Walden India director Sudhir Sethi said Internet foray of major corporates would help them to take up existing ventures and new opportunities. ``We have identified ASPs that address global markets and business to business (B2B) projects,'' he added.

Walden, in association with Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), has conducted a research on information technology (IT) in India. More than 1,000 new companies are expected to be formed in the country in the Internet and infotech field. Out of this, more than 50 per cent would be in the Internet segment, according to the survey.

``Most of entrepreneurs do not know how venture capitalists work and choose investments.These entrepreneurs are also facing lack of knowledge on capital restructuring, exits, building value, differentiating between the entrepreneurs and the management team,'' Walden-USA general partner Som Das said.

The survey revealed that more than 75 per cent of the entrepreneurs belong to the below 32 years age group. More and more corporate executives are leaving the industry to kick off or join the start-up management teams. Das was addressing a seminar on ``Internet India 2000 - building valuations in venture funded companies'' conducted in Mumbai on Saturday by WIIG.

Das said many listed companies in the infotech sector are seeking VC private placement to grow. The Walden India Year 2000 strategy envisages plans to assist professionals, bodies and institutions to build and accelerate entrepreneur programmes of world-class quality in the country.

According to the research, south India and west India (mainly Mumbai) are demanding about 31 per cent each of the total VC investments in the country,while 7 per cent each goes to the east and north.

WIIG manages funds in excess of $1.2 billion. Since 1987, the Walden group has invested in over 200 companies worldwide. WIIG is an affiliate of Walden Group of venture capital funds. WIIG's family consists of regional funds, country funds and industry funds.