Brewing Bright Biz Ideas

In an attempt to serve food for thought for all bright minds, leading business consulting company Franchise India launched country's first 'Entreprenuer Cafe' in Okhla, Delhi. Franchise India further plans to open up string of such cafes throughout the country in a bid to provide stimulation to budding entrepreneurs. "India is at the cusp of innovation and entrepreneurship, but the ecosystem is not nurturing enough," says Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India. He also added that there are not many places where an entrepreneur can go to for help. While incubation centres exist in IIMs and IITs, they are often tech-centric. Entrepreneur Cafés will especially focus on retail and services, which is set for good growth in the country.

The Entrepreneur Cafés will provide a platform for start-ups and entrepreneurs to interact with experts and get advice on a host of issues related to running a business, such as trademark registration, licensing and company incorporation. It will assist with logo design, financial planning and even finding the right property.

The café, which will also serve food and beverages, will host regular open forum and discussions with mentors. Franchise India, which offers integrated solutions to set up franchise businesses, hopes to draw from the database of brands it is already working with.

Franchise India plans to set up cafés in Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai too this year. "The biggest challenge in the country is financing and the Entrepreneur Café hopes to solve that by being a bridge between entrepreneurs and angel investors.” said Marya.

Anyone who walks into the café will be met with in-house consultants who will do the initial hand-holding, before putting them through to experts in the field. The café essentially targets the mid-market – those ready to invest Rs 10 lakh to a couple of crores. The start-up consultancy services cost between Rs 10,000 to Rs 3 lakh.