First Funds to open call centre in Goa

New York-based First Funds plans to start its state-of-the-art call centre in Goa soon. First Funds has teamed up with Connekt Inc, a player in the IT and IT-enabled services segment, for this purpose.

Speaking to Business Standard, Greg Kular, chief executive officer of First Funds, said, "Infrastructure required to commence operations is now available in Goa. A large pool of English-speaking workforce has spurred us plan our operations here."

"India has emerged as a preferred destination for setting up customer relationship management centre due to advantages such as a virtual 12-hour time zone difference with the US," Kular noted.

Armando Noronha, director of Connekt Inc, said, "With the first multinational call centre deciding to start operations in the state, this is the first step towards making Goa an IT destination. I am looking forward to partnership with First Funds with regards to implementation of their new technologies."

Of late, call centres have become a sunrise field with preferred destination being metros in the country. In Goa, like elsewhere, it is expected to generate booming business and employment opportunities.

First Funds' cash-advance programme targets mainstream businesses in the US market.

The company is targetting small and medium enterprises, merchants and retailers which accept Visa and Master Cards for payments for their products or services.

"The product that First Funds provides to qualified businesses, is an emergency infusion of cash for working capital to small and medium business owners. We have established ourselves as an alternative source of funding for business owners, who know how important it is to maintain a fluid cash flow," Kular explained.

As a lender of convenience, First Funds offers unsecured cash advances to their clients by leveraging an asset which most business owners have never thought about - their future Visa and Master Card sales.

The company caters to clients in the US and now sees itself expanding operations to Canada and the UK.

From the time it started operations - in February - Connekt has been growing exponentially. It has done work in the telecommunications, financial services and the automobile sectors. And now, it is venturing into cash advances with First Funds.