In India, Capital Is Available for Entrepreneurs — Especially in Energy and Real Estate

Things are tough all over, but some entrepreneurs in India report having greater access to capital than their counterparts in other economies. According to Bain & Company, the Indian venture capital/private equity market totaled $17 billion in 2007, and declined slightly to $14 billion in 2008. Information technology-enabled services and telecommunications companies were the main targets in earlier years, but more recently the focus has shifted to the real estate and energy sectors. In its most recent issue, India Knowledge at Wharton looked at the startup environment in India, where entrepreneurs need perseverance and a "thick skin."