Just read a very interesting writeup about critical questions a startup must ask while starting & running a new business and felt like sharing it with you.
Age old wisdom ranging from know your customers to know your margins. A very interesting writeup on what hi-tech entrepreneurs can learn from vegetable vendors, checkout...
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
How Web 2.0 can Lead to Democracy 2.0
Two thought provoking articles, taken together give an Interesting and powerful message. One echoing well understood thought that Indian startups need a Desi angle to make web2.0 work in India, and the second, airing outrage at Shiv Sainiks' voilent protests against free expression on Orkut and Youtube or vandalizm by Ambedkerites at first instance of criticism by free minds.
This brings up a very interesting dimension to Web 2.0, especially in Indian context where democracy is an import rather than a home grown phenomena. Web 2.0 has given populace a medium to take potshot, from a safe distance, at people staunchly blinded by ideology.
A larger than life cause is always a bigger motivator and can move nations. The social democratic dimension gives web2.0 entrepreneurs a new vision to fight for.
Web 2.0 paves an interesting way to a big democracy 2.0 revolution led by thinkers, technocrats & entrepreneurs.
This brings up a very interesting dimension to Web 2.0, especially in Indian context where democracy is an import rather than a home grown phenomena. Web 2.0 has given populace a medium to take potshot, from a safe distance, at people staunchly blinded by ideology.
A larger than life cause is always a bigger motivator and can move nations. The social democratic dimension gives web2.0 entrepreneurs a new vision to fight for.
Web 2.0 paves an interesting way to a big democracy 2.0 revolution led by thinkers, technocrats & entrepreneurs.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
A bold step towards Hindi Web
Startup dunia introduces lipik.in, an online product that provides users facilities to create documents in Hindi, save them and edit them later. Imagine Google documents for pure Hindi audience with no transliteration based interfaces.
A very interesting product. Though I found it extremely difficult to enter anything in Hindi -- owing to my two decades of "qwerty keyboard" mental programming (habits die hard) -- a person who never has used an English keyboard would find it an extremely useful service.
I foresee a lot of interesting action around this concept,
1. It makes internet accessible to half a billion people who can only read and write in Hindi and who have never used "qwerty English keyboard"
2. a complete new web is possible around this concept including that of email, blogs, forums & social networking platforms
I also foresee an interesting niche for VC investment with easy exit option around high value acquisitions.
A very interesting product. Though I found it extremely difficult to enter anything in Hindi -- owing to my two decades of "qwerty keyboard" mental programming (habits die hard) -- a person who never has used an English keyboard would find it an extremely useful service.
I foresee a lot of interesting action around this concept,
1. It makes internet accessible to half a billion people who can only read and write in Hindi and who have never used "qwerty English keyboard"
2. a complete new web is possible around this concept including that of email, blogs, forums & social networking platforms
I also foresee an interesting niche for VC investment with easy exit option around high value acquisitions.
Financing SmartFundit Way
Traditionally, financing against receivables, firm contracts that produce cash flows in coming months or even years, has been a good source to finance operations.
SramanaMitra blog has an interesting writeup on how entrepreneurs can use traditional and innovative financing options to Boot-Strap their ventures. With the help of marketplaces such as Smartfundit, entrepreneurs can even assist their customers finance their technology investments and expedite selling process.
Though I do not completely agree that these mechanism can substitute venture capital, I do agree that "working capital" nature of needs can be financed using such finance mechanisms. If the venture needs capital to fund asset creation including IP , entrepreneur does need risk capital to finance it.
I also found a useful Jargons section on SmartFundit that you can use to understand various options you may have to finance your needs.
Important lessons for entrepreneurs: Look for Venture capital if you need to finance assets that involve significant monetization risk. If you just need finance for working capital, there are better ways to finance your business.
SramanaMitra blog has an interesting writeup on how entrepreneurs can use traditional and innovative financing options to Boot-Strap their ventures. With the help of marketplaces such as Smartfundit, entrepreneurs can even assist their customers finance their technology investments and expedite selling process.
