Emergent Business Networks

Summary:

• Entrepreneur, dealmaker, strategist, CEO.
• Builds companies globally (USA, Europe & Asia).
• Full venture lifecycle: raises capital, builds companies to profitability and closes trade sales.

Writer for ReadWriteWeb.

Education:

Oxford University, BA, 1976

Entrepreneur:

• Founded and built specialist BPO vendor to profitability.

IQ Resource provides Outsourcing services to clients in USA and UK from a base in India. The company differentiates through rapid assembly of cross-disciplinary teams (software, content and call center). As one of 3 founders and President, Bernard conceived and wrote the business plan, raised angel financing, took the company to market, won marquee reference clients, hired a management team and brought the company to profitability. http://www.iqresource.com/

• Founded and raised Series A for PC support service

iYogi provides computer support via phone and remote access for home and small business users globally from a base in India. iYogi is recognized a one of the new breed of outsourcers that sell direct to consumer. As one of 3 co-founders, conceived the service, built the proof of concept service and in April 2007 raised a $3.1m round from Canaan Partners and Silicon Valley Bank. In July 2008, iYogi closed a $9.5m Series B led by SAP Ventures. (http://www.iyogi.net).

• Built and sold Software Company to IBM in in 18 months

Information Laboratory was a New York based start-up that used complexity science and visualization to reengineer large-scale software systems. As VP Biz Dev, starting with an early prototype, within 18 months, without external funding, during the “technology nuclear winter” generated enough market traction to sell the company to IBM in mid 2003.

Director, Advisor, Dealmaker and Senior Executive:

• Closed $4m strategic cross-border partnership deal.

IMS System Ltd is a Korean developer of large-scale core banking systems. Sourced, negotiated and closed a $4m (upfront) Distribution contract with the IT subsidiary of India’s leading financial institution.

• Conducted Investment Due Diligence for a Private Equity firm

Used knowledge of Indian outsourcing to evaluate a Russian outsourcing company. The transaction concluded and the company is doing well.

• Guided India’s leading software product company to market.

Pramati Technologies Ltd is one of India’s leading software product companies, with an established position in the J2EE application server market. Guided Pramati through two rounds of VC investment from Citigroup and Intel in 1999 and 2001. Closed large contract that ensured the company was viable without further external financing.

• Closed IPR Licensing deal for a UK software company.

Conducted positioning study, researched market, scoped out potential partners, managed sales process and closed deal. The contract included committed up-front cash.

• Grew Pan-Asian network for Misys PLC

Misys is the leading vendor of International Banking Systems. As Asia Regional Director, increased business in the Asia region by 35%, in a mature market, broke in the Indian market and managed transition from distributors to wholly owned branch offices.

• Built financial trading systems business in London and New York

Built a financial trading systems business in London and New York, bootstrapping the way to profitability with top tier clients such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. Created a product in 1984, using what is now called Publish & Subscribe, that was still being used 20 years later.

• Built the first online recruitment service

In 1980, pre-Internet, used the Prestel Videotex service to build an online recruitment service, enabling large  companies to hire people graduating from college. The service was profitable within 3 months.