The Aavishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund (“Aavishkaar” - AIMVCF) identified SKEPL as a true opportunity on parameters such as rurally oriented, socially relevant commercial viable investment. Based on the due diligence performed by Aavishkaar, the growth potential of the company established and a clear growth strategy was devised.

The Aavishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund (“Aavishkaar” - AIMVCF) is a venture fund founded to promote development in rural and semi-urban India. Aavishkaar believes entrepreneurs can be a powerful force for development. To this end, the firm provides micro-equity funding (Rs. 10 lacs to Rs. 2 Crore), approximately USD $20 thousand to USD $500 thousand) and operational and strategic support to commercially viable companies increasing income in or providing goods and services to rural or semi-urban India.

The World Business Awards constituted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) (www.iccwbo.org/wba) had selected Aavishkaar India Micro Venture Capital Fund among the top ten business models in the world that serve towards fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Aavishkaar is a social venture capital fund set up in the year 2001 to provide earlystage capital to micro and small enterprises that lack access to conventional financial institutions. Aavishkaar’s co-founder and CEO, Vineet Rai, believes that the World Business Award is an acknowledgement that small initiatives have a critical role to play in meeting challenging global issues such as those enshrined in the MillenniumDevelopment Goals.

Aavishkaar has been able to bring together a new blended-value asset class by merging mainstream venture capital principals of risk capital and intensive hand holding to achieve scale with the need of nurturing sustainable businesses that address rural development issues AIMVCF investment has strengthen the assembly line, quality control department and marketing & distribution network of SKEPL. Investment

AIMVCF has invested Rs. 18 Lacs only into SKEPL as its first tranche for 26.47% stake in the company. The promoters and their family members hold remaining stake in the company.

AIMVCF has also kept an option to invest further Rs. 9 Lacs in Optionally Convertible Debenture (OCD), if need arises. AIMVCF Role post Investment
Aavishkaar is working actively with SKEPL, and has identified roles and responsibilities for itself with in the growth strategy. Aavishkaar has retained rights to nominate on seat in the board. The reporting structure for SKEPL has been designed in such a manner that the executive team of AIMVCF continues to enjoy insights into operational issues.

The reports will be sent to Management Board members on quarterly basis for
their feed back and suggestions. Regular meetings with the team of SKEPL, joint
reviews of performances with all stakeholders, visits to production site and markets, fine-tuning of strategies will be regularly done.

For more information please visit http://www.aavishkaar.org/index.htm