Hello readers, here are the winners of the Entrepreneur Journeys book review promotion:
Entrepreneur Journeys (Volume One)
Virat Singh Khutal
Manav Ahuja
Bipin Preet Singh
Manjula Sridhar
Suarabh Garg
::
Entrepreneur Journeys (Volume Two): Bootstrapping, Doing More With Less
Sreekanth Balakrishnan
Varun Gupta
Vineesh Kumar
Roopesh Nair
Shashank Mohan
Winners, you will hear from Maureen Kelly with logistics of how to receive your books, and how to submit your reviews for publication. I will look forward to the reviews.
Thanks to everyone for your interest and continued support!
Indian entrepreneurs and readers, Alok Mittal suggested a special offer for VentureWoods readers. I’m always interested in your perspective and am curious to hear some of your thoughts after reading my Entrepreneur Journeys and Bootstrapping books. I will gladly have a copy of either book sent to the first 10 people who are interested in writing a review of either book for VentureWoods. If you would like to participate, please write Venture Woods Reviewer in the subject line and send your best mailing address to Maureen Kelly. We look forward to hearing from you.
Some of you may have followed a recent discussion on my blog, 18,000 People On The Bench At Infosys.
I have to say, I am continuously frustrated by aspiring entrepreneurs telling me that they cannot move forward because seed funding is not available in India. My message has always been, bootstrap the beginning, and then you can raise funding after your business thesis has been validated. That way, you preserve equity, and have the option also to not raise money at all. In my book, Bootstrapping: Doing More With Less, which comes out in India in September, I have discussed this topic at length. Even in Entrepreneur Journeys (Volume One), I opened the book addressing the issue of bootstrapping. This book has been available in India for a few months now.
Indian entrepreneurs, you must learn to bootstrap. Here’re some short video interview clips that Dwevesh Divedi of Breaking the 9 to 5 Jail produced where I have discussed the topic further. If you have a 9-5 job, you are in a perfect position to bootstrap a venture on the side. Hundreds and thousands of aspiring Indian entrepreneurs in corporate jobs: your seed capital is coming to you in form of a pay check. Use it, my friends.
Indian entrepreneurs and readers, I’d love to hear from you on what you envision as Capitalism 2.0, give your somewhat different perspective than those of my American readers.
I started writing this series and am, one by one, tackling the various issues that constitute not only the economic framework, but also the philosophical framework. From Justice to Regulation, from Integrity to Credit, and meandering through the alleys of Character and Logic, we are discussing all the components of Capitalism, and brainstorming about a better system.
The US has taken a disturbingly European-style socialist turn, even as India and China are moving towards Capitalism. In doing so, however, it is critical, that the mistakes of America are not repeated, and most certainly, Europe cannot be the ideal, with all the entrepreneurs fleeing countries like France!
Also, one of the most disturbing elements of American capitalism has been that the system rewards Speculators over Value Creators, and does not penalize Value Destroyers.
I invite you to contribute to this debate, to engage, think, participate, research, study - and be a part of defining the new system as it emerges.
Friends, some of you have attended the strategy roundtables I have been doing for several months now. Here are some recordings. This morning’s roundtable, in particular, had some very good discussion on when to raise money and when not to, instead choosing the bootstrapping path. I encourage all of you who are toying with your options to listen to this recording.
Next week, we’re collaborating with TiE Chennai for another roundtable. Please join us.
I am doing some Free Online Strategy Roundtables for entrepreneurs to discuss your business issues with me.
During this 60-minute session, entrepreneurs are invited to pitch me their ideas in a 3-minute presentation. I will review the material in real-time and provide feedback on each pitch, as well as address specific strategy questions from the entrepreneur. Afterward, I will take questions about strategy from other participants. The session is open to 1000 people but only the first five to sign up have the opportunity to pitch and discuss their business.
To register, click here:
* Feb 18, 11:30 am Pacific
* March 11, 9:00 am Pacific
* March 25, 10:00 am Pacific
The entire series is sponsored by DimDim, the Open Source web conferencing company.
Recordings of previous entrepreneurship webinars and roundtables are available here:
* January, 2009 - Entrepreneurship Webinar
* October, 2008 - Web 3.0 Product Strategy Roundtable
Friends, I am doing a series on Entrepreneurship in India for Forbes, and would like to hear your thoughts. Would you please comment at my site and leave your name/affiliation on the site, so that I can use some of your comments in the articles, and duly attribute them? The first of these pieces is for this Friday, and I have to write it on Wednesday morning Pacific time. So if you want your thoughts to be incorporated, make sure you comment ASAP. Thanks!
I have been talking to lots of entrepreneurs about various business models to support innovation, especially in industries from which VCs are pulling out (Security, Networking, Chips, Enterprise Software, etc.). This article looks at a business model that offers an alternative framework to support innovation. Read my latest Forbes column, Free to Innovate, and the corresponding interview with Accidental Entrepreneur Paul Kocher.
I believe, ths gap that is opening up in segments from which VCs are pulling out are excellent opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs to build self-funded companies in.
The US spends $250 billion in health care administration. Indian entrepreneurs can very well look at solving various problems within this vertical and build nice businesses. Read my Forbes column for some pointers.
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.”
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