Sylvr: Catalyzing the SMEs ecosystem towards a 'Viksit Bharat'

There is a wide gap in how Business Leaders are expected to perform in their job, and its reality.

Gallup finds that only 22% employees feel that their Leaders have a clear direction for the organization. HBR finds that 61% of executives appointed to senior Leadership roles feel unprepared for the strategic challenges they face. Entrepreneurs are expected to have Conviction and Control in their job, but are indeed Indecisive and Overwhelmed. 

Moreover, inspired by 'Viksit Bharat' vision, we researched and are amazed by the gap MSMEs face in India versus their US & EU counterparts. In US & EU, SMBs contribute >70% GDP, with 1 Management Consulting firm for every 33.6 SMBs, whereas, in India MSMEs contribute only 29% GDP with 1 Management Consulting firm for 960+ MSMEs!

Business building requires awareness and communication of both - 'what is' and 'what can be'. Entrepreneurs must be on top of industry changes, business metrics, winning strategy, execution issues, capability gaps and more. But leading through external constraints, inherent limitations, high expectations and scrutiny without proper support is a tough challenge.

How is Sylvr Unique 

We believe that our job creators & their expert advisors deserve better. We recognize that unactionable insights from CMIE, etc. and fragmented discovery and engagement with Consultants via LinkedIn, Fiverr, etc. don't serve SMEs. Sylvr is here to catalyze the SMEs ecosystem with a 'SMEs for SMEs' (subject matter experts for small and medium enterprises) vision by a tech-powered analytics, networking and program management solution.

How Sylvr operates

In Version 1 we serve small and medium B2C manufacturing enterprises with a Business Analyst and Transformation Network SaaS, and specialized services to formulate strategy, identify high R-o-I problems and digital transformation.

Sylvr's team currently has digital product, design, data science/ML/AI, community building and consulting expertise. We have a curated panel of domain Experts from HR, Regulatory Compliance, Supply Chain, Marketing, Public Relations, Leadership Coaching and Wealth Advisory. Sylvr is incubated by Afthonia Labs - India's leading fintech incubator. We currently bootstrap through subscription fees, services and outcomes linked bonus.

Journey from 'making MBA a public good' to 'SMEs for SMEs'

During his stint in digital transformation of SMEs, Sylvr's Founder Saahil Bhanot, observed the differences in traditional businesses from data-driven ones. He grew an urge to 'make MBA a public good' while learning various decision making frameworks in MBA.

After the closure of thousands of MSMEs was announced in Rajya Sabha, he reached out to bring informed decision making to MSMEs. We connected to few like-minded people especially those running CA practices.

Despite CAs' competence in business economics, strategic finance, valuation, risk management, etc. their scopes are limited to compliance, taxation and accounting. We began by supporting them in becoming MSMEs' Trusted Advisors by bridging data analytics gaps.

Thereon, we began understanding strategic challenges that SMEs face - across strategic diversification, go-to-market, exports, working capital management, digitalization, technology upgradation, talent & succession, reporting & governance - and began executing transformation projects.

We're humbled and inspired by visionary entrepreneurs who fight so many odds, and we're motivated to build innovative tech-led, asset light, user-friendly solutions that uplift key players and entire SME clusters.

Future Goals & Vision

With evolving industry structures, businesses find it necessary to undergo transformations almost every 5-8 years. We want to be a credible Analyst, Facilitator/ Collaborator for the same.

We strive to be a global platform where Leaders of small and medium enterprises unburden and overcome decision fatigue. In the short term we want to support SMEs across Bharat, and in the medium term we want to empower SMBs across the global south.

Mostly management literature remains limited to MNCs. Democratizing it will involve collaborating with subject matter experts who work with small and medium enterprises, customizing western management frameworks to local business cultures. We wish to connect with like-minded people.

A short message for aspiring Founders

Be obsessed with the problem, not your idea/ solution, and truly cherish those who support your journey in any way.

About Sylvr

Registered Entity Name: 50EEN Technologies Pvt. Ltd.,

Industry: Business Intelligence & Networking

Established in 2021, DIPP No. 106245,

Bootstrapped, HQ in Bangalore,

Website: https://beta.sylvr.co.in

Contact: Saahil Bhanot | saahil.bhanot@sylvr.io

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