Media Release
Verna, Jul 13: Kanara Entrepreneurs (KE), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering mutual benefits among its members, is proud to announce the establishment of its newest chapter in Goa. The decision to expand into Goa reflects KE's commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and business growth across regions.
The inaugural meeting of KE Goa was held recently, attracting a significant turnout of approximately 100 attendees from Goa, alongside KE Bangalore board of directors. This event marked the beginning of a promising journey to facilitate collaboration, networking, and knowledge-sharing among local entrepreneurs and professionals.
"We are excited to bring Kanara Entrepreneurs to Goa, a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation," said Ivan Fernandes, chairman of KE Global. "Our mission is to create a supportive ecosystem where entrepreneurs can thrive, and we look forward to leveraging our experience and resources to empower businesses in Goa."
KE aims to build upon its successful track record in Dubai and Bengaluru through it chapters and in Mumbai and Mangaluru through its affiliates, where it has nurtured a community of dynamic entrepreneurs for over 20 years. The organization provides a platform for members to exchange ideas, access mentorship, and explore business opportunities both locally and globally.
Claudius Pereira, president of KE Bangalore chapter was the keynote speaker recounted the beginnings of KE in 2004 in Dubai and how the founder chairman Ivan Fernandes envisioned to start an organization which will help the community at large. He said, “KE is a not - for -profit organization and the objective of KE is to guide, encourage, support and nurture entrepreneurs.
He narrated a true story on how KE members helped a fellow KE member from the brink of tragedy with mentoring, working capital infusion and help turnaround the company. The testimony of ‘individually exclusive collectively explosive, the power of coming together’. He said, “KE also creates opportunities like job fairs, collaborations with member companies etc.”
He urged the participants to form a local chapter in a self-sustainable manner to help one another for their mutual benefit with a goal to give back, encourage the discouraged, feed dreams and give people hope. He said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be useful, to make a difference to the world around you.” He signed off by saying, “It is better to light a candle than to curse darkness.”
Pramod D’Souza, director - mentoring at KE Bangalore, walked through various value added initiatives of Bangalore chapter. Key initiatives he mentioned are National Level Business Plan contest and the popular Founders’ Fiesta, which is a monthly event where members of the chapter host other members at their office and share their life story. Other notable programmes are Business Accelerator Program, Entrepreneurship Development Programme and one to one mentoring, connecting accomplished entrepreneurs with early stage entrepreneurs for a structured mentoring.
He also touched upon the skewed statistic of Christian founders within the startup community. “We have hardly any who have started and reached a stage to raise capital for next level of growth. A community initiative is the need of the hour to encourage youth to create new businesses/startups and grow it big,” he added while addressing to the packed audience.
Anil Rego, director finance welcomed the guests with his touching words. He said, “If we do not share and be ‘givers’ we will be selfish and hence the graveyard will be the richest place.”
Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, secretary to archbishop of Goa spoke on how the Catholic community must have themselves on faith and Christian values at home , workplace, society and have be good example and ambassador of Christ wherever they go.
Baylon Sequeira Vaz proposed the vote of thanks to all who attended, sparing there time to understand what we can do as a society.
Timothy Calaco was very energetic and compared the entire programme with lots of enthusiasm and brighten up the evening.