Proto.in – Mumbai, Jan 30th, IIT Powai. The Big Show is coming to town!

Ladies and Gentleman,

Like any Start-up before it’s big release, we at the Team Proto have been extremely busy with the big event which is coming to town. As some of you should be aware, Proto.in is taking place on the 30th of Jan in IIT Bombay. For Start-ups, Investors and the Audience alike, we have an action packed day – one like never before at any of our events. If you haven’t checked in for the event already – do register on http://register.proto.in

If there’s one thing, that’s come to the fore during our selection process – it’s that innovation in India is certainly alive and well. Start-ups from sectors as diverse as Solar Power, Logistics, Robotics, Clean Technology and Mobile will take the stage in what I can promise you will be a power packed showcase. For the first time, through our collaboration with both Intellecap and NEN, we will have start-ups from both the Social Sector and a Student Start-up as part of the showcase. ‘Out of this Planet’ does sound like a cliche, but this time around we actually have India’s first Space company which will take the stage at the event. Enough said – register your tickets to meet the 15 start-ups in flesh and blood.

The final schedule will be up by tomorrow but here is quick brief on what you can look forward to:

9:30 AM to 10:00 AM In Conversation with Pradeep Gupta, Founder Cybermedia Group

A start-up from the Media sector discusses the challenges of scaling up a Media Company. Pradeep Gupta discusses his story.

10:00 AM to 10:30 AM In Conversation with Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder, Naukri.com

An Internet start-up takes the stage and brings out Sanjeev Bikhchandani’s story in building Naukri.com

10:45 AM to 2:15 PM Proto.in Showcase

15 of India’s hottest start-ups take the stage, each have 6 mins each to showcase their product to the audience present. This will followed by a round of Q&A

2:15 PM to 3 PM Lunch Break

3 PM to 4:45 PM Special Screening of Movie ‘Pirates of the Silicon Valley’

5:00 PM to 5:30 PM Devil’s Advocate

Legal Counsel Shantanu Surpure of Sandhill Advisory takes on a panel of Venture Capitalists and provides clarity on some of the blackholes in the Fund Raising Process

5:30 PM to 6:00 PM Angels and Demons – A Review of the Angel Investor Pitch

The Angels in a panel discussion – where they iron out the demons in the Business Plan Pitch held earlier.

Parallel Sessions:

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Mentoring Session with Sequoia Capital

All start-ups attending the event have the opportunity of getting mentored by Sequoia Capital, 1 on 1 for a period 15 mins each. 15 deserving start-ups from the audience will be chosen for this special session.

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Meet the Airtel Innovation Fund

The Bharti Airtel Innovation Fund will be conducting a session for start-ups across such sectors such as Mobile, Internet, VAS and Software. Start-ups will have the opportunity to meet with the fund and discuss their goals and objectives.

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM Angel Pitch to the Indian Angel Network

8 start-ups chosen by the Indian Angel Network will get an opportunity to make a Business Plan Pitch for Funding. Indian Angel Network will choose 1 start-up which will be given mentoring over the next 6 months till it is fund raising ready.

3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Demo Pit

Start-ups will showcase their demos in the demo pit – and engage and interact with the audience on their growth plans and opportunities for collaboration.

For all those present at the event, we also have a special Innovation Jam which will be telecast on the ‘Starting Up’ show on ET NOW. Clearly, your opportunity to join the fun.

Tickets are running out quick – and before they run out (like they did in our last edition in Pune), we recommend you log on and register on http://register.proto.in

As always, May the start-ups win.

See you at the Showcase!

Sequoia Capital partners with Proto.in

Dear all,

We glad to announce an exclusive partnership with Sequoia Capital for
the upcoming editions of proto.in. Sequoia Capital has been one of the
most active early and growth stage firms in India in the last several
years, and looks to partner with entrepreneurs from the seed through
growth stages. In addition to signing up as the Platinum Sponsor for
the 2010 proto events, Sequoia Capital team members have volunteered
to engage in one-on-one feedback and mentoring sessions with up to 30
companies at the upcoming Proto.in event in January. While all
companies that will be showcased will get the opportunity to
participate in these individual sessions, the Proto.in team will
additionally nominate other entrepreneurs for the mentoring sessions
as well.

If you are a start-up entrepreneur interested in applying for the
mentoring session, write to contact@proto.in expressing interest to
meet with sequoia capital during the event. To register for the event
go to http://www.register.proto.in

Look forward to seeing you at the event.

Regards,
Ravi Shankar

Ladies and Gentleman,

Ticket Bookings for India’s Hottest Start-up Event are now open. Log on and reserve your ticket by clicking on the link here: http://proto7.doattend.com/

You can also log onto the www.proto.in web-site and click on the Register link.

As many of you are aware, Proto.in will take place in Mumbai on the 30th of January in IIT Bombay. The team has been working extremely hard in ensuring that this edition will be bigger and brighter than any of our previous editions.

Key Updates

Sequoia Capital comes on board as the Platinum Sponsor for this edition. What’s more – start-ups will also have a separate enclosure at the event where they will be given the opportunity to get mentored by representatives of the venture group.

Proto.in goes social
For the first time, we have tied up with Social Sector Advisory Firm Intellecap. With them – we will be launching for the first time at Proto.in a social enterprise section where a few of the hottest product start-ups from the social sector will be showcased.

We have already received 100 nominations and if the trend is anything to go by – this edition should beat the other 6 in terms of the number of nominations received.

If there’s anything you are specifically looking forward to at this edition – do write in to us here. We will try channelize your suggestions and make the event soar even higher.

May the start-ups win!