What events is India Venture 2000 organising for participants? India Venture 2000 is currently helping participants develop robust business plans for their start-ups via the coaching mechanism and the interactive marketplace on our web-site. Now, we are designing events that will help participants test their start-up thinking by bringing them face-to-face with venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and solution providers. We plan to have two of these events in April. We will start with a VC Clinic in the first week: participants can interact with VCs and get inputs on how to further strengthen their business plans. The second event, in the latter half of April, will provide a marketplace for funds and other business enablers. Both these events will be organised in Mumbai. Participants should check our web-site regularly for the latest update on these events. Who can participate in these events? The VC Clinic is open for all teams shortlisted for Phase 2 of India Venture 2000. We will announce the details of the second event shortly. What is the objective of the VC Clinic? When and where is it being organised? The VC Clinic is meant to be an interim checks point for teams that are developing their business plans. It will be an excellent opportunity for teams to network with venture capitalists, and recieve valuable inputs on the business plan. The VC Clinic will be held in Mumbai on April 2 and 3. It is not mandatory for Phase 2 participants to take part in the VC Clinic. Please send us an email if you wish to participate. In what format should participants send in their entries for the VC Clinic? Participants should send an "Executive Summary" of their business plan by March 28. The Executive Summary should cover the key aspects of the business plan and the team (as explained below). We urge participants to tap the relevant sections of India Venture 2000 Participants' guide, especially the sample business plan, to develop their business plans. We also urge you to use the coaching inputs, the reference library, etc. What key questions should the "Executive Summary" answer? The Executive Summary for the VC Clinic should not exceed 6 pages of printed text, and should answer the following questions on the business plan and the team. All other details should appear as an Appendix (which the VC may or may not look at). Ten questions on business plan What is your business idea? Who are your target customers and what value are they being offered? What competitive environment do you face? What is unique in the conception and/or execution of your plan? What are the entry barriers in your space? What is the size of your market and how fast is it expected to grow? How will you scale up your business over time? What product or service will you offer to each of your customer segments? How will this compare with your competitors? How will you attract customers? How do you plan to create and deliver the content, product, and service to your customers? What partnerships or alliances will you need to get into for these? What organisation would you need to create to execute your business (e.g., create content, attract customers, deliver services)? How will your business make money? How will you price the product or service you offer to each of your customer segments? What are your funding needs at different stages of your business evolution? How long are each of these phases? What returns should the investors expect from your business? What concrete execution steps have you already taken? In future, what are your executional priorities and what milestones are you pursuing against these? What exit options (e.g., an IPO, a sell-out) will best suit the investors in your start-up? Three questions on your team Who are the members in your promoter team and what distinguishes them - education, professional experience, relevant multi-functional skills or successful start-up experience? What exact role is each of you playing? What team skills are still lacking? How and when will you close this gap? What is the evidence that your team will sink or swim with your start-up (e.g., have all of you quit jobs)? Where and how should the entries be sent? Entries for the VC Clinic should reach the India Venture 2000 office by March 28. You should send it, preferably, as a Word file attachment in an email. However, you could send your entry by mail or fax, too. Please use the same team name and idea name that you sent us during Phase 1. E-mail address : india_venture_2010@mckinsey.com Subject : VC Clinic entry Mailing Address  : Send three hard copies of your entry to:     India Venture 2000 (VC Clinic entry) c/o McKinsey & Company, Inc. 21st Floor, Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400 021. Or fax your entries to : 022-285 5375 022-285 5535 Marked for Attention : India Venture 2000 (VC Clinic entry)