ASTUTE AND YOUNG, VINOD MEANS BUSINESS

Vinod Jose of Konglo Ventures is a shrewd investor who has an eye for identifying startups with great growth potential. His firm has facilitated investments in 10 odd startups, mostly promoted by Malayalis, like ZOKO and Profoundis

- ATHUL LAL A G

For him, a lack of growth or absence of challenge is anathema. He deliberately puts himself into situations that are not familiar and challenges himself to learn and grow. Investment in startups is one such adventure. Meet Vinod Jose of Konglo Ventures, which focuses on investing in early-stage startups with high growth potential. Since its inception in 2013, Konglo Ventures has been a trusted channel for the investors outside India, especially successful professionals or entrepreneurs from Kerala, who have a desire to invest back home but hardly have any access to new business opportunities nor the bandwidth to conduct necessary due diligence. The firm has so far invested in 10 startups that include Profoundis, which was recently acquired by FullContact. He is settled in Philadelphia with spouse and two kids.

“I chose Kerala to start with purely because that’s where I am from. I am a proud Malayali!” says Vinod Jose, in an exclusive interview with Destination Kerala.

Here are the excerpts:

How did you get attracted to investing in startups?

It was not premeditated, but rather by accident.