A wanna be Entrepreneur is a WantraPrenuer, Yes, I’m a Wantrapreneur and proud of it. Everyone started as a wantraprenuer, many drop their dream of becoming an entrepreneur midway because of social/economical/cultural factors. I’m pretty sure there are thousands of people like me who dream of building something of their own, Change the way the world functioned but never had the courage of quitting their well paying jobs/Firangi opportunities. I tried my luck after I graduated, set up tution classes for post graduate Pharma entrance exam, hired couple of Phds, went well for a year, couldn’t manage it because I moved to the states, sold it to the Phds I employed.
One of my friends shared Alok Kejriwal’s post on Facebook
Forget the set that lives in your mind. Then, you will beat the set that lives in the world.”
I saw it at a time when I was on the line of crossing what I call “Heights of frustration” because I wasn’t doing what I love to do. Well, this didn’t change me so much that I left my job/course and started a business(utna filmy bhi nahi hai yaar), but it planted a thought in my brain, someday, someday for sure, I will have enough fire in my ar$e to go to my boss and say hell with your job! More importantly the post on FB gave me HOPE. Saying all this let me tell you the main purpose of my post/appeal to people like Alok Kejriwal who BTW are doing a wonderful job of helping young entrepreneurs.
I read a post about Akosha, thought ‘man that is one helluva a company, I would want to put my money on these people’ But How do I do it ? Why not mail them directly ? but wouldn’t it beweired if I ask them that if I could invest 10 Lacs or 15 Lacs or even less or even if they agree how should I go about the process ?
Is there any way that people like me aka Wantraprenuers can invest in actual passionate entrepreneurs ?
I’m pretty sure there is a huge community of silent readers aka Wantrapreneurs on this website who want to be part of/invest in startups.
Here is what a Wantraprenuer can get to the table :
- Cash may not be as huge as VCs but enough to give the little push what most start-upsneed.
- Not one huge investment but a cash flow, may be Rs.1,00,000 per month for a period of 12 months or more
- He/she can convince his/her colleagues to invest in the same start up thus making a huge investment, small drops make an ocean.
- They won’t get involved in the way the company works, won’t affect the way the founders take decisions.
- Basically the control will be in the founder’s hands.
What Wantraprenuers can not do :
- They cannot spend their time trying to help your business run since everyone would be in a full time job.
- They might or might not add any value to the company.
Wantrapreneurs investments are perfect for those startups who are up and running, but need that small bit of cash flow to push them to the next level.
This is very different from crowd sourcing websites like KickStarter, where startups give their products/services in return for very small investments.
Here a single wantrepreneur or group of them would want a share in the company.
Wantraprenuers can not invest huge amounts of money like VCs but what they can give in return is much needed freedom to the start-up.
Most of the wantraprenuers are NRIs/live abroad.
Here is my appeal to Alok kejriwal “Please create an online platform where wantrapreneurs and startups can meet and discuss the opportunities, since most of the wantrapreneurs live abroad it would be tough for them to meet regularly.”
A platform just like KickStarter but allowing the investor to buy a part of the company aka unofficial IPO.
I wrote this post because I personally know many who are interested in investing but do not invest because they don’t have crores of rupees or don’t want to go through all the complexities of the process.
If such a platform is created it would not only help startups but also wantrapreneurs to full fill their dreams.
I know I cannot start any business in the near future, well at least I could own a piece of what others start and be part of the story.
asha chaudhry
wow! a big WOW aditya! and a huge welcome to the rodinhoods….!!!
p.s: i don’t agree “Most of the wantraprenuers are NRIs/live abroad”
🙂
Aditya Reddy
Yeah, was a mistake, I agree 🙂
gopinath
nice post..
gopinath
great post ..! hope there is a community for Wantraprenuer‘s
Hemant Pulijala
Excellent post Adi..Kevvu keka..Whistles 🙂
Aditya Reddy
Thanks! I hope too!
Mithun E
Good post fellow, what you are suggesting is Crowd Sourcing.
