A New Year Of Hope

2010 was promising to be the dullest year of recent times, but it did end in style. It suddenly left me on track for my goal - raison d'etre of this blog.

It has been more than a month since I joined Academic Ventures full time. Since then, I have spent some 20 days in travel. I attended events, met potential customer, partners and folks back home. And this hectic life hasn't been without its rewards. We have already closed two deals and are getting interest from all quarters. A lot of people I met exclaimed "Why didn't you do this earlier? Let's talk!"

The result? We are already short of bandwidth on projects we have and are eagerly looking to hire smart MBAs for a part-time internship. We are now convinced that we are here to create a lot of value for everyone around us, and times ahead look very exciting.

Another major change in life has been the fulfillment of a long-standing declaration - that to settle in Delhi. One of the projects requires me to stay in NCR and so I am moving on. Incidentally, in just one hour from now. Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore and Trichy have been very kind to me. I hope Delhi accepts me quite as heartily. If you are around there, please drop a line.

Before I close, I reckon this is going to be the last post of this year. So, I wish to thank each and everyone of you to stand by me. Your trust in me helped me emerge stronger than ever.

May 2011 bring you the wealth and love of your dreams. Happy New Year!!

Tasting blood

I am happy to share that we have just closed our first deal. While the details of this project have to be contractually confidential, all I can say is that I will be based out of Delhi/NCR for a period of at least three months working on this project.

Having family based in Agra and sister and several cousins located in NCR, this marks a sort of homecoming for me - one that took 9 years in making. It all started here and I don't really wish to go anywhere now. Family is family, you know. And there is nothing that is more important than being around them.

From the business perspective, it just reinforces our belief in the concept and the fact that there is a market for Academic Ventures. It opens up a small regular cash flow, and opens up more such opportunities ahead.

Personally, I feel a little satisfied. After all, it is not really a wild goose chase.

How am I living my life as an entrepreneur?

It's been more than 10 days since I decided to start-up, and each day has been very different from another. For first two days, it was an attempt to welcome the new reality. It was euphoric and idealistic, in a sort of surreal manner. There was a will to make a permanent change to the world. And an optimism that things will soon fall in place.

Next day, I promptly attended by first sales call for Academic Ventures in Delhi. That deal, though free, is now closed underscoring the need and interest in Technology Transfer. Two days later, I realized how old relationships can suddenly turn lucrative with an old friend in Mumbai calling in to seek assistance in transferring a technology.

Day 6 and 7 were tough. To spend a whole day at home alone, without a soul to talk to, is boring. For the first time I realized how important it is to have an office space and to have colleagues. Every day since then, I have made it a point to take time out and meet someone.

Then came my first weekend as an entrepreneur. And what do entrepreneurs do on a weekend? They work! I did give myself a break, but it isn't really break because you can't just stop thinking of your newfound love

The theme over last two days have been productivity. The euphoria of starting up has given way to operational matters of deals, projects, deadlines and customers. A lot of personal travel is up over next 10 days to Indore and Hyderabad. I have already ensured there is work to do there as well :)

Some one said, quite rightly, an entrepreneur lives and sleeps the dream. Perhaps, it is for this reason that starting up brings out the best in you!