The start-up phenomenon is infectious. Start-ups excite not just those who are starting up but also those who are covering it. When the start-up bug bites, who cares a damn about the high rate of mortality?
Every idea looks great and promises to solves this or that problem the society faces.
Tracking start-ups in the last five years, I'm always bewildered at their agility, their ability to think differently and busting the myths. Their innocent and sincere belief that they can create something big, out of thin air.
Their devil-may-care attitude and their ability to take risks, particularly in a country like India where failure is not treated with any respect never fail to amaze.
Positive Vibes
You feel energized with the young entrepreneurs moving around with a lot of optimism, spreading positive vibes. For someone in journalism with a lot of skeptics around spreading negative vibes, it's a cultural shock.
You feel younger than you are after spending some time with them. I never lose an opportunity to interact with them, see them presenting their ideas.
No wonder if the start-up bug bites journalists too. At least two journalists I know and worked with at some point of time in my career quit their otherwise comfortable jobs to start up.
It's not something new that journalists quitting their jobs to set up their own business ventures. That was pre-start-up era.
A friend of mine, Prasad Kunisetty, quit journalism in the dotcom boom era of late 1990s to try something in technology business.
In the last two months at least two journalists that I know have announced their start-up plans.
Adrobe Networks
Raji Reddy Kesireddy, who worked in a couple of Telugu newspapers before joining Economic Times, put in his papers to set up a hyper local e-commerce venture Adrobe. He says there is a lot of potential that local groceries and other local retailers can tap.
He argues that the discounts that they offer are going to the 'physical' customers. They can do well if they offer the same discounts to the virtual customers.
With Rs 1 crore he raised from family and friends, he has just rolled out the services. He hires 18 people to connect the retailers with the customers, who have just begun to relish taste of e-commerce.
FactorDaily
The other initiative is from Pankaj Mishra, arguably one of the finest technology reporters in the country. I admired him for his simple writing skills, breaking reports and level-headed approach to journalism and people.
His FactorDaily promises to bring technology news that you can use. I see a dire need for such kind of a news site. Though technology reporters have been writing on technology products and services that impact our lives, it's all in bits and pieces.
I can't wait to see how his venture lives up to the promises it makes.
Here's what Pankaj relates the idea. https://medium.com/factor-daily/why-we-started-factordaily-94ad3d4611b3#.1o401ayso
Every idea looks great and promises to solves this or that problem the society faces.
Tracking start-ups in the last five years, I'm always bewildered at their agility, their ability to think differently and busting the myths. Their innocent and sincere belief that they can create something big, out of thin air.
Their devil-may-care attitude and their ability to take risks, particularly in a country like India where failure is not treated with any respect never fail to amaze.
Positive Vibes
You feel energized with the young entrepreneurs moving around with a lot of optimism, spreading positive vibes. For someone in journalism with a lot of skeptics around spreading negative vibes, it's a cultural shock.
You feel younger than you are after spending some time with them. I never lose an opportunity to interact with them, see them presenting their ideas.
No wonder if the start-up bug bites journalists too. At least two journalists I know and worked with at some point of time in my career quit their otherwise comfortable jobs to start up.
It's not something new that journalists quitting their jobs to set up their own business ventures. That was pre-start-up era.
A friend of mine, Prasad Kunisetty, quit journalism in the dotcom boom era of late 1990s to try something in technology business.
In the last two months at least two journalists that I know have announced their start-up plans.
Adrobe Networks
Raji Reddy Kesireddy, who worked in a couple of Telugu newspapers before joining Economic Times, put in his papers to set up a hyper local e-commerce venture Adrobe. He says there is a lot of potential that local groceries and other local retailers can tap.
He argues that the discounts that they offer are going to the 'physical' customers. They can do well if they offer the same discounts to the virtual customers.
With Rs 1 crore he raised from family and friends, he has just rolled out the services. He hires 18 people to connect the retailers with the customers, who have just begun to relish taste of e-commerce.
FactorDaily
The other initiative is from Pankaj Mishra, arguably one of the finest technology reporters in the country. I admired him for his simple writing skills, breaking reports and level-headed approach to journalism and people.
His FactorDaily promises to bring technology news that you can use. I see a dire need for such kind of a news site. Though technology reporters have been writing on technology products and services that impact our lives, it's all in bits and pieces.
I can't wait to see how his venture lives up to the promises it makes.
Here's what Pankaj relates the idea. https://medium.com/factor-daily/why-we-started-factordaily-94ad3d4611b3#.1o401ayso
"So why are we doing this?
Technology is going mainstream in India, and by that, I am not referring to the country’s software services industry. It’s the way people in India, across the demographics, are applying technology and social tools to get more out of life. It’s very similar to how software is eating the world. And as technology storytellers, we believe this is the best time to make sense of technology disruption, newer companies and people shaping the next big ideas in India."
Challenging task
I'm sure they know how risky it is to run a start-up. We know. Because, nothing is riskier than being a journalist. I wish both all the best in their endeavours.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/adrobe.in/?fref=ts
https://medium.com/factor-daily/about
Challenging task
I'm sure they know how risky it is to run a start-up. We know. Because, nothing is riskier than being a journalist. I wish both all the best in their endeavours.
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/adrobe.in/?fref=ts
https://medium.com/factor-daily/about
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