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Speaker "Suresh Sharma" Details Back

 

Topic

Raising $100 million: Lessons Along the Way

Abstract

Mr. Sharma, a former GE-executive-turned-entrepreneur has been successfully raising capital for past 25 years in a variety of business scenarios: be it ‘deep recession’ or ‘booming economic times’, be it few 100Ks or few million $$s, be it a Startup or an Investment Fund, be it domestic money or international. The sources of capital too had a wide spectrum; from angels to institutions. In this presentation, he shares his understanding, lessons and experiences of capital raise. Currently, Open Range Capital is a $100 million investment fund that invests into next generation Innovation Hubs (iHUBs) in Tier II, Tier III cities and other underserved markets across USA. The firm’s investment focus is to nurture early growth startups in digital technologies that can transform old industrial era businesses. These technologies include: cybersecurity, smart sensors, sparse and large data analytics, embedded systems, IoT, ML, AI, AR/VR, Immersive, controls, automation and distributed systems i.e., “complete data supply chain”. Recently, Suresh co-authored - “INDUSTRIALIZING INNOVATION – The Next Revolution” (2019). The book lays financial, operational and intellectual foundation of game changing landscape in Capital to Commercialize Innovations.

Profile

Suresh is a former GE ‘executive-turned-entrepreneur’who exemplifies a wide range of leadership, technology insights, and hands-on understanding of the process of commercializing innovations. At the core of his career, his passionis to build futuristic sustainable and profitable innovationecosystems.Recently, he co-authored“INDUSTRIALIZING INNOVATION – The Next Revolution”, a seminal business book published by Springer NATURE (2019). This work lays down an operational, financial and intellectual foundation for the future of venture capital, investments and innovation ecosystems.
In 2018, Mr. Sharma co-founded Open Range Capital Partners, an investment and advisory firm that helps create next generation innovation ecosystems in Tier II, Tier III cities, and in other underserved markets internationally. Though industry-independent, he especially looks for areas of digital transformation of any traditional industry. 
During the last6years, first as ‘Industry Fellow’ of Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), and then as‘Entrepreneur-In-Residence’ and an ‘Innovation Fellow’ at Georgia Institute of Technology, hehas closely worked with cutting-edge R&D teams to commercializeinnovations in Sensors, Analytics, AI, Nanomaterials, Energy, Electronics, Biotech and Biomedical areas.
Earlier, for over two decades: he led several gamechanging business initiativesin his tenures with General Electric Company (GE), and as an entrepreneur; he was President & CEO of four Startupscreating significant value in energy, power, healthcare, and M&A.He has served on the boards of public and privatecompanies, and a partner in VC/PE investment firms. 
He has advanced education degreesand professional training in business and engineering from USA, UK and India.