Sandeep Farias, Founder & Managing Director, Elevar Equity, and three others founded the early-stage impact investment venture capital firm in 2008, at a time when social entrepreneurs were emerging and the ecosystem was developing, but capital was an issue. With an initial focus on the micro-finance sector, Elevar has since diversified and invests in ventures that innovate in other types of financial products, to those that are into small business lending, low-cost housing, healthcare and the education sector.

Elevar, says Farias, is usually the first institutional investor in any venture and is comfortable dealing with the risks associated with such enterprises. “We will continue to back entrepreneurs who have real experience, usually 15-20 years of background. Know how to build companies, know how to build teams. They might not have been entrepreneurs, but they would have worked in large organisations and built teams and built companies,” says Farias, 42.

Education: Master’s from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru.

Prior experience: Amarchand Mangaldas, law firm, where I handled a lot of capital markets related work. I was in Wipro for less than a year, at a time when the company was working on its US listing. Then joined Nishith Desai Associates, law firm, where the first two years were phenomenal. I was thinking about future practice areas of the firm. I set up their offices in the US and Bengaluru. Then joined a US-based non-profit Unitus, helping it establish its India operations. Then, I founded Elevar Equity, an impact investment venture capital firm, with three others in 2008.

Sectors interested in: Broadly finance, healthcare and education, in ventures that have a social impact.

Investments: Ujjivan, Vistaar, Shubham, Madura Microfinance, Glocal and Aarusha.

Typical working day: I get to meet wonderful people. We don’t see ourselves as investors. There is deep passion for the space we are in.

Hobbies: I like to cycle. I do about 50-60 km during the weekend and 15-20 km on a couple of days during the week. I am also interested in politics. I am fascinated by the nature of politics.

Family is a big part. I have two daughters, aged eight-and-a-half and seven. Reading is a big part, anything and everything. If I have to pick something, the whole historical fiction genre.

Gadgets: A couple of years ago, I moved into the iOS world. I have got a Kindle.

Advice to entrepreneurs: One, ask more questions of investors. Take 15-20 minutes and ask a set of questions of the investor. You are talking about entering into a relationship for at least five years.

It is worthwhile to spend some time and ask questions Do your research on the investor. Identify what they focus on. Don’t change and customise your story because you want people to invest in you.

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