Category: WZCC

Support a UK Zoroastrian entrepreneur build the next Tata-size empire


Ruzbeh Bacha

We, Zoroastrians, even though small in numbers, have taken risks as entrepreneurs, built empires through hard work and commitment and have had a big positive impact on humanity.  While the Tatas, Godrej, and others redefined sectors such as manufacturing and real estate, the next generation of Zoroastrian entrepreneurs are likely to leverage technology and of course artificial intelligence to build successful businesses.

Ruzbeh Bacha who was born and brought in Mumbai and has been in the UK for a decade launched his tech startup CityFALCON from his bedroom back in 2014.  The company is now one of the reputed startups in the UK and even globally..  They serve clients including the French bank BNP Paribas, Austrian bank Raiffeisen Bank, and US stock exchange IEX.  They are also close to signing up a major bank in Asia. Their content partners include Bloomberg, Twitter and other reputed names.  The team has grown to 30, and they have raised £1.1m in funding till date.

Startup media typically portrays all the successes including big fund raises and fails to highlight the challenges that startups face.  Supporting contracts from major banks and institutions require upfront capital investment and also has high maintenance costs. Raising capital as a first-time young entrepreneur with a limited network is tough. The company is now raising their next round of funds to scale the business up by hiring more people and leveraging some of the newer technologies.  

One of the most significant impacts on their business has been from Brexit.  Most non-UK investors are reluctant to support UK businesses due to the political uncertainties and the volatility of the pound.

How can you support?

If you are interested and can take risks involved, you could support them by investing anything from £15 here to become equity shareholders in the company.  You can read more about the business and investment terms on the site. This is NOT a donation, and if the company succeeds, it could provide good returns. Note that your capital is at risk as less than 10% of the startups succeed, and even if they do succeed, the money may be locked-in for at least 5 years.  There is usually no dividend or interest paid.  Please only invest money that you can afford to lose.

For UK tax residents, HMRC provides significant tax breaks and incentives for investing in startups under the EIS scheme. Subject to your tax situation, you could claim 30% of your investment back as tax rebate and can set off any losses if the company goes bankrupt against your taxable income. Please consult with your financial or tax advisor before investing.

Zoroastrians (excluding Ruzbeh) already own c. 4% of the company, and Ruzbeh owns around 59%.  Several younger Zoroastrians in the same age group as Ruzbeh have also invested in the previous rounds.

If you have any questions, reach out to Ruzbeh atruzbeh@cityfalcon.com or 07827830663

Let’s keep the Zoroastrian entrepreneurship flame keep shining bright!

Kind regards 

Shernaz Engineer

Chair WZCC – UK

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Lord Karan F Bilimoria: How I turned Cobra Beer into a Global Brand: Harvard Business Review November 2018


Please see the attached copy of an informative and inspiring article in the Harvard Business Review, November 2018 issue, by our patron Lord Karan F Bilimoria CBE DL titled; ‘How I did it: Cobra’s Chairman on turning an Indian Beer into a Global Brand’. 

Yours sincerely Malcolm M DebooPresident – ZTFE

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WZCC-WE Program on Sat.15-09-2018


Dear All,

Join us for a very special evening filled with fun and interactions with “Mrs India She is India” Winners at an Interactive Workshop for Women Organized by ‘WE’ – Women Entrepreneurs’ Wing of WZCC.

Here’s your chance to learn how to make it big in the world of Business, Fashion and Glamour and yet be a Socially Responsible Citizen.

Spend time with Delnaz & Neha and get to know them and their views on Independent Women.

Limited seats available for this event so call right now to register!

Date: Saturday 15th September, 2018

Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Venue: YWCA, 18 Madam Cama Road, Fort, Mumbai – 400001.

Participation fee inclusive of tea and snacks is :

Rs. 350 /- for WZCC/WE Members and Rs. 400 /- for Non-Members

 

RSVP: Ms. Zarine Khan       wzccindia@on-lyne.com       022-23532522 / 96191 65444

Ms. Homai Mehta                  jjccmumbai@gmail.com                   98208 26367

Ms. Behroze Daruwalla        behroze@frenaus.com                      96192 01951

 

 

Applying to Graduate School in the US


17th April, 2018
A Webinar
Applying to Graduate School in the US
Sponsored By
Zoroastrian Faculty Network (ZFN)
A GWG/WZCC Joint Initiative

On May 5, 2018, 9:00AM India Time
By
Farrokh Mistree, Ph.D.