There are few portals where you may become part of the investing team. I personally have been working on a similar model, where rather than cash, certain essential services which drain start ups of cash are provided against equity. I am focused on Web and Mobile industry only.
Would keep in touch through “The Rodinhoods” to keep you/everyone (interested parties) posted of our progress.
Cheers!!!
Mitesh Muley
Very nice thought aditya.
Alok, really would like to see some good platform which might help both wantrapreneurs and startups.
Nidhi Bala
super one Aditya!!!…..Good luck!
Aditya Reddy
Is it ? could you please name those, I’d be interested in that.
Tausif Mulla
Hey Aditya thats an awesome post. Even I am an Wantrapreneur who is just waiting to break free. I was looking to raise capital in a similar form. If you come across pls do let me know. I am from Mumbai
SWATI KEJRIWAL
superb….great post…..
Aditya Reddy
Thanks!
govil
Nice one aditya.
U knw,even I was looking for the same thing!! I mailed Alok as well regarding this!!
I too want to invest in a start up (not a huge amnt)but didn’t know the proper channel coz i’m not an angel investor or VC..
so just keep updating and let me know if u find any platform for wantrapreneur!!
Ankit Mehta
Thanks for the great Post, I am too a victim of entrepreneur bug and it has really changed the DNA… I have fumbled so many times but have got up with a new learning always… I have startd with a unique idea in the Retail Advertising and currently operating from Noida… Have managed to get 200 retails touchpoints in NCR and want to scale up… The only REAL PROBLEM is — Banks wont give loan unless i have a collateral ….(well chicken and egg again )… Family and Friends won’t give because I have already exploited them enough …If there is anything like a solution you suggested …it will really help people like me …
Aditya Reddy
Sure govil, you should look at the proposals below in the comments by vijay and ankit. You might be interested in investing in one of those, they look interesting to me.
Aditya Reddy
Hey vijay, you should try contacting people in the comments who showed interest, you might find an investor. I would definitely get in touch with you.
Aditya Reddy
Hey ankit, sounds interesting, do you mind sharing more details about your start up or your website. Do share your contact information too.
govil
hii ankit,
Can u elaborate your idea?
Ankit Mehta
Sorry Aditya ..was away for some introspection 🙂 You can mail me at ankitmehta[at]oureducation.in
https://www.oureducation.in is the website I am running and If you don’t mind shall I give you details on the Retail Advertising Idea on the Mail.
Ankit Mehta
Hey Govil…
Thanks for the reply … If you could please mail me at ankitmehta[at]oureducation.in I should be able to give you complete details of the Idea.
Hope to hear from you soon.
asha chaudhry
hey aditya,
long time no word?? where are you and what are you upto nowadays??!!!
#curious
:)))))
Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal
Yup. A meeting place of ideas and investors is needed and now…
Aditya Reddy
Hi Asha!
My first investment was a failure, I’m making my second investment this Decemeber (A bulk drug company, much wiser one, closer to my field of expertise).
Hoping to turn as an independent consultant in my field of expertise (Clinical trial data analysis) and hire 2 programmers to slowly turn into a niche statistical analysis provider for Pharma/clinical companies by next year.
Much wiser this time from my first investment failure, stick to what you good at 🙂
Vivekananda H.R.
Hello Aditya,
Great post! I totally agree with you. I can see that the post is at least 6 months old, have you come across any platform which is now doing this ? ?
govil
Hii Aditya,
How r u?…
Abey John
I think you got the title wrong with this Adiyta, what you are talking about sounds more like angel investing.
IMO a wannapreneur is someone who lives in the dilbert cube and looks with gushy longing at the entrepreneurial life. Investing in a company doesn’t make you an entrepreneur.
And again, sorry to rain on your parade, but putting money into a company doesn’t make the investor part of the story unless they are in there gettin dirt under their fingernails and getting the shit kicked out of them along with the rest of the crew… you are just ‘moneybags’. 🙂
asha chaudhry
hey aditya,
long long time!! where are you and how are you? you must share more about your own entrepreneurship or investor journey. and do let us know when you are visiting!!