Tuesday, January 22, 2013

World Startup Report

Microsoft accelerator at Bangalore hosted Bowei Gai and Benjamin Joffe who are on world tour to create World Startup Report!
People with fire in the belly who are  charting new territories were there. Bowei Gai and Benjamin Joffe successful entrepreneurs and VC's are on a mission to understand and report the ecosystem of the world for startup's.  India is their first stop and Bowei will be covering 29 countries and 32 cities by end of this September.

Few numbers:

60,000 startups in US last year!

800 startups in India.

"A billion dollar software tech company is founded every 3 months  in USA" Ron Conway.

There have been billion dollar tech companies in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, West Europe, Brazil but none from India so far....................

Makemy trip is probably the only tech company with IPO valued at 550 million $.

Flipkart is next kid on the block.

Discussion about the ecosystem, culture and priorities highlighted the impact on entrepreneurial ambition. The slides can be viewed on slideshare.

Also their effort in understanding Indian culture!!!!!




There was a panel discussion involving the following members.


Panel 1:
Manish - CEO at Printo
Richa - CEO at Zivame
Shivku - CEO at Exotel
Panel 2: 
Amiya - COO at ZipDial
Prateek - COO at MyGola
Rajiv - COO at UrbanLadder

Zivame sells lingerie online and is redefining the market. It is also increasing the market size and has integrated the global delivery model to ensure its success.
Printo is retail printing business. The founder spoke about the gender bias inherent in investors. It appeared as if many missed that point. There was another young entrepreneur Vikas Venugopal who is CEO of Uniper Technology. They provide printing, warehousing support to Universities and educational institutes.
MyGola will help us for panning a trip or vacation.
UrbanLadder provides online shopping for furniture s.
Exotel provides call center support if I am not mistaken. Zivame and Printo have utilised Exotel's service.
Zipdial increases responses to your ads.

The discussion ranged from how the idea came about, challenges, funding, hiring, etc. Audience also had their inputs and questions. A very helpful and lively event. 
Established entrepreneurs and aspiring ones can join Open Coffee Club.

The culture is changing. Expect to see lot more people dare to become entrepreneurs. The ecosystem is getting formed from multiple aspects. The fight against corruption, the angst of the young and middle class, the call for empathy, the will to make a difference. 
Every time we see a hungry child, a child on the street, homeless, destitute it should move us. 80% action towards entrepreneurship  ( dream of inclusive growth), 20% effort towards immediate relief.
"It is important to teach a person to fish but till he is taught it is prudent to give him half a fish".
And very important that one continues to fish......in deep uncharted waters.

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