India Abroad December 6, 2013 BUSINESS A27 Silicon Valley’s new flag bearers

for new drug molecules and also medical soft- ware-related patents, but the focus is on bio- pharmaceuticals, bio- chemistry, medical de- vices and drugs.” Kadambi hopes to help applicants cut down on time needed to get a patent. Claim- ing that though the minimum patent award time was three- and-a-half months, people often had to wait for years, she said, Alok Bhatia, second from left, receives the Entrepreneur award at the Silicon Valley Awards in “I have got 30 patents California. Ankit Shah, second from left, receives the Technology award. in three years.” She also hoped that RITU JHA continue to do well in entrepreneurship.” Jaspreet Oberoi of Chaats & Currys, Su- the award would get her message across to On the sidelines of the event he discussed nnyvale, California, also won in the Entre- other entrepreneurs: “You don’t have to be he Silicon Valley Awards 2013, themed placements at information technology com- preneur category. “I have always followed my stuck to one thing... Go cross functional ‘Making a Difference,’ awarded seven panies; his company has placed over 1,200 passion. Receiving this award made me feel because no science is a pure science any Tpeople in the fields of technology, consultants working at various client loca- so proud that there are people who appreci- more. Everything is integrated, be it elec- entrepreneurship, media and nonprofit in tions like Wells Fargo, Ebay, GAP and Bank ate my work and talent,” she said. tronics, be it medical devices, be it pharma- California November 17. of America. She opened Chaats & Currys in 2011 after ceuticals.” Sheetal Ohri, an entrepreneur and the “In recent years a lot of request for evi- working for years with women’s retail stores Ankit Shah of InterSources Inc, a consu- founder of SVA, which focuses on the Bay dence is coming from USCIS; it is really pok- and she said, “It has helped me fulfill my lting company specializing in software appli- Area community, told Abroad, “We ing holes at the applications and asking very passion for cooking and at the same time run cation development, big data, business intel- had great nominees this year. The nomina- relevant questions,” he told India Abroad. my own company.” ligence, also won in the Technology category. tions came mostly from companies rather “They do random site visits to confirm that She caters to large companies like Apple InterSources has offices in the US, than individuals in the technology category, we did a valid H1-B. The bar to get H1-B has and Cisco, and said the secret behind her Australia, India and is expanding its foot which was exciting.’ been raised a lot It’s a good thing because success lay in being consistent and not com- print in Europe with clients like Apple. Alok Bhatia, founder, Canvas Infotech, an there are some shady companies organizing promising on taste and quality. “Every award is the mirror image of all the information technology consulting company H1-Bs for a friend or relative without a valid “I think there are a lot of other fields hard work and sacrifices that we put into it,” in the Bay Area, received the Entrepreneur job offer.” besides technology where Indian women he told India Abroad. award. Bhatia also pointed to the problems inter- can excel and follow their dreams. I Shah Peerally, founder, Shah Peerally Pro- He told India Abroad that the real chal- national students graduating in America want to tell all women to follow your pas- ductions Inc, who practices immigration law lenge after being approached for nomination face: “Because many can’t get H1-B, they sions and don’t let anyone say you cannot do and debt settlement in California, won the was the online voting that preceded the jud- continue to be a student. It’s inconvenient it or it’s too hard or expensive,” Oberoi said. Media & Entertainment award. ges’ choice: “I know there are thousands mo- because you are working full time and Geeta Kadambi of Riddhi IP LLC, won the “It is an important achievement for our re successful than me. It just that I took the attending weekend classes, evening classes Technology award. After working as a patent newly production company and is a victory time to get nominated. My award was just a and are getting degrees just to show that you examiner at the Patent and for all those suffering on the H4 visa.” tiny aspect of it, but seeing all the successful can stay in this country. They already have Trademark Office and as a senior technolo- Ritu Nischal of Desi 1170 am, a local radio people over there... seeing the energy over the education they need to get the job, so it’s gist at NASA Ames, she founded Riddhi IP station, was also awarded in the Media and there was amazing. This I think helps con- really sad. About 30 percent of students who in 2010 to do patent drafting, prosecution, Entertainment category. nect with like-minded people. You get a kick; graduate from college are unable to get H1- and intellectual property strategy. Narika was awarded in the Non-Profit cat- you get more motivated to think big and B because of the lottery system.” She told India Abroad, “We write patents egory.

TCS nips at Cognizant’s heels Mallya’s group to pump $2 million In the past few quarters, Tata Consultancy Services, the week that was in loss-making US brewery India’s largest software services exporter, has closed the gap ’s United Breweries Group will infuse $2 mil- with North American leader Cognizant on growth in rev- lion in the California-based Mendocino Brewing Company. enue and profit, said a report by brokerage firm JPMorgan. currency. The Tatas have, however, emerged as India’s first UB has also agreed to ‘favorably consider additional invest- ‘The revenue/gross profit/Ebit (earnings before interest business house to record an annual turnover of more than ment to underpin growth’ in the loss-making firm. and taxes) year-on-year growth differential between Rs 5 trillion ($801 billion). Cognizant and TCS has narrowed reaching perhaps the lowest level in a decade. Except for the US, where Investors most bullish on India Cognizant has now emerged as the largest offshore IT serv- iGATE firms up new strategy With relaxation in foreign direct investment norms to ices player, TCS has pulled ahead in Europe and rest of the under new CEO Vemuri boost investor sentiments, India has emerged as the most world,’ the report said. iGATE is moving towards a decentralized leadership attractive investment destination surpassing and the model with more freedom to its vertical heads to focus on United States, says a report by Ernst and Young. Rupee fall pushes markets like North America and Western Europe under its It has put Brazil and China in second and third positions, new president and chief executive officer Ashok Vemuri. respectively. While Canada has cornered fourth spot, the out of $100 billion club Vemuri, who came to iGATE from , said the com- US is placed in the fifth position. Tata group’s combined turnover has slipped below the pany had entered into a credit agreement for a secured $100 billion mark due to a fall in rupee, despite an over 10 term loan facility, which would help it save about $105 mil- percent growth in total revenue when measured in Indian lion worth of interest over a period of five years. Page A28