Know what it takes to win - Stabaka Consulting

The brilliant ideas you once had are now part of the winning entries of Kalpavriksha-Round 1. The journey so far has been phenomenal and Team Kalpavriksha wants to take the enthusiasm higher.
Learn what goes into making a perfect business plan from the experts in the business. Team Kalpavriksha had a talk with Stabaka Consulting.

1.       Stabaka engages with mainly non-profit and start-up enterprises. What are the major hurdles they face and how does Stabaka help them?

Stabaka prefers to engage in work which is interesting, unconventional, challenging and which relates to cutting- edge knowledge. We have worked with clients of all sizes and across borders with a slight preference for lifescience, healthcare, agriculture, food, environment management, clean technology, infrastructure and finance.

We like to work with start-up ventures and small companies who are passionate about their vision or have great scientific research capabilities. A few of our best engagements are in this space.

We have done work with a few non-profit organisations as well in the areas of education, agriculture, environment management and technology.

Major Hurdles

The Founders make the vital difference to any non-profit or start-up enterprise. More than anything, their value systems, attitude, sense of responsibility, emotional maturity, work ethic, pragmatism, domain skills & knowledge, ability to lead people and willingness to learn are what will make or break the organization. A lack of awareness of the importance of these would be the first hurdle to tackle. We feel that most of these qualities can be instilled in the people by counselling.

If we presume that the founders have a basic grooming in running an enterprise, funding, hiring good people to work and lack of an encouraging social eco-system in India are the other major hurdles.

Stabaka helps entrepreneurs in overcoming the first hurdle and collaborates with them in running the enterprise and growing it during the initial critical years and beyond. Generally the initial critical years last for about 3-5 years.

2.       What is your take on Social Entrepreneurship in India? How successful have such ventures been so far?

The social enterprise sector in India is a necessity as it identifies a social, cultural or environmental problem and then uses principles of entrepreneurship to achieve the desired change. The solution must be holistic and equitable in every sense. When the primary motive is overwhelmed with a profit or alternate motive, there is an inherent risk that the original purpose of the enterprise may not be achieved. Running a social enterprise is, we feel, far more challenging than running a for-profit enterprise, because of the necessity to marry fiduciary commitment to ensure the desired change and principles of efficiency of for-profit enterprise.

Leaders of Social Enterprise in India must adopt effective progress -monitoring processes and good governance tools that will calibrate the progress of bringing about quality change, in line with their individual vision statements.   

Stabaka has had the good fortune to see a few successful social ventures in close quarters in the country and we are certain that more such organisations will evolve in the years to come. 

3.       This is the first time Stabaka has been associated with Kalpavriksha-The Social B Plan competition. What are your expectations out of this association?

We are thankful to the organisers for have given Stabaka an opportunity to be a part of Kalpavriksha. Events like Kalpavriksha are an essential part of the eco-system that will foster entrepreneurship, in general, and encourage the setting up of social enterprises.

We hope that at the end of this association, we would have contributed positively, directly or indirectly, to the setting up of at least one successful enterprise and would have encouraged, directly or indirectly, at least half a dozen entrepreneurs to take on the challenge in the years to come.

4.       What were your expectations from the entries received?

We were sure that students would apply their academic grooming and past work experience into start-up business plans addressing a social, cultural or environmental problem. We were also looking forward to receiving entries from existing social enterprises that were looking for recognition and support in their scale up plans.

We were also looking forward to receiving some innovative ideas under the Agri-projects category, the prize money of which is sponsored by Morarka Organic Foods Ltd.

5.       Was there a general trend identifiable or a bias towards any specific sectors in the entries received?

We did not notice any unusual trend or bias towards any specific sectors.

6.       Was there something missing in most of the entries that you would like to point out?

No. The entries received were generally of a very good standard.

7.       Any advice for future applicants?

All ideas must be practical, implementable and well thought through. You must be convinced with the idea and must be prepared to live the idea, whatever it takes to do that.

8.       What are your expectations and advice for the shortlisted participants?

 Please present the business plan only if you are convinced that you will be able to implement it. It is important to be pragmatic when presenting business plans.

9.       Given the experience Team Stabaka has across functions & businesses our participants and readers would be delighted to receive any pearls of wisdom on success from you.

The world is on the lookout for top quality leaders. Practice the life of one at all times. Do not let go the opportunity.

Kamandaki, a disciple of Chanakya (BC 319) and the author of ‘Kamandakiya Nitisara’ ⁽¹⁾ or The Elements of Polity wrote (Section IV, Para 4)” A flourishing sovereignty cannot well be obtained by the worthless; he only, who has qualified himself, is fit to wield the sceptre”. 

[FootNote (1) - Though the text belongs to a past era and times, many of the principles laid out there in for a sovereign king would be apt and relevant reading for contemporary aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders. ]

So there you have it participants. It is time to pull your socks and take your ideas past the finish line. Do write in to us for any suggestions/clarifications.

We thank Stabaka Consulting for their time and effort, and the wonderful association with Kalpavriksha-2012.