Now starring in the new reality show series Angel's Gate, Karan Singh Thakral started from the shop floor as a young teenager and seven years later was turning in 60 million from his 600 sq ft shop.
Angel's Gate is Asia's latest reality TV series with a focus on business and entrepreneurship. Backed by Asia's leading venture funds, Angel's Gate is a 360-degree platform spanning TV, Web and Mobile. The platform gives entrepreneurs the opportunity of a lifetime to pitch their dream business ideas to some of Asia's most successful investors. Angel's Gate takes a close look at the skills and dynamics at play when entrepreneurs get a chance to pitch to decision makers directly. Often it's down to split second calculations and instincts that determine whether the deal goes through, and the full pressure is on the entrepreneurs to make the most of the situation. In tandem with the show, Angel's Gate introduces new methods of interactivity for audiences as they participate along on their mobile devices. Viewers can get regular updates, learn more about the entrepreneurs and judges on the show, and gain access to exclusive content such as online webisodes and never-before-seen footage.
Angel's Gate has an all-or-nothing crowd funding system to help turn ideas into reality. Entrepreneurs will have a crowd-funding avenue to raise funds for their projects. Visitors to angelsgate.com can browse the numerous business ideas, and offer to back the projects that excite them. People who contributed to the funds can monitor and track the progress of the projects. In return, entrepreneurs offer benefits to their backers.
A born entrepreneur himself, Karan Singh Thakral started from the shop floor of the family business as a young teenager. Seven years later, he was turning in $60 million from his 600 sq ft shop. In 1975, he established a consumer electronics division in Singapore which expanded its network to the neighbouring South-East Asian countries and the Middle East. In 1981 he established the Distribution of Consumer Electronics business of Thakral Group, in Hong Kong. This pioneering act ultimately grew to a separate Public Listed Company (Thakral Corporation Ltd.) on the Stock Exchange of Singapore.
Apart from consumer electronics, Mr Thakral's portfolio consists of textile and real estate ventures. He was part of the International Joint Venture with leading Apparel manufacturing group - Marzotto of Italy. He oversaw direct investments in numerous real estate projects in India, in addition to investments as a member of Singapore Consortium.
With a sharp knack for business and diversified experience in various business activities, he now chairs several organisations including Singapore Business Federation's South Asia Business Group and TiE Singapore Chapter.
Mr. Thakral believes in extending help whenever possible to those who are less fortunate. He devotes time as a patron and member of many NGOs involved in social initiatives, such as One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) India. Attributing his success to a never-give-up attitude, Mr Thakral is looking forward to mentoring the next world-class entrepreneur.
Now appearing as one of the angel investor judges on the 360 (Web, TV and Mobile) TV show Angel's Gate Karan Singh and the other three judges each listen to an 'elevator pitch' from a young entrepreneur and then decide who will qualify to present to the entire panel in an attempt to receive funding for their project.
On the premiere episode, a confident entrepreneur believes he has the ultimate biomedical invention that will change the lives of mankind forever; a social network of a different kind; a social entrepreneur with a sweet business idea; and a music business that just might strike the right chord with the Judges. Watch the show and find out who managed to impress the Judges.