Rakesh Ramde on the innovative ecosystem in the United States
Engineer by training, Rakesh Ramde is an experienced business and transactional lawyer who is passionate about technology and business development. Rakesh has extensive experience advising and evaluating tech startups and advising large companies in Silicon Valley on corporate development and strategic opportunities.
At the beginning of this interview, Rakesh tells us that his main motivation is to continue developing innovative global ecosystems, attracting international companies having differentiated technological products to Silicon Valley, as well as supporting American companies looking to expand into localized markets overseas.
Rakesh, how would you define the current state of the innovative bridge between the United States and Europe, taking into account that we are still fighting a global pandemic?
It’s a very interesting question. If you look at the pandemic from a global perspective, supply chains have been impacted due to Covid and government restrictions. These impacts have forced companies to look for alternate partners and support solutions, opening up entirely new ways for companies to work together.
At the same time, the pandemic has created localized opportunities due to government restrictions and ever-changing guidelines. Consequently, companies have found it critical to work with local partners and distributors to customize products and services to be in compliance with local protocols and customs.
With ongoing global travel restrictions, companies that don’t have feet on the ground through local partners are typically at a tremendous disadvantage as restrictions get implemented or as products need to be tailored to local markets.
Proteum has extensive relationships with manufacturers, distributors, service providers and retailers to support the delivery of global solutions yet provide the flexibility to respond to ever-changing conditions.
What would be the main sectors that are attracting investors for new companies to operate in the US?
Many of the traditional enterprise software, data management, security, internet and semiconductor companies continue to attract investors. At the same time, some of the new areas are entirely new technologies and verticals, such as fintech, digital assets, payments, IoT, blockchain technologies, battery and power management, and artificial intelligence.
However, one-size-fit-all solutions do not always work for customers. Instead, solution customization is important, creating opportunities for small and large companies in entirely new fields and verticals. Companies that are showing initial traction in new markets are attracting a great deal of attention from investors and business partners.
Some argue that Silicon Valley is getting less attractive as the number of inhabitants is decreasing due to remote work. What are your opinions on this?
It is true that work flows have changed due to remote work and new ways of doing business. These new ways of doing business have reduced start up costs while expanding the need for localized solutions. However, these developments have created the need for companies to access new technologies and forge strategic relationships across multiple verticals.
Proteum has seen no demand slowdown for accessing Silicon Valley-type technologies and innovations. Companies still need to be on the road map of strategic partners across a range of verticals, and Silicon Valley is simply like on other place in this regard. Especially during rapidly-changing times, companies need access to key decision makers and be able to respond to innovative and entirely new business models. This is what separates Silicon Valley from other places.
At inlea we have learnt from our experience that in order to be successful in the american market, especially in the Silicon Valley ecosystem, entrepreneurs might analyze and comply with the country’s legal framework accurately. As a lawyer, what are your suggestions to companies evaluating the possibility of expanding to the United States?
Companies need to be flexible and develop in a way that supports company growth and product development globally and on a country-by-country basis. Understanding various business and technology ecosystems allows companies to understand how to assess opportunities and make important decisions. Knowing how to structure technology deals requires a deep understanding of intellectual property, patents, privacy, data security, import/export restrictions and contract issues. Other areas include funding, employment agreements, supply chain and supplier agreements, corporate and securities regulation and business litigation.
At the same time, companies have to understand the needs and requirements of their customers and strategic partners, and react accordingly. Technology lawyers and advisors are essential in helping companies respond to local and global opportunities and avoid pitfalls that may trip up or kill deals. In this regard, having experienced lawyers is critical because companies need to structure deals properly and in a way that supports company growth and objectives.
What do you expect from this ecosystem in the upcoming years?
Ecosystem development involves creating and managing business and technology opportunities in a way that allows companies to access global markets, quickly identify meaningful partner opportunities and strategically grow their businesses concurrently in multiple verticals and markets. Proteum works with industry partners and tech experts to help companies create sustainable product roadmaps with an eye on industry-specific deployment opportunities and rapid time-to-market approaches.
When companies evaluate the resources they need to implement solutions and applications, they turn to Proteum for the right mix of technical expertise and resources. In our engagements, we help align leadership with the rapidly evolving technological advances and building capabilities that complements their existing stack and provides room for growth.