Though I do not completely agree that these mechanism can substitute venture capital, I do agree that "working capital" nature of needs can be financed using such finance mechanisms. If the venture needs capital to fund asset creation including IP , entrepreneur does need risk capital to finance it.
I also found a useful Jargons section on SmartFundit that you can use to understand various options you may have to finance your needs.
Important lessons for entrepreneurs: Look for Venture capital if you need to finance assets that involve significant monetization risk. If you just need finance for working capital, there are better ways to finance your business.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
India Startups Ecosystem Update 19-June, 2007
RouteGuru provides Directions Indian Way
Sparksfly blog introduces RouteGuru an interesting startup that provides driving directions the Indian Way. According to RouteGure website, technology is from Navolve Technologies and ackend mapping data is provided by Eicher Goodearth Ltd.
Helion Venture Partners' Ashish Gupta on Venture Investing and more...
Ashish Gupta, Managing Partner of Helion Venture Partners, talks about entrepreneurship, investing and entrepreneurs.
Helion is a $140 million india focused fund and it has recently invested in Komli, Anantara Solutions and Amba Research.
The Hindu publishes this interesting and informative dialogue with an entrepreneur turned VC, checkout...
Go Global - ISB Mantra for Indian SMEs
An interesting point of view from Jerry George, LBS professor and visiting faculty at ISB, who was at the SME program organized by ISB for SME business to help them go global.
Thinking BIG is a pre-requisite for high potential enterprises and I resonate with Jerry that Indian entrepreneurs do suffer from small thinking syndrome. Even after thinking hard, I do not recall a single encounter with an entrepreneur in India who tells me that he is working on a "Billion Dollar" idea.
Helping SMEs to think global is a welcome step, well done ISB!
Sparksfly blog introduces RouteGuru an interesting startup that provides driving directions the Indian Way. According to RouteGure website, technology is from Navolve Technologies and ackend mapping data is provided by Eicher Goodearth Ltd.
Helion Venture Partners' Ashish Gupta on Venture Investing and more...
Ashish Gupta, Managing Partner of Helion Venture Partners, talks about entrepreneurship, investing and entrepreneurs.
Helion is a $140 million india focused fund and it has recently invested in Komli, Anantara Solutions and Amba Research.
The Hindu publishes this interesting and informative dialogue with an entrepreneur turned VC, checkout...
Go Global - ISB Mantra for Indian SMEs
An interesting point of view from Jerry George, LBS professor and visiting faculty at ISB, who was at the SME program organized by ISB for SME business to help them go global.
Thinking BIG is a pre-requisite for high potential enterprises and I resonate with Jerry that Indian entrepreneurs do suffer from small thinking syndrome. Even after thinking hard, I do not recall a single encounter with an entrepreneur in India who tells me that he is working on a "Billion Dollar" idea.
Helping SMEs to think global is a welcome step, well done ISB!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
adMad.mobi - A new Mobile Startup in India
Pranav introduces admad.mobi venture on Startupdunia blog. The concept is interesting and after going through the details, I believe, this is a very innovative replication of permission based "pay per view" style of marketing in mobile world. Very interesting and exciting launch checkout
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
ISGN receives $25 million Mezzanine Funding
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and an affiliate NEA-IndoUS Ventures Fund have invested $25 million in ISGN, a software services player in mortgage sector.
This is surprising considering that software services, as a space, has become unattractive due to various macroeconomic factors. This deal may indicate one of the following
1. From investors' side, difficulty of finding good deals. Basically, too much money running after a few good plays
2. ISGN has agreed to a low valuation
3. NEA considers mortgage segment an exception in software services game
Sunday, June 10, 2007
June Entrepreneurship Events
Startup central blog lists couple of interesting events in June including TiE Mumbai Entrepreneur Nurturing Program, BlogCamp Pune & Mobile Monday Bangalore. Checkout
Friday, June 8, 2007
India Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Update June-8, 2007
Via receives $5 million in venture funding from NEA-IndoUS Ventures
Via (earlier Flight Raja) is an interesting venture that combines power of online efficiencies and reach of offline channels to reach a broader audience. Via has a plan to become leader in travel and transportation game including air travel, bus transport and leisure market segment.
