I wrote this Op-Ed piece in Economic Times on how the government can effectively use funds allocated to entrepreneurship fund-of-funds. Key points: Leverage the funds to generate private participation and hence enhance the size of the pool Leverage capacity that exists in corporations, microfinance institutions and the like Emphasize under-served areas that align with national […]
Back to the future
Last few months have been full of uncertainty and choice. It is rare that life provides us with an opportunity to step back and ask ourselves the all important questions of what makes us happy, and what do we really want to do with ourselves. It is even more rare that it simultaneously provides us […]
Video Interviewing Technology for Start-ups
One of the biggest challenges facing start-ups is getting the right talent. Or rather, in attracting the right talent. There is no dearth of talent in the market, but getting the right people to join your fledgling organization is a problem that most start-ups face. Why? Very few people want to join an ‘unknown’ entity. […]
Mary Meeker’s 2014 Internet Trends report
Mary Meeker (who now does growth stage deals for Kleiner Perkins) has released the 2014 edition of her annual Internet Trends report. Lots to read and digest here. KPCB Internet trends 2014 from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers 0
Introducing In50hrs Healthcare Edition
Chennai is the Healthcare Capital of India; That’s a fact. Healthcare and Education are also the two areas that stand to be disrupted in the hands of an entrepreneur in this country and Globally. Yet, time and time again, We witness entrepreneurs building solutions that have no relevance to any of the pressing needs of […]
Lead Nurturing Strategies for Start-ups
This is the most critical and heart-breaking part of acquiring customers. It can sap even the most persistent. But there is no alternative if you want to convert your qualified lead to an invoice. In the first place, consider yourself lucky you have a set of qualified leads. Most start-ups do not enjoy that luxury. […]
Lead Generation Strategies for Start-ups
Being a young enterprise, you have a product and you have your first set of paying customers. Now the challenge is to take your product to market, generate volumes and gain market share. What are the strategies and plans that you need to adopt to generate a list of prospective customers whom you could pitch […]
Inside Sales
Inside Sales — Very Common now a days and effective to target specific audience or groups or geographies. Inside Sales is quite Cost Effective and Focussed Group Strategy for Companies who are in volume based Business and where Initial Resistance is quite high from Prospects/Customers or where Initial Reach or Geographies are very far off.. […]
What should start-ups do to retain employees?
Having worked with various start-ups for the last 12 years I have seen different strategies employed by such young enterprises to ensure the average employee tenure stretches beyond two years. The first challenge is to attract the right talent. All the right people seem to only want to work with established organizations, not wanting to […]
Demystifying consumer hardware product development
While there is a great deal of excitement generated by new consumer products – smart glasses, activity trackers, smart watches, arm bands and companies that make them – jawbone, google, square, leap motion, etc, entrepreneurs and investors still are shy of venturing into the space. There are some common misconceptions but I won’t get into […]
Content Marketing for SME’s
A Smart Marketer knows that Traditional Marketing no longer holds sway – Today is the Era of Digital and Content Marketing – Developing Relevant and Engaging Content for your Target Audience to drive a Profitable Customer Action(On Web and Mobil). If Content is King , Digital Marketing is Crown. Digital Marketing Strategies are closely connected […]
Tall Tales told by Grandmas and Venture Capitalists
“VCs look for Startups going after a Big Market with a Passionate Team and have an ‘unfair advantage’.” vs “A startup is an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” If the organization does not yet have a viable business model, how can it have an “unfair advantage”? “VCs take pure […]