Name: Krishna Handa
City: Ahmedabad, India
Occupation: Founder of Claris Capital – a Venture Capital & Private Equity company, and
Brihati Foundation
Brihati Foundation
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Krishna: I follow a simple philosophy of
being a self-starter. Today, as the founder of Claris Capital- a Venture
Capital & Private Equity company, and Brihati Foundation, I see myself as a
serial entrepreneur who takes risks and believes
in creating more leaders than followers.
being a self-starter. Today, as the founder of Claris Capital- a Venture
Capital & Private Equity company, and Brihati Foundation, I see myself as a
serial entrepreneur who takes risks and believes
in creating more leaders than followers.
After completing my bachelors’ degree in bio-technology and
bio-chemistry, I studied law to get a wholesome view of regulatory procedures.
To gain insight in business administration, I got enrolled in Suffolk
University, Boston, and earned a MBA degree.
bio-chemistry, I studied law to get a wholesome view of regulatory procedures.
To gain insight in business administration, I got enrolled in Suffolk
University, Boston, and earned a MBA degree.
At the age of 25, I studied the market and concluded that there
is an opportunity in the space of Contract R&D in the field of niche generics. My
ideas was to start a B2B company that can keep up with the cutting-edge
technology. This was the genesis of Dorizoe
Lifesciences – a
Specialty Contract Research & Development Organization.
is an opportunity in the space of Contract R&D in the field of niche generics. My
ideas was to start a B2B company that can keep up with the cutting-edge
technology. This was the genesis of Dorizoe
Lifesciences – a
Specialty Contract Research & Development Organization.
The birth of Dorizoe led to many ventures; some took off and
some didn’t. I started Claris Capital in 2016. As a venture capital company,
Claris Capital aims to motivate aspiring young entrepreneurs to get started in
entrepreneurship at an early stage. Going by the intent of creating better societies
and empowering communities, Claris Capital hopes to mentor entrepreneurs that
have the ability to execute an idea that can make an impact on society.
some didn’t. I started Claris Capital in 2016. As a venture capital company,
Claris Capital aims to motivate aspiring young entrepreneurs to get started in
entrepreneurship at an early stage. Going by the intent of creating better societies
and empowering communities, Claris Capital hopes to mentor entrepreneurs that
have the ability to execute an idea that can make an impact on society.
Brihati Foundation is an extension of the same philosophy that
works in the areas of sustainable urban development by making citizens an
active part of the process.
works in the areas of sustainable urban development by making citizens an
active part of the process.
I am an avid reader and explorer with a child-like curiosity. I love to travel
to newer places to gain insights on culture and urban planning.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most and why?
Krishna: My
first role model undoubtedly is my mother. Her undeterred love towards me is my
strength, and has helped me build my self-esteem, encouraged me to dream and
taught me to love them.
first role model undoubtedly is my mother. Her undeterred love towards me is my
strength, and has helped me build my self-esteem, encouraged me to dream and
taught me to love them.
The other important woman who has
influenced me in terms of pursuing my dream, is my Mother-in-law. She taught me
how freedom and support can enrich other’s lives.
influenced me in terms of pursuing my dream, is my Mother-in-law. She taught me
how freedom and support can enrich other’s lives.
From my mother and mother-in-law, I
have learnt that how our inherent nurturing ability can help provide more
voices to women around the world. I am grateful to both of them for helping me
evolve as an Individual that I am today.
have learnt that how our inherent nurturing ability can help provide more
voices to women around the world. I am grateful to both of them for helping me
evolve as an Individual that I am today.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day?
Krishna: I
celebrate women’s day by connecting with spirited ladies who bring value to our
society through their ideas and actions. This year is going to be the same too.
celebrate women’s day by connecting with spirited ladies who bring value to our
society through their ideas and actions. This year is going to be the same too.
ST: What is the most important message you want to send out to all the
women around the world on this occasion?
women around the world on this occasion?
