Guwahati: US-returned Nagaraja Prakasam is a famous name in the world of angel investors. Prakasam, who goes by simply 'Naga', has identified startups often overlooked by other businesses, launching them to success. Recently, he authored 'Back to Bharat: In Search of a Sustainable Future', a book detailing his journey, which received good reviews in the early days of its release. In Guwahati for an event, Prakasam spoke to Business North East on a plethora of topics and highlighted the immense potential of the Northeast Indian states in the start-up sector owing to the region's special ecology.

Excerpts of this interview are as under:

BNE: Tell us about your experience mentoring and investing in start-ups in the Northeast.
           
Nagaraja Prakasam: I mostly invest in social businesses. In the northeast, I am glad to see entrepreneurs working on their local strengths and there is a lot to learn here. The whole world is looking at climate change and inequality as major problems, but the Northeast has solutions to these problems. Here, I see a lot of entrepreneurs who are working on real-life problems and their solutions. I  have met people working with Eri Silk and Muga Silk and discussed how we can market these unique products overseas. I have also seen people working in high-end tourism, which is a major strength. This region is pristine, and hence, it should be preserved.

BNE: How do start-ups from the Northeast compare to those from other parts of India? Are there any differences? 

Nagaraja Prakasam: There has to be more focus on developing the strengths. The strength that the Northeast has, Bangalore might not. Northeast's strengths lie in tourism, agriculture, and craft sectors. So, how do we take those forward? One of the technology investments that we are working on aims to put a device in every loom that will attach products to QR codes. Upon being scanned, the code will tell you whether it is made in Guwahati or Garo Hills. It will also tell us who has made the product and how much carbon he has saved. So this is how we can address the developmental aspect. 

BNE: You have written about the Northeast startups in your book, "Back to Bharat: In Search of a Sustainable Future." Can you throw more light on it?

Nagaraja Prakasam: The book is about a personal journey. Today, the world has two problems: climate change and inequality. In the book, I cite the example of the Northeast because many people here are living sustainably. That is what this book is about - individual social responsibility. If we make a choice on what we buy and what we consume, 70 percent of the greenhouse effect can be reduced. Northeast has solutions for many of the current problems and I have documented many of those in my book.

BNE: What is your motivation behind investing in start-ups?

Nagaraja Prakasam: When I lived in the US, I came across this NGO called Association for India’s Development. Working with the NGO, I saw that there are thousands of problems in India.  With that experience, I was able to understand ‘Bharat' better. When I came back to India, I started spending more time in social businesses that were working not only for profit but also helping people and the planet. More innovations should happen by capitalizing on the strengths of Assam and the northeast to create more eco-friendly products. My motive is to bring glory back to India.

BNE: When it comes to environmental sustainability and community development, do you think start-ups from Northeast India have more scope?

Nagaraja Prakasam: Absolutely, because they are living it. Entrepreneurs who are looking at this should understand that they have great potential to rethink what development is. You have a pristine culture and pristine nature. How do you leverage it towards development and ensure that you preserve it further? We can’t afford to develop this place how southern parts of the country have been developed as it is eroding nature. You guys have done a great job. I was just coming from Shillong to Guwahati. Across the road, I found people selling pineapples. Pineapples grow in Bangalore as well. Grow things that are useful and grow only in the Northeast. 
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BNE: What is your advice for startups from the Northeast? How can they leverage the strengths of this region and build profitable and sustainable ventures?

Nagaraja Prakasam: I was here a few years back when the Chief Minister launched the much-vaunted Assam Start-Up. Many states in the Northeast have already started incubating startups. Last year, I was at the IIT Guwahati when they did a conclave about using technology for rural solutions. IIM Calcutta is also setting up an incubator here and working with Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Children are becoming acquainted with technology and getting connected to the rest of the world. They can use the exposure and connect back to nature in their own homelands.

( Nagaraja Prakasam was present in Guwahati on the occasion of Connect.X Hangout as the Guest of Honour.)

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