Kumar says the funding has been designed to safeguard the JV-Startups
The Chennai based Billionaire Venture Incubation (BVI) and DBS Bank have formed about US$200 million joint venture to extend capital to about 150+ Startups in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra initially.
“Plans are also underway to expand to northern part of the country at a later date,” a BVI statement said on 14 Sept 2022.
The MoU is to facilitate investment in the fast-growing Startups in India through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by this joint venture in the form of equity.
Dr. Subhash Sukumar, Board Member, Billionaire Venture Incubation, said, “The JV will fulfil the dream of many young entrepreneurs to promote more such Startups in the country and create millions of jobs in the years to come.”
Charan Kumar, Regional Segment Head – South India, DBS Bank, elaborated, “The JV will facilitate the knowledge sustenance within our country and additional contribution to GDP as more entrepreneurs including IIT graduates are eager to promote Startups.
“The encouragement given by both the Centre and State Governments in the form of subsidy on investment will also encourage new entrants.”
Detailing the mode of operations of the 16 verticals identified, the JV will immediately focus on certain verticals such as Fintech, Edutech and other critical areas. Besides extending capital, the JV would provide technology and education related to the business of new entrants.
Kumar added, “The system of funding has been designed in such a way to safeguard the JV as well as Startups. The JV would waive dividend for the first two years.
“But will monitor the functioning of the concerned Startups during the two-year period. Even if there is disruption in functioning, the JV will take over and transfer the operations to other successful Startups, though it will offer profit sharing during the remaining period.
“This protection in the initial period will attract more Startups.”
Plans are also underway to introduce more verticals for widening the operations of the new initiative of Billionaire Venture and DBS Bank.
Billionaire Venture Incubation is engaged in partnering with early-stage startups and bringing entrepreneurs and investors together to build ground breaking businesses and offer the right combination of investment, intelligence and global network.
DBS Bank is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 18 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank’s ‘AA’ & ‘Aa1’ credit ratings are among the highest in the world. DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. fiinews.com