Krishna: As
women, we are the architect of our society and yet often, we are the most
untapped resource. We need to believe in ourselves, pursue our dreams on our
own accord and shed away the societal prejudices. We are gifted with intuition
and empathy and we need to effectively use these traits to create an ripple
effect in empowering more number of women.
women, we are the architect of our society and yet often, we are the most
untapped resource. We need to believe in ourselves, pursue our dreams on our
own accord and shed away the societal prejudices. We are gifted with intuition
and empathy and we need to effectively use these traits to create an ripple
effect in empowering more number of women.
ST: What according to you is ‘women empowerment’?
Krishna: Empowerment
is an inclusive process that should bring women from various socio-economic
levels together. It is also the moral, intellectual, and cultural development of
a woman that enables her to face challenges and discharge her duties
effectively without any constraint. For me, it is the right to make a decision
and follow one’s conviction without any impediment. I feel like it’s time to
view women empowerment as treating them as equal and neutral, and not adhere to
any gender war or biases.
is an inclusive process that should bring women from various socio-economic
levels together. It is also the moral, intellectual, and cultural development of
a woman that enables her to face challenges and discharge her duties
effectively without any constraint. For me, it is the right to make a decision
and follow one’s conviction without any impediment. I feel like it’s time to
view women empowerment as treating them as equal and neutral, and not adhere to
any gender war or biases.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges facing women at present
in India?
in India?
Krishna: Despite
some progress made in the last decade, we still have a handful of women who are
in the leadership position. Unfortunately, there are biases that continue to
impede the employment of women in all sectors and industries. It’s time to
break these stereotypes. We need to support a woman at home, a farm, or at a boardroom
equally to build a progressive nation.
some progress made in the last decade, we still have a handful of women who are
in the leadership position. Unfortunately, there are biases that continue to
impede the employment of women in all sectors and industries. It’s time to
break these stereotypes. We need to support a woman at home, a farm, or at a boardroom
equally to build a progressive nation.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?
Krishna: In the next five years or so, I want
to serve a larger cause and help bring significant change in the society.
Keeping this in mind, I started Claris Capital and Brihati Foundation to
support and nurture innovative ideas that can bring solutions to the challenges
of our society. An amalgamation of the philosophy of Claris Capital and Brihati
is .INC – Ideas to Incorporation conference that looks to encourage solutions
oriented enterprises.
to serve a larger cause and help bring significant change in the society.
Keeping this in mind, I started Claris Capital and Brihati Foundation to
support and nurture innovative ideas that can bring solutions to the challenges
of our society. An amalgamation of the philosophy of Claris Capital and Brihati
is .INC – Ideas to Incorporation conference that looks to encourage solutions
oriented enterprises.
The first edition of “.INC- Idea to
Incorporation 2018” conference was recently held in Ahmedabad. The conference
felicitated innovative winning business ideas and provided a platform for
aspiring entrepreneurs to meet investors and various industry leaders. An acclaimed set of jury selected three
innovative ideas that were solutions driven and sustainable. The winners not
only received prize money from Claris Capital, but were mentored by renowned
experts for commercialization of their business ideas.
Incorporation 2018” conference was recently held in Ahmedabad. The conference
felicitated innovative winning business ideas and provided a platform for
aspiring entrepreneurs to meet investors and various industry leaders. An acclaimed set of jury selected three
innovative ideas that were solutions driven and sustainable. The winners not
only received prize money from Claris Capital, but were mentored by renowned
experts for commercialization of their business ideas.
.INC is an open platform to support
aspiring entrepreneurs who are solutions oriented. Through this initiative our
aim was to encourage “out-of-the-box” ideas from the hinterland of Gujarat and
help them turn into a viable business. With this competition we wanted to
showcase that innovation, however big
or small, can also come from tier II/III cities. This will be an ongoing
feature and next year we aim to take it outside of Gujarat.
aspiring entrepreneurs who are solutions oriented. Through this initiative our
aim was to encourage “out-of-the-box” ideas from the hinterland of Gujarat and
help them turn into a viable business. With this competition we wanted to
showcase that innovation, however big
or small, can also come from tier II/III cities. This will be an ongoing
feature and next year we aim to take it outside of Gujarat.
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| Krishna Handa, Founder- Claris Capital, and Brihati Foundation |