L.A. Comp Chair and Professor,
School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering,
University of Oklahoma.

 Janet K. Allen, Ph.D.
John and Mary Moore Chair and Professor,
School of Industrial Engineering,
University of Oklahoma.
Content of the webinar is
“Key elements of securing admission and funding at graduate schools in the US”Click here to Register
Please note:

  • Parents are encouraged to participate.
  • Information on how to participate and access to the slides will be sent after registration.

Edul Daver – WZCC Global President
eduldaver@gmail.com

ZOROASTRIAN FACULTY NETWORK (ZFN)


2nd April, 2018
ZOROASTRIAN FACULTY NETWORK (ZFN)
Joint Project of GWG & WZCC
Dr. Farrokh Mistree has been a long term advocate for WZCC to develop a Zoroastrian Faculty Network that would empower Zarathushti students to create economic, cultural & intellectual value.

GWG represented by Farrokh Rustomji and Behram Pastakia were to find ways of helping students from India to gain admission into foreign universities and address related questions.
After some discussions at the recent WZCC AGM in Bangalore and GWG discussion in Mumbai it was felt that a Joint Project between WZCC & GWG would enable us to attain this objective on a more sustainable and fast track basis. This concept was passed by WZCC & GWG and both have endorsed it.

As such this is to announce the formation of the ZOROASTRIAN FACULTY NETWORK.

It’s Vision, Mission, Desired Outcomes & Initial Action Proposals are outlined in the linked document….. Read on

Edul Daver – WZCC Global President
eduldaver@gmail.com

WZCC Plan to help Parsi Entrepreneurs


 

 

 Mumbai, March 07, 2018: World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce – India (WZCCI) and WZO Trust Funds (WZOTF)  are delighted to announce a joint plan to support entrepreneurs / professionals / start-ups by funding selected projects in India with interest-free loans. The principal amount only would have to be returned, over a pre-determined period.

WZCCI and WZOTF would like to invite Zoroastrian Donors to please come forward to donate Rs. 5 – Rs. 25 lakhs towards creating a corpus of Rs. 5 crores to help young people to start-off their entrepreneurial careers or help small businesses reach scale.

Says Edul Davar, Global President, WZCC from New York to young Zoroastrians, “Today is the right time for the right idea and opportunities are limitless for the bold and restless who are willing to dream big, work hard and persist until they achieve success”.

Says Captain Percy M Master, WZCC President – India Region, who will drive the project in India, “With this Financing Initiative we are fulfilling a long time need to encourage the youth of our community to venture into business. Our request to Youth is to come forward with a good Business Plan. We will Guide you and Mentor you to taking the first steps to start your own  business. We are confident that this is a small beginning of something big. Please don’t miss this opportunity. We have great confidence in the future of our youth and in the glory of our community. May Ahura Mazda bless our youth and propel them to greater heights to become the stars of our Community”.

Says Mr. Dinshaw Tamboly, Chairman WZOTF, the enabling organization for this project,                  “WZO Trust Funds, have over the years encouraged, motivated and supported community members to be self-employed. Between 1995 to end March 2017 we have extended interest-free financial support up to Rs. 5,00,000/- to 1,038 individuals at 114 locations in India towards being self-employed in disciplines of their choice. The new initiative of WZCC and WZOTF working together in tandem towards a common goal promises to give a further boost to the Zoroastrian spirit of entrepreneurship lying latent in the minds of  many in our community.”

