TiE announces 'Billion Dollar Babies' initiative for Indian startups

TiE Silicon Valley has announced its Billion Dollar Babies initiative, a new programme for Indian startups with global aspirations. The programme aims to help select Indian product startups reach $1 billion in global enterprise value through this ambitious initiative that promises to leverage the reach and resources of TiE Silicon Valley.

Billion Dollar Babies, which launches with its first class in January 2015, will bring selected startups to Silicon Valley for this program. A new ecosystem that bridges the world of India and the US to help entrepreneurs go global, companies connect with mentors, potential customers and venture capitalists. The companies will be able to participate in the TiE CIO Forum and other educational events, and receive help with legal, accounting, HR/benefits, hiring, marketing, and other company-building tasks.

“The Billion Dollar Babies programme represents a unique opportunity for young Indian companies aspiring to break through into a competitive global market,” said Venktesh Shukla, TiE Silicon Valley. “Companies selected for the program will get access to TiE Silicon Valley’s rich ecosystem of successful entrepreneurs, top executives and venture capitalists, as well as potential customers. Such access, combined with mentoring and advice from role models, will accelerate the global success of the promising companies selected for this program.”

“India is witnessing an upsurge in the number of innovative software product companies focused on Indian and global markets. The “Billion Dollar Babies” initiative has been specifically carved out to nurture these deserving Indian start-ups and turn them into global technology companies with India being the anchor market and product technology hub,” said Saurabh Srivastava, India co-chair, Billion Dollar Babies.

Saurabh is a co-founder and past chairman of TiE Delhi-NCR and NASSCOM and also co-founded the Indian Angel Network, which is now the world’s largest Business Angel Group with over 325 members across 10 countries, investing over $10 million in around 30 startups this year alone.

“Venture capitalists are taking notice of the growing number of companies in the US-India space,” said BV Jagadeesh, managing partner, KAAJ Ventures and co-chair, Billion Dollar Babies. “India provides a large domestic market where these companies can validate and refine their products before entering global playing field.

“We are seeing companies with enormous global potential starting in India, and we believe with the proper resources they can become billion dollar companies,” said Raju Reddy, adviser, Hitachi, global entrepreneur and co-chair of Billion Dollar Babies.