Business Today has a profile of Ventureast's Micro Equity Fund which invests in a variety of small businesses that don't get looked at by traditional VC investors.
The fund has so far invested into companies like Akshara Print Forms Pvt. Ltd, a manufacturer of pre-printed business forms and stationery such; Murugesan Silver Casting Works, a manufacturer of jewellery based; Rex Miller Garments, a garment manufacturer; Studio Essential, a unisex salon and V Cube Automations, which markets a device that automatically turns off motors pumping water into overhead tanks when they are full.
"These entrepreneurs are often from the lower middle class, with limited savings and little parental help. Their personal assets are secured with banks against working capital loans. They also take personal loans at high interest rates to make up for the deficit," says Sarath Naru, founder and managing partner of VenturEast, a venture capital fund.
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