Loading ...Here’s a discussion with serial entrepreneur Murli Thirumale on how he comes up with new ventures:
“I have a phrase which I have coined,” he says. “SDBS. It stands for sell, design, build, sell. SDBS is in contrast to designing something, building it and then trying to sell it, which is the model most big and small tech companies follow.”
Sramana,
Do you think it would be a good idea to post the original content instead of plain linking? This would allow you to have 1:1 conversations here with this community; going back-n-forth loses the context.
Just an idea.
SDBS will work fine if you are a silicon valley veteran having access to customers even before having a product. It would be silly to build something, when you have people willing to believe your word.
If you are a startup from India, or you do not have the backing of industry leaders, SDBS is not for you. Most customers wont give you the time of day, if you dont have a product.
What I do agree with is, do not build everything upfront. Make a “base working” version that you can actually sell first. You can then tune it later based on what you see in the real world. I used to think this sounds obvious and simple. The two big challenges are (a) what to put into the base product and (b) how to build the base product in such a way that it can be rapidly modified.
Sorry, I am unbelievably strapped for time. If you want to have a 1:1 conversation with me, please participate on my site. Here, I can only provide pointers.
Some ways to make it more friendly - perhaps instead of posting one link at a time - post a summary every few days giving the area and the people you have chosen to interview in the area. And of course your perceptions on the particular area - be it telecom, microfinance, etc would be simply the icing on the cake. Another thought for your interviews actually - a photo of the person you have interviewed would be great - make it really personal. IMHO - your interviews are crisp and always worth reading.
Vivek,
I strongly encourage you to not assume that just because you are in India, you cannot do SDBS. With the Internet and services like Webex and DimDim, plus LinkedIn, you CAN access customers and get feedback. Don’t dismiss perfectly good principles with excuses like you don’t have access.
With the internet, social media, and online conferencing, you DO have access.
Use it.
Sramana
Sum,
And you don’t think doing that takes times?
Why don’t you just use the resources I am pointing you to?
I’m offering them for a reason, and I believe I have never pointed this group to something that is not worth your time.
Entrepreneurs go wherever there are resources available. Why won’t you?
Sramana
Simply - your perspective is what would also makes it interesting and that it gets lost in the interview questionnaire.
Ah, for that you’d need to read my books