So far, so good

When almost every meeting you start ends with a positive result, you know that you are up to something that catches imagination of customers and partners alike. Indeed, last two months of my journey has been one in which almost all ideas I threw seem to work like a charm. This is too good to be true.

However incredible it may seem, ideas are just ideas and the real stuff is actually in getting them done, but for a fledgling business every little bit of encouragement helps. Here is the story so far:

1. January: During last few days of January, we had a very hectic meeting schedule (doing up to 5 in a day all around NCR!). What resulted was a chance to engage with the entrepreneurial community in North-East region, a chance to work with NASSCOM and expanded projects with existing clients.
   
2. February: I got invited to speak at IIT Bombay's E-Summit and at EFY Expo, both of which had paid entry. In the interest of productivity, I also began to start working out of Nehru Place at a friend's office. During this time, we got an invitation to do a capacity building workshop in Guwahati.
   
3. March: We always believed that IT industry in India needs some radical ideas to chart out their elusive journey on the path of non-linear revenues. What we couldn't believe was that it is now unto us to create something that would truly change the game. We are ourselves too excited about that prospect as the idea has caught the imagination of everyone we shared it with. All I can tell you right now is that we are building something similar to Software Dioxide, an old idea who time has now come. We are also proposing to work with the smaller IT companies and walk them through the entire cycle of innovation management and hiving off.

Whatsmore, we have expanded our team now. We have two MBA interns working (part-time) with us now. One of them has even completed one month recently! I guess we would be soon looking to hire smart people for full-time positions.

Another interesting idea in works is to create a business offering for pulling companies out of their Valley of Death something a lot of startups in Indian incubators are stuck with. We are looking to then become a turn-around specialist for small technology businesses.

BTW, did you have a look at the new beta site of Academic Ventures yet?

(PS: Its has been two months since I updated my progress. I promise to take dedicated time out to update this blog more frequently.)

Promises are worth keeping

When I decided to run the Mumbai Half Marathon 2011, I was confident that I can't do it. To complete it standing on my two feet seemed impossible. And there were reasons for it - I have never, ever, run for more than 3 km; I have never played a sport at any competitive level; On top of it all, my feet are flat.

I still took a chance. I promised myself that I will. I will complete it in a respectable time, standing on my two feet. But I had no idea how?

Thankfully, I started preparing early. For the first time in my life I joined a gym. My trainer gave me a schedule that builds leg muscles. For two months, I could see my stamina building and the dream of marathon looked possible.

With four months to go, and running practice yet to begin, I stopped going to the gym. Pure laziness. I lost all heart in marathon and life took over. When it was exactly two months to go for the marathon, I started following a marathon training routine and it seemed all hunky dory.

Exactly two weeks later, my life was again thrown out of track. I was cheated by people I respected, by an organization I gave my heart to. I also decided to start up and traveled like crazy for a month. There was just no time to run. In the enormity of the challenge lying ahead, a marathon seemed tiny and expendable... I gave up!

While I was in the last km of my run, I had already been on my feet for more than two and a half hours. There were cramps in my calf muscles. I knew I should have dropped dead tired by then. I didn't know where I got energy from to just keep running. I was this free spirit that no one could catch. I knew I have achieved what only a marathon could provide - an overwhelming sense of confidence and satisfaction on having successfully raised the bar.

There were thousands of my fellow runners - old, young, slim, athletic, beautiful, women, men, fat, panting, tired, resolute, first-timers, inspiring, cheering, veterans. And another few thousand who came out on the streets cheering for you, handing out water, drinks, fruits and biscuits, helping you to keep the promise you gave to yourself. They knew that it is only when a big promise is kept, you know you can keep a bigger one.

All in all, it was a memorable experience. I think everyone should give a shot at running at least the half-marathon. If I can, so can you!

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!

Introducing Academic Ventures

This is a question that has almost not allowed me to sleep for close to two years now - how to ensure awesome research in IITs actually benefit the society?. There is a decent amount of high-quality research happening in Indian academic system that just gathers dust due to lack of an ecosystem which can take it to the market. This is what I am going to build over next 5-10 or maybe 20 years.

I am glad to introduce Academic Ventures, my yet another lofty day-dream. This is what I think can get me to my first Billion, that this blog is about. I know it is a tall order. But what the heck, a game has to be worth playing. And I know I am not a bad executor of 'ridiculous ideas'.

From this moment onwards, this would occupy most of my working day. In a remarkable turn of events, I have been sacked from my current job about two hours ago. And strangely, the predominant feeling I have is one of being free. Free as in free bird.

Jolts are good. They send you back to your basics. And if Steve Jobs can come out winning, why can't I? :)

Super interesting times ahead. Keep watching this space!

Staying Fit

Becoming a billionaire isn't going to be easy. It is a lot of hard-work. It is imperative to be, therefore, physically fit.

As it is, I realized that my stamina isn't up to the mark. So, I registered for the Half Marathon (21 Km) at Mumbai Marathon 2011. I will be runner #11883 on Jan 16, 2011. Watch out!

For now, the goal is just to be able to finish it in a respectable time, and possibly, report to work the next day.

How am I training? I joined a gym in July. Worked hard for two months. Built stamina, but have lost touch over past one month. Life has simply taken over.

I need to get back on track. It is just 11 weeks from now. Good thing is that I am going home for Diwali. I can get Ma to push me hard. She does it best! Plus there will be some good ghar ka khana! :)

This is my first (Half) Marathon. If you have suggestions on how to train or keep the motivation up, please shoot. I need them desperately.