NEA-Indo US ventures is a venture capital firm co-founded by K. Dham and K ola.
AMAI Web 2.0 Conference
AMAI’s is organizing a conference on Web 2.0, on 22nd June in Mumbai. Good opportunity to network with people with ideas and capital. Follow this link for more details
Proto.in Agenda
Proto.in has come up with initial agenda for the event. You can also submit your comments on their blog. Your suggestions may find their place in the final list.
India Opportunity Seminar
Chilli, a platform for entrepreneurial business stakeholders is organizing “New India, new economy: the myths, realities and opportunities” seminar. This seminar takes place in Bath on the 21st June at the Innovation Centre
Via (earlier Flight Raja) is an interesting venture that combines power of online efficiencies and reach of offline channels to reach a broader audience. Via has a plan to become leader in travel and transportation game including air travel, bus transport and leisure market segment.
NEA-Indo US ventures is a venture capital firm co-founded by K. Dham and K ola.
AMAI Web 2.0 Conference
AMAI’s is organizing a conference on Web 2.0, on 22nd June in Mumbai. Good opportunity to network with people with ideas and capital. Follow this link for more details
Proto.in Agenda
Proto.in has come up with initial agenda for the event. You can also submit your comments on their blog. Your suggestions may find their place in the final list.
India Opportunity Seminar
Chilli, a platform for entrepreneurial business stakeholders is organizing “New India, new economy: the myths, realities and opportunities” seminar. This seminar takes place in Bath on the 21st June at the Innovation Centre
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
How Vibrant is Indian Startup Environment
In this post, I start with laying down well understood fundamental building blocks of a vibrant startups ecosystem. Later posts will carry details on how Indian environment fares on various parameter while providing benchmarks and evidence across cultures and countries.
Though results of one social context can not be completely replicated in another, a comparative study can help identify missing pieces. More importantly it can provide interested stake holders glimpses of potential opportunities for making a positive difference to Indian venture environment.
Some of the widely accepted elements of a vibrant environment for Innovation & new enterprises are
Next in this series -- How does India fare on individual attributes & where you can help
Though results of one social context can not be completely replicated in another, a comparative study can help identify missing pieces. More importantly it can provide interested stake holders glimpses of potential opportunities for making a positive difference to Indian venture environment.
Some of the widely accepted elements of a vibrant environment for Innovation & new enterprises are
- Widespread entrepreneurial spirit
- Availability of Risk Capital
- Academic & other institutions incubating technological breakthroughs
- Culture of innovation & last but not the least
- A mature entrepreneurial social support environment, among other things, that provides
- Availability of useful information, time critical help & mentoring to budding entrepreneurs
- Social support for failures and second start
- Availability of Entrepreneurial Role models
- Social infrastructure of competitions, incubation, awards & public recognition
Next in this series -- How does India fare on individual attributes & where you can help
Friday, June 1, 2007
Stanford to Boost Medical Technology Innovation in India
With a goal of creating an ecosystem to identify clinical needs & challenges and convert them into opportunities for innovative medical equipments, implants and devices, Stanford India Biodesign Programme, US Science and Technology Ministry & Ministry of science in India have announced a collaboration program to boost medical tech innovation in India.
The pillars of the program are
1. Center of innovation excellence at each of the IITs
2. Opportunity identification via active observation of patients by multi-disciplinary teams and
3. Design innovation orientation and training for faculty/involved personnel by Stanford University
This is a very interesting development. Academia driven innovation has been a key driver of US high performance entrepreneurial ecosystem. This also has been a critical missing link that India needs to create world class entrepreneurial successes.
A welcome development for Indian new venture ecosystem.
The pillars of the program are
1. Center of innovation excellence at each of the IITs
2. Opportunity identification via active observation of patients by multi-disciplinary teams and
3. Design innovation orientation and training for faculty/involved personnel by Stanford University
This is a very interesting development. Academia driven innovation has been a key driver of US high performance entrepreneurial ecosystem. This also has been a critical missing link that India needs to create world class entrepreneurial successes.
A welcome development for Indian new venture ecosystem.
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