WZCC – I and WZOTF sincerely hope that a large number of well placed, India based Zoroastrians will come forward and donate sums of money to give a big boost to Zoroastrian Entrepreneurship in India. A separate fund raising drive has also been initiated in US and other parts of the world to contribute to this fund. WZCCI and WZOTF also hope that a large number of youngsters will come forward and avail of this offer by presenting well-thought through and comprehensive business plans. For more information, please contact: wzccindia@on-lyne.com | +91 9619165444 / +91 7045225939 | trustees@wzotrust.com; admin@wzotrust.com | +91 22 23684451/52/53 or USA: eduldaver@gmail.com | +1 9083974443

 

——————————————————————————————————————–

WZCC is a global enterprise established in the year  2000 and now has 14 chapters established in Vancouver, Southern California, Houston, Chicago, Central Florida, New York, London, Tehran, Dubai, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hong Kong and Sydney. The  mission and purpose of WZCC is to  facilitate networking, enhance trade & commerce, build  the Spirit of  Entrepreneurship and thus bring economic prosperity to Zarathushtis worldwide.

 

WZOTF was established in the year 1995 at Mumbai and has a Pan India presence actively extending support to Zoroastrians in diverse areas of need, in keeping with its principles – ‘Building Confidence, Changing Lives, Creating a Strong Community’.

 

https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/parsis-to-promote-and-fund-start-ups-of-youngsters-from-the-community/story-e8PVsO5JTtH7jTnpgnZVCK.html

Afternoon DC_8th March, 2018

Yazdi Tantra – Global VP WZCC – Tour to USA


The need to connect is an overwhelming need for life itself. Personal, Social and Commercial connections enhance the very meaning of our being. More so, when our tiny community is thinly spread across the world, and, perhaps, losing its connections. Today there are probably more Zarathushtis living outside of India than in India. Our future as a community is interlinked with how well we remain connected and be of support to each other.

Yazdi is a firm believer that the internet will help unite the far-flung Zoroastrian community across the globe and towards that end, Yazdi has developed several Zoroastrian Websites. His talk will be a brief overview of these websites and how each one of us can utilize these websites to our advantage. It is about how we can revive our connections, go back to our roots, in terms of religion and culture, our institutions and also how to connect to the globally thriving, living diaspora across the world for personal, social and professional connections. Building upon the omnipotent power of the Internet, let us explore the possibilities and opportunities to make it possible for ourselves and also for our future generations.

Yazdi TantraYazdi Tantra is a Chartered Accountant by training, Computer Consultant by Profession, Entrepreneur Developer by hobby and Trainer in his leisure time. Yazdi writes a regular weekly column for Parsi Times, Mumbai, and a fortnightly column for MoneyLife on Android apps for efficiency at the workplace. He is currently Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the IT Committee of Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Ltd. He is also the Global Vice President and Technical Chair of World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce. He runs a medium-sized Computer Company ON-LYNE for the last 24 years, developing websites, portals, payment gateways, sales and service of computer hardware.

Below is a brief itinerary of his talks during his US tour:
13 Oct., 2017
– Houston		 Websites for Zoroastrians Worldwide & their Impact on the Current Zoroastrian Activities on Social Media Click for Program
15 Oct., 2017
– New York		 Annual Erach Munshi Udvada Fundraiser and Memorial Lecture Click for Details
17 Oct., 2017
– Chicago		 A Global vision for Zarathushti Worldwide Hosted by Roshan & Rohinton Rivetna
rivetna@aol.com
21 Oct., 2017 – Sunnyvale The Need To Connect, and How We Can Do It! Click for Details
22 Oct., 2017
– Los Angeles		 How to make & revive our connections with other Zoroastrians worldwide through the Internet Click for Details
Edul Daver – WZCC Global President

WZCC Global Meet 2017 – 2nd Preview


8th September, 2017
WZCC Global Meet 2017
In our second preview, leading up to the Annual Global Meet, we introduce two more speakers.

DR. RASHNA WRITER, who, by training, is a political scientist and has also pursued a parallel career as a political analyst. She commenced her career as a Research Associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London; went on to become a Contributing Editor of the Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook; Defense & Foreign Affairs Strategic Policy. Subsequently, she was Head of Global Risks for a leading strategic risk consultancy in the UK, where she specialised in advising Lloyds of London syndicates specialty insurance underwriters on political risks, war and terrorism risks; as well as being a senior advisor to some major Austrian and German companies.
rashnaShe has authored several books on the Zoroastrian Community and holds a doctorate from the London School of Economics in International Relations. She is also the recipient of several international awards.

