Empowering the Next Generation: Can Our Community Foster More Entrepreneurs?

  •   Sat, Jul 05 2025
  •   By Pramod D'Souza

July 5, 2025 

In my journey as an angel investor, I have spoken to more than 700 technology startup founders from Bangalore and other cities across India. I am also connected to thousands more through the LinkedIn platform. Out of all these interactions, one question has continued to trouble me: How many of these founders come from the Mangalorean Konkani Catholic community?

The numbers are, frankly, shocking. Hardly anyone from our community seems to betaking the plunge into the entrepreneurship world.

Many of us watch shows like Shark Tank, where enthusiastic entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors. But have we ever seen anyone from our community standing on that stage, showcasing their innovation?

Why are we Christians — especially Mangalorean Konkani Catholics — lagging behind inthis wave of startups?

This is not a small or passing phenomenon. Bangalore is the startup capital of India,the place where so many of the country’s unicorns — startups valued at overa billion US dollars — have been built. The city is also home to numerous “Soonicorns”, ventures that are well on their way to reaching unicorn status.

According to NASSCOM, a government-supported body that tracks this ecosystem, Bangalore alone is home to more than 20,000 startups, with 200–300 new companies being registered every year. In a city with such a vibrant and fast-growing startup landscape, it is concerning that so few of these companies have Christian founders — and even fewer fromour Mangalorean Konkani Catholic community.

Why does this matter? Because startups today are not just businesses. They are engines of innovation, jobcreation, and societal transformation. They are solving real problems — everything from financial inclusion and healthcare access to education and sustainability. When our community does not participate, we miss out on shapingthefuture, creating wealth, and setting examples for the next generation.

It is time to ask ourselves some tough questions: 

  • What cultural, social, or psychological barriers are holding us back? 
  • Have we placed too much emphasis on traditional, “safe” careers, to the detriment of entrepreneurial ambition? 
  • Do we lack role models and mentors who can show young people the path to building a company? 
  • Are we so risk-averse that we cannot imagine trading the security of a job for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship? 

This is not about blaming anyone. It is about recognising a gap that urgently need sattention. Our community has always excelled in academics and professional fields — doctors, engineers, accountants, bankers, managers. But the world has changed. Today, entrepreneurship is not an alternative; it is a vital force driving India’s growth story. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while other communities and regions seize the opportunities of this era.

If we want to see more of our youth on the stages of Shark Tank, building unicorns, or creating startups that make a difference, we have to start by changing mindsets, building support systems, and celebrating those few trailblazers among us who have dared to try.

It starts with awareness. It grows with encouragement. And it succeeds when our young people believe that entrepreneurship is not only acceptable — it is respected, valued, and necessary for the future.

The Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA), which brings together all Mangalorean Konkani Catholic associations worldwide, has an important role to play in creating greater awareness within our community, especially among parents. Through its affiliated associations, FKCA could take the initiative to organize talks, seminars, and panel discussions on entrepreneurship, equipping young people to make well-informed career choices.

It is worth acknowledging the pivotal role played by FKCA in 2008 when it facilitated the establishment of Kanara Entrepreneurs, Bangalore (KE), incollaboration with KE, Dubai — a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs from the Kanara region, through networking and mutual growth. Since then, KE has flourished into a vibrant community of over 500 entrepreneurs representing a diverse range of industries. Today, KE proudly operates chapters in Dubai, Bangalore, Goa, and a virtual chapter to connect members globally.

However, the involvement of youth from our community remains limited. The time is ripe for FKCA, its affiliated associations, and KE to forge stronger partnerships and actively collaborate to inspire, mentor, and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs within our community.

 

 

 

 
By Pramod D'Souza
Pramod D'Souza is an angel investor, technology leader, and startup advisor. He also serves as the president of Kanara Entrepreneurs, Bangalore chapter. All views expressed are personal. He can be reached at president.blr@keglobal.org or on whatsapp +919845787003.
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