Caught in the Startup Web

The years between 1999-2001 saw the madness and euphoria surrounding the startups, with every Tom, Dick and Harry trying his hand at opening something(may be a page :-)). And mind you, the unbelievable part was not the hysteria around startups but the sheer number of people who were ready to fund these startups.
After the Dot Com bust there was a period of lull. But the human spirit has the habit of learning from past mistakes and life goes on to explore new fromtiers. This insatiable appetite of human-beings to do something new, something different again led to a new generation of start-up companies that had interesting ideas and MOST importantly a good revenue model in place.

Doning on the new role of Business Development Manager has given me the direction to explore the world of startups and see what all new things are coming up. And, definetely having a big network helps to explore these oppurtunities.

Now, comes the question: Why I'm there, why the heck I'm not having dinner with some big client who can give me big business at one go?
Actually, there are a couple of reasons for that.
First, these start-ups feed my business model directly and can be real growth engines for my firm (To be honest, if it is your idea, then you tend to work on it much more to make it happen).
Also, if the startup grows, you will also grow along with it since you have forged a relationship in the very beginning.
Second reason has more to do with my heart. Finding out what are the new directions in which people are thinking, the barriers they face and studying those fantastic new ideas excites me to the core.

Now, based on my interaction with people who either owned the startups or funding the startups(VC guys),
Below is the list of obsevations regarding startups and some really cool and practical ideas which have already found many takers.

1) Many of the startups are coming either in the area of Mobile telephony or applications based on it(Telecom revolution), or in the Financial Domain(This may be the result of Indian economy booming)

2) Most of the times when the startups are flush with money, they don't know how to spend that efficiently.(It takes some time to digest, but it's true). I've seen the same in recruitments.

3) It's a real challenge to start something. You are always juggling between your startup and your job. And if you jump in it full time, there is always a nagging thought "what if it fails?". Some days back, I was talking to an alumnus of IIM Ahembadabad, who is running a succesfull startup . He shared a view which challenged some of my beliefs. He said that he has found the Tech guys much more receptive to starting-up rather than the MBA's(even who are from the most prestigious colleges). Conventinal line of thinking says that since they are MBA's they will have better business sense and thus open up more firms. But may be, he was right : MBA's with their high flying jobs have more stakes at hand with the jobs, so risk taking ability is reduced.

4) It's very diffficult to keep the morale high all the time esp. when revenues are not coming in the initial stages. Most of the time. startups break up because some partner had his morale in a abyss and he wanted to quit. Startups by their very nature are very sensitive to this situtaion as they are short on resources, budget and time. It has a dangerus effect on other guys too and they tend to break up and abondon the idea. So, it's very important how you choose you partners - they have to be self motivated and should believe in the idea from the core of their heart.

4) The sooner you start, better off you are as your oppurtunity costs keep on rising(since you'll be earning much more in the later part of your career, so it's kinda difficult to leave that high-paying job esp. with family obligations)

5)There is always a challenge for a startupc- how to protect your idea: What if some biggy picks your idea and with it's marketing and fianncial muscle, edges you out?

In the next post I'll cver some good ideas. Till then ..............(searching for something)

PLEASE be generous in writing your comment on the articles in this blog. It takes a few minutes and it is very precious to know about your thoughts(whether you agree or disagree, or have something to add, or may be just to say you that you liked the post :-))

101 Things to do before I die

1) To get admitted to a good B-school, learn how to structure my thoughts better.

2) To start running :-)

3) To become lean and mean machine

4) Finish CFA certification

5) Writing 100 posts on my blog (at least this post helped in to do a count++)

6) Finish up 100 new novels esp all the ones by Dan Brown and Jeffrey Archer.

7) Become a crorepati thruugh investment in stocks,
Ha, too ambitious may be, but with sensex at 19K who is compaining :-)

8) Get My company up and running.

9) Make a phoren trip.
Done. Singapore Ahoy!!!

10) Do a job in financial services company.
Partly done(In a Fin company, although slightly different profile, but worth it)

11) To improve the lot of at least 20 children by providing them the means for education.
50% done(10 children).

What's up, Dude?

This may seem to be a cliche question when it comes to software engineers. Although, this question is overused by the Software guys, this question like the word "Fuck" can give rise to a lot of connotations, when used in conjunction with different expressions on the face of the Questioner. A subtle change in expression will change the whole meaning of the question. Say for instance, this question when asked with just a casual look will ask what are you doing at this moment i.e. in real sense.

Now came another day and I was taking to a friend of mine. She was standing with me, her eyes scanning me from top to bottom and finally getting fixed on my new HairStyle, and then suddenly THE question popped up "So, What's up dude?". Yes, there she came getting to me straight on the point that Have I got a new girlfriend? with this seemingly inocuous question..... What u're expecting an answer, no way, esp. here in public!!!!