Dr. Writer will address the subject of “Entrepreneurial Social Conscience as a Means of Zoroastrian Self-Preservation”. She hopes that her talk will highlight Parsi entrepreneurs who, having acquired wealth, will consider it their duty to re-invest a part of it in the community. In her own words, “this was the genesis of the outstanding Parsi infrastructure that exists to this day. The challenge for today’s Zoroastrian entrepreneurs is to assess our current situation and make decisions tailored to our times.”
The youngest of our speakers, at 30, is PRONITA SAXENA. Pronita is a graduate in Economic, with honours from UC, Berkeley. After earning her degree she worked at MIT’s Poverty Action Lab in rural Bangladesh and contributed to several policy papers for the World Bank and IMF at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC.
pronitaShe moved to India and founded CITIZENGAGE, a technology company operating the world’s first waste-to-resource platform that channels waste into energy, compost and recycled products. Pronita was recently named one of India’s Top Women Entrepreneurs by Cosmopolitan and specialises in creating markets for disruptive technology. She drafted new policies related to smarter waste management systems while working with Citizengage’s first customers to champion a Waste-to-Resource platform.

Pronita is a great example of Social Entrepreneurship and we look forward to hearing about her journey as an Entrepreneur at the forthcoming Global Meet.
Read More
“Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources currently controlled.”

Please consider becoming a member by visiting www.wzcc.org or contacting your Region Director/Chapter Chair.

WZCC GLOBAL AGM BANGALORE – 2017


Dear Friends,

Greetings from WZCC.

Folks, it is once again time for our Annual Global Meet. Earlier, our Global AGMs were successfully held in India as well as foreign locales, namely, Houston, London, Tehran, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, etc. This year’s Global AGM will be held in India, viz. Bangalore – a dynamic city with its IT hub and pleasant environment. The name “Bangalore”, which is the capital of Karnataka State, represents an anglicised version of the Kannada language name “Bengaluru” – by which the city is now known.

In this fast changing world, Entrepreneurs, as well as Professionals, have to remain alerted on all fronts so as to become successful. Global Meet, therefore, arranged by WZCC is the ideal platform for all of us to establish a network so as to capture the market share and achieve sustainable growth.

Bangalore is sometimes referred to as the “Silicon Valley of India” (or “IT Capital of India”) because of its role as the nation’s leading information technology (IT) exporter. Indian technological organisations ISRO, Infosys, Wipro and HAL are headquartered in the city. Information Technology, as we are all aware, is growing at a rapid pace and hence, any business or profession need to keep pace with innovation which can be disruptive at times. Bangalore City will, therefore, be an ideal place for all of us to meet for continuous growth and prosperity.

Although our Bangalore Chapter is comparatively new, they have made a splendid effort to organise this Event, led by Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (Retd.), Chairman – Bangalore Chapter along with his dedicated team.

With their special efforts, they have selected one of the most sought after resorts called “Clarks Exotica Convention Resort and Spa”, which is hardly 15 minutes from Bangalore airport. It is a sprawling place with all the facilities one could look for and would, therefore, be an ideal location for us to communicate and network with each other.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The month of December, in particular, would certainly add flavour to our Meet. The coolest months are December/January with an average low temperature of 15.1° C (59.2° F). Hence, carrying of light woollens are recommended. Moreover, their efforts have resulted in all of us getting the highly competitive rate for our stay and I am, therefore, sure that we will have a large number of participants for this Global Meet.

It is my appeal to all our members to kindly release advertisements which would be published in our yearly invaluable journal “SynergyZ” which has a wide circulation. Click Here for the advertisement details along with the Rate Chart. We are sure members will help WZCC in augmenting its resources for mutual benefit.

For the convenience of our members, all the relevant details are given below. Request all my dear members to read them carefully and fill in the details and register their names at a very early date. A quick and sizeable response from all our members will help us to organise this Event in a most exemplary manner.

Invitation from WZCC-Bangalore with details of Global Meet
Registration Form
Program Details
Information on Tour in India
Information on Tour in Srilanka

Looking forward to your gracious presence and interact with you for mutual benefit.

http://wzcc.org/global-agm-bangalore-2017/