Patna: The Bihar Industries Association (BIA) on Thursday organised a one-day awareness programme at its premises in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), focusing on new-age financing options for startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bihar.
Held in two sessions, the programme aimed to acquaint entrepreneurs with alternative sources of capital, institutional investment and modern fundraising strategies, as the state looks to position its startups more prominently within the national ecosystem.
The first session was devoted to startups and venture funding. It featured discussions on alternative investment funds, institutional capital and the preparation required to attract investors. SIDBI’s general manager, Anubha Prasad, addressed the gathering along with senior officials. Industry experts George Thomas, CEO and head of asset management at Menterra Ventures, and Rahul Gupta, senior vice-president for investor relations at IvyCap Ventures, participated as speakers.
Welcoming the guests, BIA president Ram Lal Khetan said India’s rise to third place in the global startup ecosystem, with more than 120 unicorns, reflected a maturing innovation environment. He said the trend opened significant opportunities for emerging states such as Bihar, and described the programme as an effort to prepare local startups for national-level engagement with institutional capital.
Anubha Prasad said the Government of India had mandated SIDBI to support startups financially, outlining various SIDBI funds and schemes available to eligible enterprises. She noted that the Startup India Mission, launched in 2016, was approaching its tenth year, marking a decade of sustained policy support for entrepreneurship.
Thomas and Gupta underlined the importance of project structuring, transparency and professional governance in attracting investors. They said Bihar did not lack entrepreneurial talent, but startups needed to align themselves better with available funding avenues.
The second session focused on equity fundraising through initial public offerings (IPOs) for MSMEs. Chaired by former BIA vice-president Sanjay Goenka, the session included SIDBI deputy general manager Rashmi Ranjan. Experts Avik Gupta from the National Stock Exchange’s SME platform and Suresh Kumar Rai explained the eligibility criteria, benefits and step-by-step process for raising equity through capital markets, including SME listings.
The programme was attended by BIA vice-president Purushottam Agarwal, general secretary Amarnath Jaiswal and other senior members of the association. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Jaiswal, who said such initiatives were crucial for strengthening Bihar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