Then there will be people who'll come to you and ask the same question with probing eyes, with special empahsis on the pronunciation of "Whtz up" and then following it with some questioning glaces. That my friend is a sign, that Ok man you have been hanging around inthis company for quite a long time, When are you switching the job? Or is it that you want to do an MBA... The only option that seems to be remaining for software engineers to get out of the drudgery of manual labour of coding. And this my friend means either you need to do an MBA or fairy luck will come and take you to onsite where you can mint money like anything.

Then there will be some lucky guys, when some pretty girl comes to them, Whtz Up? That essentially means, Hey Will you be my Date (I hope to be one of them one day. I've resolved to go to the GYM daily from now on... Hey, don't laugh..Ya I know I've promised this 24 times before too. But that doesn't mean I should stop trying)..

I would love to hear some more variants of the usages of this phrase. If that ignites a bulb in you , go ahead and post it in comments..... And if it doesn't ring a bell, then "Whtz up with you Dude?"......(Top 5 responses will earn a gift hamper from me :-))

Metrosexual Holi(Contd.)

So, here I come again with my soul fully drenched in the reminiscences of the colours and vigours of Holi. Now, coming back to the main Holi day, we used to do all sort of preparations for our body that would put any masseur in the world to shame. That would include ointing ourselves with oil and vaseline so that we would be least smothered with colours.
Then comes the main part when we would go to each and every house in our Mohalla and play to our heart's extent with colours and throwing Buckets after buckets of water at everyone who passes from the street. I really loved the part when we used to throw our beloved friend Manoj to a pit which was full of water, and I followed this tradition quite religiuosly year after year b4 coming to bangalore:-). Although, after adoloscence this tradition was superseded by the attraction of playing Holi with Bhabhis and a lot more PYT's u know. Hehehehe.
Now, coming back to the present Holi@Bangalore,Delhi. Secluded groups in flats, with the so called middle and upper middle class people with feeling like Touch-Me-Not, My skin will get damamged even if one trace of colour is smeared. And then u'll find some people drinking there hearts out without knowing whether it is Holi or Diwaali. Can't understand the aloofness and high handedness of the people here. And at night it would be partying in a disco or a pub.
Is that all to a Holi???

But, roots can not be cut away,
Doston, Chingaari to bujhaaya nahin ja sakta, rangon ki duniya ko berang nahin kiya ja sakta,
Ek din josh ka khumar uthega tab Rangon ki nadiyon ko baandh banakar bhi samaya nahin ja sakta.
And as far as I'm concerned 'I'm loving it" - Gujhiya nahin to Mcdonalds ka burger hi sahi, Agar bhavnayein hain to Holi ka parv Kyun nahin manay ja sakta!!!

Holi goes the metrosexual way

Ha, This time Holi seems to be pretty different from past years. Remember the days, when we would all be so excited much before Holi. Preparations used to start with Mom preparing the delectable dishes, the yummy ghujhias and the mix inside it that would melt as soon as it entered the mouth, the mouth watering samosas(both of moong dal and Aloo variety), assorted namkeens that would kindle the insatiable appetite inside us :-).
Then, on the day of Choti Holi it's the celebration time with our the friendly neighbourhood community or Mohalla as it is called in local parlance. Getting up early in the morning for Holika Dehan was quite some task, with me being a night creature, always cribbing about the same. But, man isn't the morning ordeal worth it's salt. The yellow flames in the backdrop of rising sun and the tranqilness of the serene atmosphere presents an unparalled scenic beauty which, believe me, would fade the likes of Angelina jolie and Aishwarya Rai. (Ok, Ok Don't take offence they have a different genre altogether). And who can forget the baking of wheat twigs and potatoes in the fire. I guess it's the thing that remind me of my roots, and the ties with nature which although, are very important are almost forgotten by us, the metrosexuals. How far removed we're from the nature can be gauged from the incident, when I asked a child about who produces milk that he drinks everyday. Do you think you know the answer? Man, u're wrong, brush up ur fundamentals and rise to teh new processed world. The answer was Mother Dairy vending machine.
This is where I feel the importance of customs lie, you may scoff at them, but without them you are like puppets in the hands of life. Well, gotta go now, some metro creature calling me up. Will continue in the next post.. Till then,
Mere desh ki Dharti oooooooooooooo, mere Desh ki Dharti Ohhhhhhhhhh....

Am I missing this Holi?? You bet............................

Sentenced to be a Blogger

Finally, after much cajoling from different selves, I am sentenced to Blogger community. I don't know really, what am i supposed to do with a damn blog. Will this Blog help me to know my feelings and activities that I am hiding even from myself?
I don't have an answer to this question. Will see over the time which direction it turns out to be.
Can anyone help me to find out the answer to this question or Do i need to delve into my soul for some curry of life???????????? Either ways, I guess it would be fun.