Sell to the Customer

Markets are booming (Sensex crossed 20k mark) as economy is shining; opportunities are lying everywhere and jobs are popping up each day for bright souls, but is it all that is needed for giving that extra edge to the presence that you want to have in this more than 6 billion junta of the world. 5.9 billion punters will say 'No' but still follow the same route as they are stuck in one or the other traps while the remaining 0.1 billion will say that they already have their presence and they want to see more people enter 5.9 billion wala side. Everyone wants to outshine but don't want to give up the easy life or you can say - Ground rule of Zero, where you want to get maximum returns out of minimum efforts. In college, we used to call it a 'Mind trap' but is it just a trap?, and if you decide to move out of that trap then are you done?
This strategy of deciding and moving forward works for some and fails for other, but the discussion point here is way too intrigued then just a matter of mind trap. Even if you choose to go ahead, questions pop up like do I have a selling idea? what if my idea is not unique?, and what if Ambani bhaiya jumps for the same market? Answers to these questions are not simple but working in a strategical way might work. Consider these lateral examples - Is it Reliance as a business group or as a brand that sells? Is Cricket or idea of watching/playing cricket sells? Is Provogue/Wills Lifestyle's quality, product sells or the brand value sells? Or, is it the irritating Girl or idea of having a girl with you in the pub matters?
If you haven't yet deciphered a way of moving towards the solution. Here is a guiding principle. 'Reach out to the customer in a way he/she wants'. Understanding the customer is very important in business and if you take the parallels then in life too. North Indian junta's tendency is to show off and hence decent salaried youth will always go for known brands (which violates the basic rule of earn in rupees and spent in dollars; Reverse should always be applied). Or, for that matter cricket has been taken to the Indian streets to the extent that not knowing Cricket is a social crime today. Dhoni is a National hero today where as Vishwanathan Anand is just a good chess player. :) Anyway, rule of thumb is that you should always know your customer and for that matter how to get close to them. Get close to them, play tactics of using Hinglish or Idea Cellular, Tata Tea type marketing fundae. Don't ever show that customer segment is unfit for you. Try to project that any one else if enters will not be a suit for the match. Like Reliance is targeting bottom of the pyramid, they can't sell blackberries to the CEOs.
Always look for a particular segment and create a buzz that lasts forever which will be backed by good quality products, good service and customer retention through timely follow ups. Phone call follow ups help. Marketing plays an important role in setting the right impression amongst your customer. Create a buzz so that even if Anil bhaiya enters your arena, he falls short of something.

Think big but play safe ...... It is easy to think big but it is hard to compete there

Join Bold Journalism than just reading bullshit

Watching news channel has become comic & total time pass these days; and gossips are something that media focus on all the time. Aajtak, NDTV, Channel 18, IBN7, LIVE India or be it any other news channel focus mainly on third grade news rather than covering what really needs to be captured. I have heard complaints mainly from Youth section and which in itself means future India, which implies that bull shit is not something that is gonna sell for long. Lets capture the problem from various angles.

What news channels currently focus on?
Trespassing privacy of Bollywood Stars is something they love. Be it King Khan, Kareena Kapoor or Aishwarya Rai. News like Aishwarya - Abhishek's marriage, their honey moon and first Karwa Chauth is something that news channels die for. Other focus point is Cricket. No need to describe any further, just go to any news channel.

Why do news channel focus on Bollywood, Cricket and Hindu - Muslim issues all the time?

Because it sells. Because people love to hear about bollywood stars, Cricket and other fun stuff. Fair enough but does that mean that real news should be kept at the back drops. Problem with people is that they complaint all the time about the stories but buy the same stories.

Is real journalism still alive?
Indian Express has been selling news for decades and hopefully will keep doing that. Its tag line has always been Journalism of Courage. Tehelka has come up with so many sting operations, being a team with no support around. I have seen so many interviews of Tarun Tejpal and the times when he had no money to support his team. People supported him from behind but no one came up in front.

How can we support the real news, media and Journalism?
We can either support bull shit or we can get associated in some way to Tehelka, Indian Express and support real Journalism. We can work with spreading awareness about what powerful people are trying to hide with their power and money. I think Internet is the best source to come up with support teams, groups, organizations, websites and express our views.

