Just the other day I received a rather interesting call from a colleague who is responsible for setting up one of the most well known Early Stage VC funds in the country. He wanted to evaluate his options and understand what it takes to be an iBanker. I was asked to give an honest opinion and without sugar coating anything.

After speaking to him I realized that it was important to share these points as a lot of Students reach out to us on Linkedin seeking guidance on "How to be an iBanker". I hope the following tips are useful :

1) Don't do it if you're used to a salary - To begin with you need to create the right deal flow and build your own network. People need to trust you to be able to work with you and that takes time. Therefore, it will take sometime before you can start making money. Be patient and don't take this step if you're used to money hitting your bank account at the end of every month.

2) "Shaant Raho" - Stay calm in all situations. Your promoter is going through a lot and he/she is faced with a lot of unknowns, try to navigate through situations in a smart and calm manner as everything is heated on both sides therefore being cool, calm & collected could be your biggest asset.

3) Respect Chahiye ? - This is one profession where respect is not guaranteed, in fact an iBanker's job in India is still viewed as that of a real estate agent/broker. While the Banker actually plays the most important role in the transaction. Listening to the investor's side, the promoter's side and the legal folks is a taxing job. But, everything will come together because of your ability to say the right things at the right time.

4) A deal is like a Test Match & Bazz -Ball won't work here: Working on a deal is like a Test Match, you are faced with different challenges at different times. It might take months to conclude a deal. Nothing is quick in ibanking unlike Bazz - Ball this is like classic test match cricket.

5) Dealing with Big Egos- Everyone who is a part of the deal feels that they are right, be it the investor or the promoter. You could be working on a deal for 6 months & an ego based decision could spoil all your efforts. In an environment where everyone feels they are right, it is important to find a middle ground somewhere & common sense should prevail which isn't always the case. The ability to solve Ego issues will set you apart from the others.

6) Fight tooth & nail for your promoter - At AMDP Advisors our basic premise is that when a company enters our eco-system to when they exit, they have to be in a better position. Nothing is more important than the business you're trying to raise money for. No iBanker can guarantee a fund raise but we guarantee 100% effort & commitment towards the promoter and the company.

Drishti Pahwa and I have built this company on our backs. I can stick my head out and say this with a lot of pride that AMDP Advisors gives a 100% to its clients every time.

- Adhiraj Mehra