This was presented at the Two Circles's - TCN annual award ceremony that was held on December 17th, 2011 at Hotel Taj President, Mumbai, India For more info: http://twocircles.net/2011dec17/muslims_vow_economic_empowerment_tcn_annual_convention.html#comment-210978

1. Threshold India
For life, liberty and pursuit of entrepreneurship
Presented at: Towards economic empowerment
of Muslims (Beyond Sachar)
Hotel Taj President, Cuff Parade, Mumbai
December 17th, 2011
Shahid Parvez Sayed, MBA, MSCE (USA)
Email: Shahidsayed@gmail.com

2. What is Threshold India?
Threshold India on youtube:

3. The Muslim Story
• MJ Akbar says Allah has assured the survival
of Muslims by either giving them Oil or a
majority Hindu population
• Examples: The Indian constitution, Democracy,
and recently Sachar Committee
• Time to look beyond reservations
• Example: Let’s accept: Without the Hindus there would
not have been a functioning democracy in India, however
corrupted it may be.

4. Who we are?
• Piyul Mukherjee – Entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Pia Verbic - Market Research entrepreneur from Denmark
• Rashmi Bansal – Best selling author
• Dipti Panchmatia – Entrepreneur
• Manoj Nayak - Entrepreneur
• Shahid Sayed – Entrepreneur
• (Ps: Notice something amiss? How many Muslims in the list?)

5. What we try to do
• Inculcate a culture of curiosity aka
entrepreneurship
• Get in touch with your God Gifted Talents
• Display Ethical behavior at all times
• No Lemmings allowed
• Give permission to Fail
• Encourage teamwork
• Follow family schedules while participating in our
programs – no rebellion here

6. Experiences so far…
• The Good: Mostly with students
• Example: (a few student businesses grew out of TI workshops)
• The Bad: Mostly with administrators
• (Example: Could you bring Shabana Azmi as the chief
guest?(Bollywood freaks are in plenty)
• The Ugly: Banias masquerading as
administrators / “Poorane Chawal”!
• Example: (Anna Hazare would love this Principal of a College
who demanded money for giving me permission)

7. Let’s Face it…5 ways to make money!
• Inherit
• Win a lottery
• Be a renowned artist
• Marry a rich spouse
• Start a business
• (Ps: In our youth we are so idiots, that we don’t think
marrying a rich spouse is even an option!!) 

8. Required…
• Entrepreneurial eco-system
• Culture of Curiosity (COC) and ijtihad
• Volunteerism
• A facility with computer rooms, conference
rooms and library devoted entirely for business
• Some pro bono attorneys for licensing and
registration requirements
• The brave hearts

9. And off course Money?
• Many routes
• VC Funds
• No interest Govt. loans
• Friends and Family
• Qarze Hasna

10. The hurdles…
• Self imposed poverty
• (Example: Delay in having Sharia compliant stock trading in India – missed
opportunities)
• Allah hates rich people
• (Listen to some speakers and you will develop hatred for your taxes paid
bank balance + a lingering guilty feeling)
• The Mughal Mindset
• (Example: Days and Nights in Muslim mohallah – Aurengzeb still rules Dilli.
Their day begins at 1 in the afternoon and ends past mid night. Mughal
Durbar used to start at the almost the same time….

11. Its been a pleasure – Thank You!