India rising
The Mercury News is running a notable series about the return to India by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs as venture capitalists. It gives you a taste of the “India rising” excitement, but also of the country’s daunting cultural, social and infrastructure challenges.
It features Vani Kola, who returned this summer to begin investing a new fund into Indian start-ups, NEA IndoUS Ventures (size targeted initially at $105 million), which we mentioned earlier here. It also features Rahul… Continue Reading
Reason for Kleiner’s start in clean-tech: Bill Joy’s luxury boat
Newsweek has a good story about how big-name Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins fell for clean tech.
It took several steps, but the ironic obsession by new partner Bill Joy with his $50 million 190-foot superyacht is what put it into high-gear:
…Joy was already deeply interested in alternative energy, ironically thanks to an indulgence of the über-wealthy. Since 2004, he has spent tens of millions to build what he describes as the world’s most… Continue Reading
Ram Shriram says India bereft of middle management, skilled engineers
Ram Shriram, the guy who invested early in Google and made at least a billion, has in part switched his attention to Indian investment possibilities.
Now he’s decrying the dearth of skills there.
Surprising, given all the hand-wringing and publicity in the U.S. in recent years about the never ending supply of talented labor there.
First comes this story from the NYT, which cited studies saying that only one in four engineering graduates in India are employable,… Continue Reading