What is the UKIBC and who can be a member?
UKIBC is a business council, essentially defacto chamber of commerce between UK & India. Our board is a business board, captains of industry who are running businesses between India and UK. The unique thing is they don‘t just sit there as an advisory board, they spend time not just to our council but to the businesses pro bono. I am a typical entrepreneur and have been involved in starting 5 businesses in emerging markets. So the way I run my council is that I understand the challenges that entrepreneurs from India and UK would face when entering each other‘s these markets.
Indian memberships open to globally ambitious companies, its not about the size of that company, particularly if you take IT or animation, you don‘t need to have too many people, its about the size of the aspiration. The main thing is the company has to have a plan that includes UK as a market in itself, it could be AIM listing or as a hub for Europe. The criteria is that if you want to add value you have to be focused, and in cases that are otherwise we do
say no.
It‘s the drive of the entrepenruer and ambition of the company that are critical success factors.
Are there any animation / VFX / Gaming sector related initiatives that you have taken recently?
This is our (UKIBC‘s) first exploration in India of the gaming and animation industry, but you would have focused that the UK presence at FRAMES is animation and gaming. In terms of members this is our first foray into that sector.
This morning was the first exploration, with a breakfast round table for creative companies looking to raise angel investment from either the UK or India, we are totally bilateral so we had angels who are investing both the markets, and the UK investors are looking to invest. Some of the lessons that came about this morning was Trusted Partners, we link the angel investors with each other so that they might coinvest. That aso widens the network of investors accessible.
Back in the UK, we have the University of Abertay, IN DUNDEE SCOTLAND THEY HAVE S ASTRONG TRADITION IN GAMING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY A STRONG RADITION IN ENTREPRENUERSHIP. Also universities in the south east of englad. Our role is matching capability of cross border collaboration.
What is the UK India business angels network?
This is an initiative to encourage cross border investments, so the two things we do is to link the angels together so they build their network. Investment by one of the angels would build
confidence. The difference between the angels and institutional finance, is that they usually invest in fields that they are well versed about.
What communication do you have to share with the entrepreneurs and studio heads from India‘s animation, VFX & Gaming industry?
Look to the UK we are strong partners we have strong capability that matched with yours means we can both be globally successful. We are here to build relationships with Indian animartion, VFX, Game companies.
Some companies join us because they want the brand positioning and access to our wide network. We consistently have events in UK and India. We also make sure our companies have acces to other events, either free of charge or at a cost. We really work from the member companie‘s viewpoint.