Why do we support real news?
You won't believe but there is a thin line between lying this side or that side of the territory. Once you are on that side, you will understand the need of real journalism. There are thousands of people here in the country who are cheated knowingly or unknowingly but they can't do anything. Even if you know that your tax paid money is being misused, you can't do anything. Even if you know that you are correct by law but you crossed the path of a powerful man and hence doomed is more frustrating than anything. Also, if you are here at Startupsinindia means that in future you want to work on your own, having your own start up and that means you want a proper Judicial system in the country and people (be it politician or actor) should follow the rules. We need to support the cause than to wait to see the results.

Cross questions that follow up --
First of all, whose fault is this that these bull shit news channels are making money? Why are they keep getting all this news and how can this be ended? Does this mean that media is dead and we don't have people who know the meaning of Journalism? Can someone sell bullshit if no one buys it? Can someone do something if they can't generate money out of it?

Answer lies in the fuel of India - Youth and I believe that we will in sometime understand the need of real media.

Google spoilt Orkut

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta
Why would anyone even bother to keep his/her profile at a place where his work/efforts goes away and no one bothers. Where are those extra smart Google guys gone? At this point Orkut is one of the most pathetic places I can find and some of my friends have started deleting their profiles from Orkut.

Common Reasons for doing the same-

1. No data protection policies. Many people lost their work, communities, profiles to hackers and super smart google guys were watching ..(Idiots)
2. Misuse of content, photos, and contact information
   
3. Common platform of getting bugs on your computer

So, Beware.. Stay away from Orkut.

Janhit mein jaari.

Risk-Returns Rule and Need of Greed

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta
Risk involved in an idea and Returns expected from it are directly proportional and hence the rule of the game is simple - More risk more returns, Less risk less returns. Every super intelligent person in this world looks for minimum risk and maximum returns and hence in order to play safe, remain on the other side of the boundary wall or in other words, he/she faces a entry barrier created by him/her only. Crossing this barrier doesn't mean that he/she is a 007, it only means that he/she thinks big and is willing to take risk in life.
Our appetite for risk has always remained less and that is inculcated in us by our culture.We have always been taught that Greed is an evil, and money minded attitude is negative. But if we are not greedy, why would we go for ideas with maximum risks... Who wants to take more risk if he/she doesn't need more money? I asked my colleague, who left his job for a start-up, that is it the zeal to be different that drags him for the startup or is it money and he said very clearly that its only money that drives this industry and those who say that they want to prove themselves to the world or something are those people who are affected by the basic rule of our culture which says that money minded people are bad or something. In other words, our culture make us risk averse but if we say that we want to lead/rule the world then at one point or the other we have to produce more global companies like TATA, Reliance and TCS and we will need to take more risks.
Risk and Returns rule is simple but the guarantee card of security or minimum risk and maximum returns mind set causes all the problem. To go beyond a certain point, we need to think innovative and dive into the race of creative firms.
Current service based economy is also bringing dollars and that too in a great pace but it is only a fraction of what goes to the owner companies and once the rates of rupee against dollars go up, this boom will bust and we will need to enter into a base market, base of Indian market known globally.
When we are taking of maximum returns which is generated by US in the present scenarios, then we ought to take maximum risk and for that the very basic definition of Greed needs to change.

Root cause of Brain Drain

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta
I have always questioned the idea of working for other countries, and have been thinking about 'Brain Drain' issue for quite sometime now. Giving it a deeper thought, I figured out that it is not an issue, it is an Escape; Escape from a system which claims to be clean and clear but is hollow from inside, which claims to be promoting Youth and Future India but is actually hindering the growth of very basic quality of leadership among them. I realized that most of the people don't care about whom they are working for or why they are working for them. They work for a peaceful and happy life where they can live with Self-respect and enjoy a free life. If you look at the present scenario, people are not crazy about America, they are crazy about the quality of life there. American economy (for example) doesn't ask its citizens to work for their companies only or live in the country; they just provide a clean, independant and accountable system where a common man can sit, relax and enjoy. They preach Freedom, Liberty and Independence and even though we preach the same, we just ignore to provide the freedom of self-respect to a common man. Common man can't defend himself if a powerful man goes against him, his family or his life.

If looking closely to the problem of corruption at the lowest level, in US, there is a system of tipping and people who earn less are tipped and hence they don't need to ask for bribes. Why can't we look for similar solutions? Why are we always asked for bribes? Why only licenses issued easily to powerful people and a common man has to fight it out? Why are we supposed to pay bribes for each and every government work? Issue is Accountabilty, Issue is ill use of power, Isue is Bol Bacchan Amitabh Bacchan... Leaders say tonnes of things but the very basic problem of ill treatment of common man is not targeted by anyone.

