team and will incubate the enterprise for two years providing all the support it needs.

The most important fact is that there are no Government policies to inspire or encourage the risk-averse citizens of India to come up with their ideas. Sambhavami Foundation strive to exactly do that; inspire people who have ideas and capabilities but lack funds and opportunity to become Entrepreneurs.

The Organizational Structure

Sambhavami Foundation has a temple structure. The temple top is the Management Committee, supported by the four pillars of the working council - Fund Raising Team [FRT], Value Implementation Team [VIT], Company Affairs Team [CAT] and Self Sustenance Team [SST]. These pillars stand on the steps of The Mentor Club (Tier I) and the Members (Tier II) and are grounded over the base of the Donation Providers.

The mentor club comprises renowned professional leaders. They are either working or retired professionals who are or have been the top brass of major organizations. They are our knowledge repository and also play an integral role in decision making for Sambhavami Foundation. The Advisory Board within the Management Committee is going to be chosen every year from within the Mentor Club.

MANAGING COMMITTEE

• The management committee consists of 3 visionaries and co-founders of the organization.
• There will also be another 5 advisory members nominated by the Committee.
• The committee will be headed by the CEO.
• The committee will meet every month.
• The committee will take the final decisions of all major and minor issues.
• The committee has the right to amend rules and regulations pertaining to membership, subject to conditions.
• The management of the organization will rest solely upon the committee.

WORKING COUNCIL

• It will consist of four divisions namely, FRT (Fund Raising Team), SST (Self Sustenance Team), VIT (Value Implementation Team) and CAT (Company Affairs Team).
• The FRT shall be solely responsible for raising funds through various means to fund the activities of the organization.
• The VIT shall be responsible for finding out the 12 final ideas every year through workshops, mentoring etc.
• The SST shall be responsible to make this organization self-sufficient, shall allocate the funds needed for various projects and coordinate the operation of the entire working council.
• The CAT shall be monitoring the incubated organizations and take care of all their issues for the period of incubation.

Service to the society and the nation

India has been independent since 1947 but still one fourth of the population resides below the poverty line. While on one hand India Inc. is shining and a certain segment of the society is earning good, but on the other hand a considerable section of the society is unable to make both ends meet. Their participation in the overall economic development of the nation is still awaited. Many among these people have business ideas. They must be inspired to come forward and give their effort. If the socio-economic condition of these segment can be improved, the nation will definitely step forward towards a better tomorrow.