able to develop their idea further, leading up to the release of the aforementioned iPad app. “It’s so easy to sketch out an idea today; it is a necessity when you’re presenting an idea to investors who may have been presented with a hundred other ideas that week. I don’t think we would have gotten our funding if we had shown up with a powerpoint presentation,” Verma reflected. He also expressed that the API’s that currently powers their app may eventually be licensed out so that others wanting to utilize a more flexible language processor might be able to do so.
ZippGo www.zippgo.com
Having gone through even a single move, one will agree that the procuring and discarding of cardboard boxes for the process is tedious and wasteful. It was this very experience that led Ash Sud to start his company of reusable moving boxes for rent. Having gotten the idea from an organic grocery’s delivery protocols, Sud found a great solution for the problem that plagues the nearly forty-five million Americans that move every year. “The old way of getting boxes was to go down to your local U-Haul or Home Depot, spend about $3 per cardboard box and $3 per roll of tape, somehow fit it all in your car, and then drag them into your new place. It was not an easy process by any means,” Sud reflected. It was about time someone came up with something better. ZippGo allows people to rent reusable plastic moving containers through their online portal, or by phone. Delivering it to the customer for a flat fee, the service allows them to keep the boxes for two weeks, with the option to hold them for an additional week at approximately a dollar a box. Each of the four options (ranging from one bedroom to four) comes with box labels and zip ties, and the options for two-bedrooms and up includes a dolly as well. At the end of the two weeks (or longer), ZippGo arranges for a pickup as well. “Our customers are our biggest marketing tool. Once they use ZippGo boxes for their move and realize how much easier it makes moving, they swear by our service,” said Sud. Currently offering service in the San Francisco Bay Area, ZippGo hopes to launch a Los Angeles location this summer, and plans expanding into major metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Dallas in 2013.
T
hese are just some of the ventures being led by Indian Americans today. But there are so many others that are making great headway into non-traditional fields. PopVox, for example, co-founded by Rachna Choudhry, is “an advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with personal stories and public sentiment.” A venture in politics, PopVox is quickly and successfully accomplishing their vision of “putting a human face on complex policy issues.” Another success story is Tavant Technologies, led by CEO Sarvesh Mahesh. Providing innovative technology solutions throughout the United States, as well as internationally, they have received high marks from industry giants such as Electronic Arts, New York Times, and TiVo amongst others. Foursquare, co-founded by Naveen Selvadurai, is a social networking tool that allows users to check-in to various locations, and see who else is around them. Users unlock deals as they check-in, saving money at their favorite locations. Blissmo, founded by Sundeep Ahuja, is a service that curates and provides discounts on organic and eco-friendly products, with a goal to assist customers who wish to use products that are better for their bodies, their families, their communities, and the planet. Saavn, co-founded by Vin Bhat, Neal Shenoy, and Paramdeep Singh, is an app that provides Bollywood and Indian music streaming services on iOS devices. ReTargeter, founded by Arjun Arora, is an ad solution company that uses a simple code to display a company’s ads throughout the web experience of the audience that’s visited their website. These ventures and more are reshaping the areas they’re innovating in. In fact, the number of Indian American ventures being funded are also increasing. In February, it was reported that Indian startups raised over $103.25 million. There are several avenues of going about raising funds. Angel investors and venture capitalists are certainly the most obvious choice. For Indian Americans, TiE Angels are a great resource for fundraising. Applications can be submitted monthly, and selected companies can present to the entire group to get a chance at raising up to $500,000. Starting in July of 2010, they currently have a roster of about fourteen companies, and they’re adding more regularly. If fundraising is essential to your startup, that’s a great place to start. The recurring message from these young entrepreneurs was that money should not be a factor that stops you from pursuing your venture. “If you can, bootstrap as long as possible,” advised Jesse Pujji of Ampush Media. Ash Sud of ZippGo reflected those thoughts, adding “If your startup involves a lot of research and development before a product can be released and sold, venture funding may be your only route. However, if your startup can generate quick cash flow, bootstrapping is definitely a viable option.” People are impassioned by a strong vision, and that can be a far greater motivator to launching your venture than funding. “Artists sometimes think that they need to raise money to get their work into a big venue, but that isn’t a requirement to express yourself. Throw up a sheet at your local park, and invite friends and family to come check it out. Start there, making do with what you have,” encouraged Negin Singh of CarTel. Indian Americans are showing a lot of progress in fields like advertising, social media, creative services, the arts, politics, entertainment, and more. It’s an amazing time to be an Indian American, receiving the support of not just friends, but also family who want to see us succeed. To sum up the advice from all these entrepreneurs: follow your passion, stay true to your vision, and commit to seeing things through. Even though it’s easy to get caught up in all the little things, they tend to line up when you follow the guidelines above. n Arpit Mehta is a graphic designer and photographer based in California with an interest in politics and entrepreneurship. He hopes to be directly involved in the political system one day.
18 • india currents • august 2012