If you look at the issue of Brain Drain closely, it is not that people are betrayers of the country if they work for foreign companies or go to foreign countries to work. They want to live with self-respect and they don't want to see all this mess lying here. Law of the land is to protect yourself and your Family and provide them a good quality of life. Law and Order in India is forcing all those who can ESCAPE, to escape from the system. If you have lived in this country, you must have seen lines of people around MLAs, MPs, Ministers and if you want to lead a good quality of life, you ought to know these people.

Here arises the problem.. In good colleges like IITs and IIMs, students are taught to be the best in whichever field they enter but when they enter the world, they see the power lingering around the politicians and messy Law and Order situation. It is the loop hole in our economy which is forcing this talent to leave the country and American politicians are smart enough to attract this talent.

Seeing all this situation in the country, the reflex action is to escape, escape to a place where common man can dream, live and has a accountability if something wrong is done. Practically speaking, there is no such place but some places are better if Law and Order situation is compared.

Some scenarios commonly seen which force me to think to escape; you are going with your sister and you hear a comment or you hear abusive words. You are robbed on a street and you go to police station for help, but you are blamed for everything. Your son is missing and you are a common man. You are asked for money for a driving license even if you satisfy all the criterias. If you think about these situations closely, not everyone would like to go and fight, but every powerful man will say; Dare someone say or do this thing to me. This country is great for Powerful leaders, Politicians, Collectors, SPs, renowned Doctors but no one cares about the common man. Even if I am at a good post, I can't see a common man treated like that and so my reflex action is to go for a free land or to do something to change law and order situation of this land.

Brain Drain situation is there because those who can, just escape. I think 75% population, if given chance will escape this system, not for money but for a better life. And, the remaining 25% are those people who have power and need common man to show that power. I am not saying that corruption is there in India only, all I am saying is that in this country common man is ill-treated.

We all think about the ways to solve the problems existing in the country. I have always believed that generating employment, opening new sectors and streamlining the system can solve the problems. For most of these is required to retain the brains of this country to remain in the country and work for it. To tell you the truth, seeing the current Law and Order situation in India, sometimes I feel like living in a developed country. If you want to retain the Youth then you ought to give them respect and make leaders out of them and not coward, scary followers of this frustrating system. All that is needed is accountabilty if something wrong is done anywhere in the system.

NEA’s Kittu Kolluri on Entrepreneurship

NEA’s Managing Partner Kittu Kolluri is an engineer turned entrepreneur turned investor. Kamla Bhatt of " The Kamla Bhatt Show" speaks to Kittu at NEA's Sand Hill Road Office in Menlo Park.

Kittu Kolluri's Profile:

Kittu joined NEA in 2006 as a General Partner and focuses on information technology investments. Present NEA board memberships include Nevis Networks, RingCube Technologies, SnapTell, Teracent, and WeatherBill. Prior NEA board memberships include PortAuthority (NASDAQ: WBSN). Formerly, Kittu was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Security Products Group at Juniper Networks, a position he assumed following Juniper's acquisition of NetScreen Technologies. At NetScreen, he was General Manager of Secure Access Products, a position he assumed following NetScreen's acquisition of Neoteris, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Kittu brings more than 17 years of experience at the leading edge of the technology industry. He co-founded Healtheon/WebMD, introducing online healthcare to the market. As Senior Vice President and General Manager of Provider Services, Kittu was responsible for product development, operations and business development. Before co-founding Healtheon/WebMD, Kittu worked at Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) managing high profile Interactive TV projects. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Determina. Kittu holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India, and a M.S. in Operations Research from the State University of New York, Buffalo.

Check the Kamla Bhatt's podcast link to see his views on Entrepreneurship :

Part One:
http://www.podtech.net/home/3546/neas-kittu-kolluri-on-
entrepreneurship-part-i

Part Two:
http://www.podtech.net/home/3618/neas-kittu-kolluri-on-
entrepreneurship-part-2

Mayfield Fund’s Yogen Dalal on IIT, India and Entrpeneurship

Yogen Dalal is the managing director at Mayfield Fund, in Silicon Valley. In an interview to Kamla Bhatt of "The Kamla Bhatt Show" (http://kamlabhattshow.com/pdcst/about), Yogen answers Kamla's tough questions, like what to do if your venture fails, and how to handle failure, generally.

