Snapdeal Co-Founder Kunal Bahl Unearths How the E-Trade Platform Were given Its First Angel Investor

The tale of Snapdeal discovering its first angel investor 14 years in the past is as a lot a lesson in entrepreneurship as it’s about enterprising. Describing it as a tale of “kindness and serendipity,” Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl mentioned he met his first angel investor all over a visitor lecture at a US faculty. However it took him a couple of years to get the individual to put money into his startup and he nonetheless remains to be an investor at Snapdeal. Outlining the adventure in a Twitter thread, Bahl thanked Ken Glass, the professor from Seattle who determined to put money into his company, announcing everybody ever related to Snapdeal will all the time bless him.

Bahl started the tale along with his likelihood come across with Glass. Sooner or later, Bahl walked into one in all his control path lectures in faculty. And a grey-haired guy, dressed casually, used to be chatting along with his common professor out of doors the category. “I questioned who this used to be, visitor speaker it appeared,” mentioned Bahl.

That is the tale of ways @snapdeal were given its first angel investor 14 years in the past, who nonetheless remains to be an investor within the corporate. A brief ????about kindness and serendipity…????

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

As the category began, the “gregarious, animated, excited” guy requested one query that were given everybody guessing: “What does the entrepreneur want essentially the most to prevail?” The trace used to be it began with the letter ‘P’. A number of choices got here up — reminiscent of endurance, perfection, and endurance — however none made the reduce.

The category begins. And fully blows me away. This gentleman is gregarious, animated, excited, working between the rows of the amphitheatre taste seating. He isn’t the usage of notes – speaking speedy about how innovation on the planet works. What entrepreneurship manner and what it takes

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

“The suitable resolution used to be… Hobby,” mentioned Bahl, including he then determined to be an entrepreneur.

The suitable resolution used to be.. Hobby.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

I left the category utterly and completely impressed. I had determined. I sought after to be an entrepreneur.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

Then again, he sought after to make a softer transition after faculty by means of taking a role at Microsoft. Bahl recalled that the visitor lecturer who visited his faculty used to be a former Microsoft government from the ’80s. “I chilly emailed him to let him know that I had attended his elegance a couple of years in the past and used to be now shifting to the Seattle house. Being a 22-year-old recent graduate I didn’t be expecting a reaction.”

As I knew the visitor lecturer used to be an ex-Microsoft government from the 80s & lived within the Seattle house, I chilly emailed him to let him know that I had attended his elegance a couple of years in the past & used to be now shifting to the Seattle house. Being a 22yr previous recent grad I didn’t be expecting a reaction.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

However he were given a reaction inside half-hour. Their conferences, accompanied with laughter and humour, endured for some months, when Bahl’s visa were given shockingly rejected, which intended he will have to depart the United States.

I were given a reaction in 30 minutes with an be offering for a Malaysian meals lunch at Malay Satay Hut, close to Microsoft’s campus. We met a couple of weeks later, had a amusing dialog and determined to stick involved. Keep in mind this used to be any person 25 years older than me and I had not anything to supply him. pic.twitter.com/WJCBF1GI6E

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

Now, Microsoft had just lately implemented for my H1B visa which were given shockingly rejected (loads of data on Google about this incident so skipping main points right here) and that intended I needed to all of sudden depart the United States as I wouldn’t have a sound visa standing to stick within the nation.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

So Bahl determined to have a final lunch along with his “good friend” earlier than leaving the United States.

It used to be time for the general Malay Satay Hut lunch. We had a super dialog and whilst strolling out of the eating place, I discussed to my good friend (sure we have been pals now) that my visa software used to be rejected and I can be leaving the United States quickly, and most probably received’t be again.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

All the way through the dialog, Bahl instructed him his plans to start out a discount ebook industry in India.

He paused. After which, leaning in opposition to his Prius, requested me what my plan used to be once I return to India. I instructed him my good friend from highschool and I have been making plans on beginning a discount ebook industry, which we felt would have numerous possible in India.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

Glass smiled and instructed Bahl, “Let me know if I will be able to lend a hand whatsoever to your adventure.”

He smiled and simply mentioned, “Let me know if I will be able to lend a hand whatsoever to your adventure.”

I didn’t actually know how any person who had by no means been to India, used to be now not of Indian beginning, had no context of the non-existent Indian coupons marketplace, may well be useful.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

It used to be 2007 and there used to be no angel investor ecosystem in India.

There used to be no angel investor ecosystem in India in 2007. Only a few VCs had setup store at that time in India.

All of sudden that dialog within the Malay Satay Hut parking space flashed in entrance of my eyes. I emailed my good friend and asked for a choice.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

Bahl known as Glass and defined intimately what he used to be as much as and sought concepts who he will have to means for budget. Glass mentioned he sought after to improve the undertaking.

At the name, I defined in additional element what we have been doing (issues have been most commonly conceptual at that time), and discussed that we want to position an order with the printer now and wanted some concepts round who lets means for budget. He listened silently.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

I stopped & don’t assume a 2nd handed that I heard again from the opposite finish of the road. “I wish to improve you. I can make investments.”

An extended pause at my finish. Now not simplest as a result of I used to be shocked. But in addition I couldn’t communicate whilst I had an ear to ear smile at the face and tears in my eyes.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

“There used to be no negotiation, no backward and forward. We agreed on easy phrases and inside a few weeks we had the cash that we had to get our entrepreneurship adventure off the beginning blocks,” mentioned Bahl.

There used to be no negotiation, no backward and forward. We agreed on easy phrases and inside a few weeks we had the cash that we had to get our entrepreneurship adventure off the beginning blocks.

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

On the finish of the thread Bahl shared a picture of Glass, who visited India for the Snapdeal co-founder’s marriage in 2012.

(and sure, Ken did seek advice from India for the primary time in 2012 for my marriage ceremony! 5 years after he had first invested!) pic.twitter.com/AIJR69Uw6H

— Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) December 20, 2021

“And sure, Ken did seek advice from India for the primary time in 2012 for my marriage ceremony! 5 years after he had first invested!” wrote Bahl as he ended his thread.