A few months back, I had a meeting with the higher management of one of the Sri Lankan Private banks. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss project funding as well as another business proposal. I myself and the company General manager Nivethan met them and explained everything about our project concept and functionality.

Almost instantly we were discouraged by the bank officials for some irrelevant reasons!

The reasons they gave were entirely irrelevant with respect to my business concept. I would have accepted their reasons if they were anywhere close to my project concepts.  Having said so, they gave a completely different explanation from unacceptable angles.

The reasons that they gave are as follows:

  1. The project concept came from a Vavuniya based company and most importantly we proposed an unrivaled innovative world-class start-up concept.
  2. The person asking for the fund (Me) doesn’t hold any traditional Degree and yet plans to conduct the business in a professional manner.
  3. The third reason is totally unacceptable and most Sri Lankan Tamil entrepreneur’s start-up proposals are rejected for this reason.

We let them talk and they said lots, but none of the reasons they provided are related to our project concept. Normally, I love people who discourage me and my strength!  I take their words seriously and try to work out my weaknesses.

My biggest motivation is Just to keep challenging myself! A few weeks back, I received an award from the Asian Pacific Entrepreneurship. The award was given to me for being the “Emerging Entrepreneur of The Year 2013 “and every Colombo-based Sri Lankan daily newspaper had my photo and company name on it.  Today, I received a letter from the top management of the same bank; saying that “Hi Sharanyan Sharma, We wish you all the very best for your success and if you need any financial support please contact us we are ready to help beyond our boundaries “.

My Response for The Bank Who Rejected Me

But all I can say now is,” Sorry it’s too late “! Because the project is already executed and launched with a different source of funding. And YES! Still, I’m from Vavuniya, the very same uneducated guy and still having the third common reason. What has happened to you now? Why are you guys looking at me?

I’m not complaining about the Bank or the Management, I’m trying to say “To run a business or to launch a product, education and ethnicity is not important; you need to have a clear vision and confidence about your concept “   Prepare to die for your concept!

I would like to say to this Bank is, “Thank you very much for your wishes, Still, I’m living in Vavuniya and I didn’t get my degree yet, most importantly I’m still a Tamil! According to your “Bank policy”, “I am not eligible for your financial support and I’ve decided to NOT to learn more about your offers and I’m also not going to move from Vavuniya and I can’t change my ethnicity. So, the choice is yours.

“As bill Gates said ” It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure”

22 Comments

  1. Avatar of S. M. Navid Iqbal S. M. Navid Iqbal March 1, 2013 at 11:11 am

    Such behavior is never expected from financial institutes. They should encourage people to come up with new ideas and promote the ideas and not nullify them.

    Reply
  2. Avatar of Sharanyan Sharma Sharanyan Sharma March 2, 2013 at 7:07 am

    Normally They do!

    Even my staffs also faced such instance from some reputed companies!

    Reply
  3. Avatar of சாத்வீகன் சாத்வீகன் March 2, 2013 at 10:21 am

    மென்மேலும் வளர என் மனமார்ந்த நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்…

    Reply
    1. Avatar of Sharanyan Sharma Sharanyan Sharma March 3, 2013 at 2:50 am

      மிக்க நன்றி சாத்வீகன் 🙂

      Reply
  4. Avatar of Aruna Jayathilaka Aruna Jayathilaka March 4, 2013 at 8:28 am

    good luck dude

    Reply
  5. Avatar of prince prince March 4, 2013 at 8:36 am

    Dont bother bro..you have what they dont have!!Backbone :).You carry on.All the best wishes for your future endeavors…

    Reply
  6. Avatar of Sujeevan Srikanthan Sujeevan Srikanthan March 4, 2013 at 10:45 am

    Well Done and Well Said Mr Sharma… I wish there were more more poeple like you. so that Petty businesses ;ile the bank you mentioned will have place.

    Reply
  7. Avatar of Hasfan Jailan Hasfan Jailan March 4, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Let the people talk against you, as you rightly did you strengthen your weaknesses. Now everyone knows where you stand 🙂

    Reply
  8. Avatar of Chaminda Chaminda March 5, 2013 at 1:50 am

    Sharanyan, just after reading what you have written here, I am sorry to say but your ideas are not presented in a logical understandable sequence. For an example you say:

    “The reasons that they gave are as follows:

    The project concept came from a Vavuniya based company and most importantly we proposed unrivaled innovative world class start-up concept.”

    They reason THEY gave could NOT be “most importantly we proposed unrivaled innovative world class start-up concept.”. That is your explanation NOT their reason. I found this quite confusing. So my friend you are probably a brilliant driven young man, but you may need to polish up your delivery… my humble two cents.

    Wishing you the best…. this country really needs people like you!

    Reply
    1. Avatar of Sharanyan Sharma Sharanyan Sharma March 5, 2013 at 1:57 am

      Hi Chaminda,
      Actually “The project concept came from a Vavuniya based company and most importantly we proposed unrivaled innovative world class start-up concept.” that’s why even they are not ready to listen or read our proposal request. because the the second question was ” ah , you guys from vavuniya ? ” . Then we noticed their tone changes inch by inch!

      Thank you very much for your wishes 🙂

      Reply
  9. Avatar of Nalayini Nalayini March 5, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    Well done and I am really proud of you. Good luck.

    Reply
  10. Avatar of DM Mohammad Shakeer DM Mohammad Shakeer July 2, 2013 at 10:07 am

    This post is really true and same with me here too, when I’m starting bankers reject me for same reason of damn policy. But now I’m happily working without there fully support as Orix Marketing http://www.orixmarketing.lk now I’m needed in SEO and Email Marketing services in all relatives businesses. So bro no worries cuz we desire to be unique and we have it on our-self. All The Best………….

    Reply
  11. Avatar of Sean Taylor Sean Taylor July 17, 2013 at 2:53 am

    Inspiring great stuff. Thanks for telling your story.

    Reply
  12. Avatar of abey abey September 20, 2013 at 8:45 am

    I am really proud of you young man. You are a real spark.

    Reply
  13. Avatar of Trainee UI Engineer Trainee UI Engineer September 20, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    I missed my Golden Opportunity to work to you my Boss!!!

    Reply
  14. Avatar of Kandila Kandila August 16, 2014 at 5:44 pm

    Unfortunately this is a reality with the banks, they will fund something stupid but never anything smart. If I am about to ask for a loan they will not give me any but the guy who has a peeve daily job will get a loan in no time. It doesn’t matter how little he earns as long he has a daily job and I am self-employed.

    Reply

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