Yogen currently sits on the boards of Affinity Labs, Consorte, Packet Design, PacketHop, Podbridge and Revenue Science. Yogen's past notable investments include Arbor Software, BeVocal, BroadVision, Concur, Nuance, OuterBay, Packet Engines, Snapfish, TIBCO, Vantive and Whistle.

Prior to joining Mayfield, Yogen was a founding member of two successful startups, Claris Corporation and Metaphor Computer Systems. Yogen was also a member of the original Star and Ethernet development teams at Xerox and a co-author of the TCP Specification while at Stanford University.

Yogen earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Stanford and a B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay where he was recently honored as a Distinguished Alum.

Yogen is a Charter Member of TiE and a board member of the Entrepreneurs Foundation. He also serves on the board of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a nationally acclaimed professional non-profit theater company in Ashland, Oregon.

Check out Kamla Bhatt's podcast link to hear his views.

If you are facing problems with the link then simply copy and paste following link in the browser.

http://www.podtech.net/home/3631/mayfield-funds-yogen-dalal-on-iit-india-and-entrepreneurship

RCom plans largest wireless network in the world

Reliance Communications has grand plans. The Anil Ambani-led telecommunications major aims to have the single largest wireless network in the world by year-end, covering over 900 million Indians.

The company has more than 1 million retail customers in the United States, the largest for any Indian company across any sector, a media release from RCom said.

RCom has launched virtual international calling and voice content services in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. The company is one of the leading providers of international connectivity and data services to telecom operators, content providers and Internet communities.

• Reliance Communications plans to invest Rs 16,000 crore for network expansion in FY08.
• Company will launch DTH services by end of this year.
• Reliance Communications to spin-out BPO business.
• Reliance Communications to unlock value in Flag Telecom through private placement of equity and international listing of shares before year-end. The company will also unlock value in tower business through placement of minority stake to financial investors.

RCOM undertaking 4 key initiatives for unlocking value this year.

• Unlocking of value in TowerCo through placement of minority stake to financial investors at an advanced stage.
• Expect positive surprise in TowerCo valuation compared to analyst estimates.
• Yipes acquisition to substantially enhance FLAG Telecom valuation.
• Unlocking of value in FLAG Telecom through private placement of equity and/ or international listing of shares before year-end.
  

Further unlocking of value through development of Special Economic Zone at Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge Centre focused on IT and IT-enabled services.

IT/ITES SEZ project already cleared by the GOI's Board of Approvals.
Check the full story at : http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2007/jul/17rcom.htm

WatchIndia launches Internet TV Portal for Indians

WatchIndia (http://www.watchindia.com) has launched an entertainment portal for Indians in US and Canada. The portal will comprise of live Indian channels and video-on-demand content featuring Indian TV, news, Indian TV serials, Bollywood movies, music and cricket. Some of the channels that will be streamed live are Zee Tv, Zee sports, Aastha, Zoom and Times Now News.

Subscription package costs $25 /- month and can be viewed anywhere except in India.

WatchIndia is the first site for Live Asia TV, a media company that was founded in early 2006. Live Asia's goal is to bring ethnic programming to those residing outside their country of origin. WatchIndia is partnering with top rated networks in India to provide breaking news, hit series and entertainment specials, fascinating documentaries, thrilling sports events, cricket matches, exclusive commentary, and the best of Bollywood movies. Zoom, Times Now, Aastha, IOL, Zee TV, and Zee Sports can all be viewed live on WatchIndia.com, on Video On Demand or downloaded via the Download Store.

Check out the full article at earthtimes.org link or simply copy paste the following link to the browser http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,140697.shtml

Why it makes sense to join start-ups

I have always questioned my decision to join a startup. I am still questioning it. But only reason why I wanted to join a start-up was to start something of my own in future. Another reason was to make it big, to prove to the world that I exist. Joining a start-up throws at you lots of challenges which you could not have encountered at a normal workplace. But this can also go against you if the company fails. There are lots of other reasons why I want to start something of my own, and I am still thinking about them.

Amar Goel has also tried to explain why it makes difference to join a start-up than an established firm. Following are some of his views:

“Generally speaking, youngsters in India are still too concerned about the stability of their jobs and getting married,” writes Amar Goel, CEO and founder of Komli Media, in his blog. Then he goes on to analyse “why this concern with job stability just doesn’t make sense if you are really good at what you do and are confident in that.”

