Day (-) 3 of Mentor on Road, USA

"As different streams having different sources all mingle their waters in the sea, so different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to God."

Swami Vivekanand

The day started with an interview by TV personality and women's rights activist, Ms Renee Mehrra for the popular channel ItV, in New York. She is a tenacious broadcaster with a burning passion for accurate and compelling story telling and the host of the long running television program Renee Mehrra. I am rather grateful, that Ms Mehrra guided the interview with well crafted, rational and intelligent questionnaire.

Moreover, it was an absolute delight meeting with her in person, especially after familiarizing myself with her strong stance and support for issues concerning women, yoga, spiritualism and renewable energy.

I express my utmost gratitude for her valuable support towards Mentor on Road USA.

Post the memorable interview, I met with two young and throbbing investment companies. Thus, after a long and fruitful discussion, we decided upon connecting them to healthcare, renewable energy and infrastructure sector in India.

After a work oriented and eventful first half of the day, I took some time out to enjoy the scenic beauty that the city has to offer. Furthermore, to add to the essence of it, I liberated myself to treat myself with the delectable food and merry my way to the rides. From a tourist's point of view, New York did not disappoint.

While to my absolute pleasure I was enjoying the New York breeze, I spotted a McDonald's outlet, and decided to eat there. Whilst enjoying the food with my family, I remembered the first branch of this largely popular food chain back home in India.

Now that I think of it, it was not long ago that first McDonald's opened in India. As far as I remember, it was on 13 October 1996, in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi. Pertaining to Indian beliefs, it was the first branch to not serve beef. Subsequently, 100 outlets were opened within the next ten years. In addition to that, Rs. 750 crore($12 Million approximately) were invested till 2010. Currently, over 250 restaurants are operating proactively. And apparently, an investment of $ 120 million has been planned to open up 250 more by 2020.

Progress and growth at such a magnitude is staggering.

Anyway, coming back to the present. There were so many more who obliged me by their support in this journey of Mentor on Road USA. One of them Mr Harry Panesar for putting me in touch with Mr Suresh Kumar. Also, I extend this to Mr Kumar himself, from State Univerity of New Jersey, Rutgers University. He provided me with an opportunity within 24 hours of meeting him. The pace of it is much appreciated.

Furthermore, I have to take a moment out to express my gratification from the engaging conversation I had with Mr Nitin Rai of TiE Global, Oregon on the possibilities of charter members pulling in funds to fund young startups to accelerate the Startup Ecosystem. The Indus Entrepreneurs, commonly known as TiE, is a not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs. The organization consists of 61 chapters in 18 countries around the world.

Lastly, a huge thanks to Tie New Jersey, for proving me with the opportunity to share the background, objectives and purpose of this journey of Mentor on Road, USA. Tie New Jersey chapter meets once a month in the Princeton / Edison area. Meetings start with networking over dinner followed by keynote speakers and Q&A sessions.

The response was quite overwhelming and I am glad that I connected with a lot of potential companies wishing to start business in India.

We would be more than happy to facilitate them.

That is all for the day, hope you have a good weekend ahead. Until next time.

Jai Ho !