“If you want to make some serious money you have to take some risk and join something early, at least among the first 50 employees."

“If you are smart, have a good idea, and can assemble a good team, then statistically, you have a lesser chance of failing today and in the next 10 years than at any time in India’s past."

“What is the difference between joining a startup that you like and the worst case happens in 2 years versus you join a “stable” company and in 2 years you leave because you don’t like the work?"

“I know a number of people in Silicon Valley who have made a career of working at startups, and are fully aware that some will be winners, and most won’t. They figure if they work at 5 startups over 10 years maybe one or two will be successful and that’s more financially rewarding than working at an already successful company as the 2000th employee.”

You can read the full article at: http://amargoel.com/2007/07/14/startups-are-way-too-risky-arent-they/

P.S. - Also check out the comments, they are great

American Indians working for Rural India

I just came across a group of American Indians who run a Fund called IRDF India Rural Development Fund with a vision of providing support to NGOs in India targeting Rural Sector. I found this group Fund motivating and I hope that more NRIs pitch in to work for the upliftment of the country. You can read all about them at their website - http://www.indiarural.org/

Excerpt from website - "In 1996 a few Indian Americans living in the west coast of the United States of America, became the change agents to translate the dream of giving back to the country of their birth. They realized that poverty is the worst malady and that the remedy was education, health care and social development. They set out to refine, define and foster a prosperous rural India, along with the financial support of many successful Indian's in the Silicon Valley and elsewhere in the US. Today, India Rural Development Fund projects have helped many poor rural families in India."

"India Rural Development Fund (IRDF), finances and supports rural development projects run by non-governmental organizations in India. Our focus is on education, vocational training, health, family planning, and infrastructure development."

"IRDF partnering with other nonprofit organizations would like to achieve the following goals in rural India:

• access to primary and vocational education;
• reduce population growth rate;
• reduce infant mortality, and improve health and hygiene;
• promote sustainable economic development."

Please do send your comments/ suggestions or if you think that you know similar organizations/funds.

Venture Capital is over rated - Komli Founder

In a blog post, Amar Goel, CEO and founder of Komli Media, has shared his thoughts, experiences and learnings in raising venture capital, how it works and what it’s like. An excerpt-

“If you are not sure about wanting to build a large business then do not raise venture capital. If you are concerned giving other people a lot of say in your business do not raise venture capital. If you never want to sell your company or go public do not raise venture capital."

“If you would like to build at least a $20M business over 3-5 years and ideally a $100M+ business over 5-7 years you are a prime candidate for venture capital. If you want to build a $3M business over the next 5 years do not raise venture capital."

“I find lots of people who seem to get really excited by the prospect of raising venture capital. Don’t be… The sexiness of a press release saying you raised venture capital from XYZ and ABC lasts about 1 day."

“VCs are not in the business of coming up with crazy ideas and then throwing them against the wall and seeing if they stick. That is the job of entrepreneurs. That’s why most VCs will be loathe to invest in some “idea” you have that will change the world that nobody has ever done before."

“Venture capital is a very expensive form of investment for your company. If you are the typical early stage startup you are going to give 20-35% of your startup for $1-4 million of investment.”

Check out : http://amargoel.com/

Rediff in radar of Google and Yahoo (News in HT; Later came to be fake)

An article from Hindustan Times (Later denied by Rediff CEO, Ajit Balakrishnan)

US-based Internet giants such as Google and Yahoo are eyeing Rediff.com India Ltd, which runs one of India's most popular consumer Internet portals, for a possible acquisition. Investment banking sources told Hindustan Times that the management of Nasdaq-listed Rediff was in talks with the global companies for a negotiated takeover deal.

Rediff, Google and Yahoo officials could not be immediately reached for their comments. Talk of the deal is emerging in the context of a general worldwide rebound in the Internet business, and India emerging as a hot story in the global economy with strong growth in both telephone penetration and the Internet in urban areas.

Leading US-based investment journal Barrons reported this month that Rediff is seeing speculation that it could be a takeover target. Rediff’s stock has witnessed a sharp jump in share price and volume on Nasdaq over the past week, when it also launched a Website to help consumers upload voice, video and photographic content for free.

The company's stock moved up to $25.41 per share on July 13 from $17.94 on July 5 and. The trading volume has increased to more than a million shares from an average of 50,000 share a day. In fact, on July 12, Rediff shares closed at $26.46 and more than 3.3 million shares traded hands. The company has a current market capitalisation of $738 million.

The sources said if the deal comes through, the valuation may be close to a billion US dollars.

The Barrons report quoted Ashish Thadani, an analyst at Gilford Securities, as saying that Rediff could fetch more than $ 25 a share in a sale and could see other suitors besides Yahoo and Google

Other suitors could possibly include AOL (America On Line), a division of Time Warner, which has a strong presence in offshore services from India, but is not a significant player in the market. Microsoft's MSN portal is also keenly stepping up its presence in the Indian market.

Rediff.com India, an online provider of news, information, communication, entertainment and shopping services, reported a net income of $2 million for the fourth quarter or $6.89 per ADS, compared with $0.53 million or $1.96 per ADS in the same quarter of the previous year.

The company's revenues increased 66 per cent to $8.48 million from $5.11 million in the same quarter of last year. India Online revenues, which include advertising and fee-based revenues, jumped 76 per cent to $6.30 million from $3.57 million in the year-ago quarter, while US Publishing revenues were $2.18 million, up 42 per cent from $1.54 million a year earlier.

I 'Chose' Not To Be One Of Them

I wish, I could point out, the exact day, time and the catalytic incident that pushed me over to the other side of the fence. But as an afterthought, I guess it would have made it more of a fairytale. Less convincing. Though let me admit, it would have surely made for a better story to tell... ;)

If I were to point my finger at one particular incident that was responsible for making me want to be an Entrepreneur, I think I would stick with my 'Attitude Problem'. I think its been forever that my Mom was summoned to the Staff Room at school, only to be told that although her son was a wonderful and intelligent student, his attitude was pulling him down; And Mummy would return from each of those meetings, all the more convinced to encourage me to follow my own thought process. Not to blindly follow, but to question.

If school was bearable, college was an unending saga of insurmountable agonies; incompetent teachers, preaching mediocrity, praising under achievers. It was a farce, in the name of education. Originality was deemed a sin. A questioning mind was termed arrogant and considered unfit for disciplined formal education.

What was worse, was the blind rat race, that the students themselves opted to become a part of. Everything else faded into the background. All that mattered was Marks. Percentage. A University ranking. And this stifled me. Suffocated me. This was not what I had come to do. This was not what I was meant to do. This was not what I wanted to do. And yet, it seemed that this is what I had to do.

Visionaries lead the way

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta

“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.” An Irish author said this, but does an idea need to be dangerous to be called an idea? An Idea needs to be dangerous to bring money to a person. I don't think so. You can support the existing system and fill the gaps to generate money. Leave aside IPR, copywrite issues for time being but a market is eaten up by the big fishes once the market is created and hence idea loses its credibility to generate money even if it is dangerous.

You might think that my idea needs me but often times its not true and what you need is a team of best people around and visionaries to fill all the loop holes. A good team is as important to the success as a dangerous idea and I would say that there is nothing as a dangerous idea. We are talking in relative terms and whatever can generate more sustainable revenues is a better idea.

There is never an idea only which succeeds, there is always a well implemented idea which requires a team of Jewels to make it succeed and defend it. It is true that same idea implemented differently can beat the one before. Revolutionary ideas can do good to mankind but for money making Idea needs a back up.

Pull it over

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta
These three words are scary when you have an idea; just leaving your comfortable position to pull it over. It happens with all of us but seems like you just need to dive when you have the right ammunition. Right? Isn't it a relative term? Of course it is and it prevents us to make the first move. Then whats the key to make an Idea successful? Lets figure out -

1. Getting right people in the team
2. Doing an exhaustive market research
3. Figure out uniqueness of Idea
   
4. Blah Blah

I am sure that we all can find all these theories at million places but I want to know from you a unique feature that can make an idea successful.

My vote is just a spirit to pull it over as I believe that idea contributes to only 10% to a venture's success.

What do you think?

Chasing west with unfair calculations

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta

What matters more? Earning $5000/month in US or earning 50000 INR/month in India. Same job salaries are these only in US and India respectively. Theoretically speaking, these two salaries are one and the same as Price parity ratio between US Dollar and Indian rupee is 1:10. As long as you are earning in India and spending in Indian products this concept works fine but as you go and buy US companies' products, difference comes into picture. Sounds weird - Consider a simple example -
Levis 32'' jeans cost 2000/- in India and $40 in US. 4% of our monthly salary in India and less than 1% of our salary in US. Products like clothes, Electronic items are cheaper if bought by earning in dollars but does this mean that we should go to US to take advantage of this unfair conversion rates. Most of the people do that and I am not saying they are wrong or right. It is their personal choice and let them go with it.
I would like to make everything in India at 10000/- that US makes for $1000 and then the PPR concept will work fine. There might be products in Indian market that are made locally and are sold for 1/5th the rate as US product.
I would like to say that I am a fool if I am earning in INR and spending in dollars. Either move to US if you are dying to be called 'Made in US' or develop the same product in India at 1/5th rate and let people come to same standards. Solution is simple if we stop chasing west with unfair calculations or make them chase with fair calculations.

Is there a perfect way (time)?

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta

Ideas, when come to our minds, afresh, carry a lot of potential and enthusiasm but with time, its freshness fades away and so our mind’s interest in it. But does this mean that we should just fly with the idea from day one and jump in the market to explore it or shall we prepare well to dive with a hope to succeed but eventually lose our interest in the idea & see our idea getting outdated.

Welcome to the Psycho beam balance game, where we can’t go to the extreme of either sides for success. If we go extreme left, we are unprepared to execute the idea and on the extreme right, we are over-prepared & miss the opportunity (or lose the interest). It’s a game along time and knowledge dimensions to determine when and with how much knowledge we should enter the market (i.e. deciding the time from day one when idea clicked in human brain and with the knowledge to execute it). Seems like an easy game but people who have missed the chances with brilliant ideas would have understood the complexity of the game. Most of us just keep on figuring out the perfect way (perfect time) to enter the market. We just keep on going to workshops, meeting VCs and other entrepreneurs to know how they did it. It is hard to realize that there is no perfect way for success; we just need to figure out our own way.

Ways are relative i.e. they vary from person to person and so the answer of this question but if we ask any successful entrepreneur, he/she won’t have unique answer to this question. Everyone tries to explain it in his/her way. But, if we think logically, there are two ways to solve this mystery; one is that we just dive in with our idea and deliver our 100% along with learning and gaining experience, to see what we can get from the world. We may succeed, we may fail but we are going to learn a lot through this way. Going through this way requires lots of guts and some people think it unwise (immature) to go this way but as my previous blog mentioned that success speaks, and hence if we succeed through this way then we are role model for millions. There is no exact way of going in the market or executing the idea. We may need to gauge our risk appetite, our strengths and accordingly decide what is best for us. Will going this way solve the purpose for us or not? If not, then look for alternatives.

Other way is to prepare well, do all the homework and then dive in the market. This means that we have gauged the potential of the idea, estimated the competitor’s strengths and figured out uniqueness of our idea. Going this way seems to be a right way as we have been always taught that if you have done your homework then you will succeed. But, many people, after working along an idea, lose interest in it and start thinking over new ideas.

Some people feel that they should just dive in the market with the idea as they fear that they might lose interest in it with time. But if we have a fear of losing interest in the idea along with time (i.e. while preparing) then we should just wait to lose it because if we lose the interest in midway then we will be trapped in the storms of thousands of unanswered questions. Trust in the idea is required to sustain with the bad times of the business.

We can start with writing down the idea and discuss it with our close friends; survey the market to gauge the potential of the idea and then go ahead, but there is a trap here too. With this approach, we may go into endless discussions about the idea and idea, in itself will lose the enthusiasm required. There are thousands of traps but you need to figure out the right way for you.

So, diving in at the right time with proper knowledge about the idea and competitors is another way of succeeding with the idea, but is there a unique way, perfect way, I don’t know. I will speak when I succeed because success speaks.

Watch this - Rediff article about Inflation in India

Inflation in India? Blame it on America

What is the reason behind inflation in India?

For the answer, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and the United Progressive Alliance government may read an advisory released by The Earth Policy Institute.

If prices of food and vegetables in India are soaring to new heights, blame it on the Americans.

According to the EPI statement, the diversion of US grain to produce ethanol to fuel cars has led to an increase in world food prices and the developing countries like India have already started paying for the rise in wheat prices.

Corn prices have doubled over the last year; wheat futures are trading at their highest level in 10 years and prices of rice are rising, EPI, a Washington-based environmental organisation, has said.

In India wheat prices are up 11 per cent and all of this is just the beginning. Higher grain prices mean higher food prices. In Mexico, the price of tortillas has risen by 60 per cent, driving thousands of angry Mexicans into the streets.

Food prices are rising worldwide. The US Department of Agriculture projects the wholesale price of chicken in 2007 will be 10 per cent higher than in 2006, prices of eggs will be up a whopping 21 per cent, and milk will be 14 per cent higher.

In China, pork prices are up 20 per cent above a year earlier and egg rates are up 16 per cent, the EPI said, adding that unlike in the past the food price rise is not going to be a temporary phenomenon.

In the past, food price rises have usually been weather-related and always temporary. This situation is different. As more and more fuel ethanol distilleries are built, world grain prices are moving up toward their oil-equivalent value in what appears to be the beginning of a long- term rise.

By 2008, close to one third of the US grain harvest will be going to ethanol, reducing the amount available both for internal use and for export.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining - Is it true?

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta

Mind boggling questions surround you before you hit on the road with an idea. Long list of 'What ifs' haunt you - What if I get stuck on the way? What if I don't find a road ahead? What if there is no one to guide me on my way? What if there is no silver lining to the dark clouds that surround me? What if I die fighting at this place? What if I can't make it? What if..........

Many ideas die in the hearts of millions, just because we are yet not convinced that we can spark the light on every street. We are yet not convinced that we can follow our souls. We are yet not convinced that we can rule the world.

Unconvinced by our strengths, we are still following the direction where the sun sets. I don't know whether I am making sense or not but these questions make a unrepairable damage to the instincts of bright Indian future. Provoked by these questions, we demolish the empire we make in our hearts just because we don't know the answers to these intrigue questions.

To solve the mystery, we need to know - Who has the answers? Who can guide us to our destinies? I don't think we know the answers yet and misguided we are just following the sun, heading towards west. Or, you can say, our confused souls are following the developed economies. I truly believe that there is a need for change; change of mindsets and change of ideologies and we need to understand that if we want to rise we need to rise on our own.

Don't you think that there must be an opportunity to unleash that storm that lie within us but who will give us that opportunity; nobody. We will need to grab that opportunity. We just need to make ourselves strong enough to believe that there remains a light after every long dark night, there remains a light after every long tunnel and every dark cloud must have a silver lining.

Building Nation - Is India shining?

This blog is written and owned by Saurabh Gupta

India Shining story is kinda routine term these days and politicians & media don't want us to think about the problems that the country is moving towards along with this shining wave. With service sector booming and all the BPO/KPO sector shining, we are taking the work from other countries but we are only dealing with the lower portion of the pyramid. Most of the service providers are doing the outsourced patch work jobs for the International Clients.

In a way, this concept solves the problem of population explosion in India (1.1 Billion) as there are more jobs at the lower part of the pyramid but think about this scenario in a long run. Major chunk of the profit (almost 90%) lies in the upper portion of the pyramid which is still lying in the developed countries. Surely, Rome was not built in a day and we may think same for India but we are riding on bullish world's economy and are focusing on earning money which is not self sustainable. Soon, we will be left out as focus of outsourcing companies might move to other developing countries owing to increasing wages in India. Or what if there is a recession in the market? Are we prepared for that?

We need to take advantage of this bullish market to prepare ourselves for any upcoming recession. We have great minds, great ideas and above all we have customers within our boundaries. We have it all; just need some guidance in scouting the way to the top. This is the right time to learn from our experiences and take command in our hands to show our skills to the world.

Solution lies in properly streamlining underdeveloped Venture Capital Market in India to channelize the aid be it financial or experience based. People have ideas to work on, people have skills to deliver, but what they lack is a guide/mentor who can warn them about the hurdles lying in the market and guide them to compete in the open world. The idea is to get as many entrepreneurs in the market as possible and to help them sustain with proper financial aid and other support if required.

We need to realize our strengths which lies in the numbers, we are more than a billion and if we can streamline our strengths and focus on helping the upcoming ideas, we will shine in the world on our own and there won't be any fear as we have enough customers lying in our country itself.

At present, we have exposed our customer base to the foreign companies. I am not saying its wrong as it has its own advantages as we all are noticing them but what surely we are missing is strengthening our own roots.

Think about this catch lying in the market and work over it with me.