EMBARK AUG 2016

embark Aug 2016

|

Issue 5

Pg 1

UniPro

Pg 7

Providing Value driven offerings to customers in the education sector.

Happy Roots

The journey of Reema Sathe from a corporate job in sales and marketing to building a food value chain that consisits majority of the rural low income community.

Aug 2016

Disclaimer The views & opinions expressed in Embark are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Team Embark, Entrepreneurship Development Cell or Department of Management Sciences (PUMBA), University of Pune. Few images in this magazine are taken from the internet and are used purely for academic purpose without any intention of copyright infringement.

Aug 2016

I

HOD's Address

Dr. B. V. Sangvikar HOD, PUMBA

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate Team Embark and ED Cell for bringing this edition of Embark.

Department of Management Sciences, S.P University of Pune (PUMBA) provides students with a plethora of skill development programs. I firmly believe that self­initiative and dedicated hard work will bring students close to success. But success can’t be achieved if efforts are not blended with continuously building and utilizing our very own skill sets. Motivating students to do activities while enriching and exploring themselves, is something very close to my heart.

Embark, A Studentpreneur Magazine, is one such activity.

In this less explored field of Entrepreneurship, we try to provide a platform where students exhibit their creativity and bring the real life Entrepreneurs experiences on the table. The students get great deal of motivation and inspiration while learning and understanding about the entrepreneurs. PUMBA understands the very importance of Entrepreneurship in this fast changing business scenario and thus it is our effort to promote entrepreneurship through this magazine. Our motive is to groom students to consider entrepreneurship as a career option and also guide them in fulfilling their aspirations.

I also appreciate the efforts of Dr.Rajesh Pahurkar –the Faculty Coordinator of ED Cell and members of ED Cell who have ensured the success of Embark through their co­ordination, contribution and hard work. I wish the team all the very best for their future endeavors.

Aug 2016

II

Faculty Coordinator's Address

Dr. Rajesh Pahurkar Faculty Coordinator, ED Cell In Indian environment the basic purpose of educational system is to create the manpower to fit in existing job market only. The majority of the students passing out of universities and colleges have the tendency to get a safe salaried job and very few students could take decision to start their own ventures. Basically we cannot blame our students because of our existing educational system which do not have any major focus on creating more and more entrepreneurs.

Universities need to be more innovative and entrepreneurial as against traditional way of teaching and research. Traditional universities focus on transfer of knowledge through education and advancement of knowledge through basic research. This traditional approach is leading to produce graduateswithnoanyspecialinclinationtowardsentrepreneurship.Theoutput of university should not be measured only on the basis of the number of students enrolled and passed out with degree. The social and economical contribution of universities must be considered for its evaluation. Universities must emphasize on those activities which will lead to economic and social development, while doing so there must be synchronization among university– industry–government such university can be called as an ‘entrepreneurial university’.

Entrepreneurial universities have primary role in developing the human capitals of the nation along with this it plays vital role in transfer of technology from academics to industry. The research work development may results into spinoff ventures. It also supports to existing business operations by offering its innovative research solutions to industrial problems. Entrepreneurial universities can undertake various entrepreneurial activities as bellow • EstablishingTechnologyPark • Protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) through patents • Contract research • Executive Education/Industry training courses • Consulting assignments • Research funding and grants • Collaborations and networking with other research institution • Arranging and participation in international research exhibitions, conference All this or may be some in addition to above needs to be develop along with traditional way of teaching to be more entrepreneurial through education. I would like to give my best wishes to start the entrepreneurial journey at PUMBA. All the very best!!!

Aug 2016

III

Foreword

Sankalp Shinde Coordinator, ED Cell

At the outset, I congratulate Soham and Team ED for bringing this edition of Embark – the biannual magazine of ED Cell!

Entrepreneurship Development Cell, sticking very close to its theme, has undertaken many activities as a part of incubation program. EMBARK is one of them. By interviewing entrepreneurs and publishing their views and journeys through this platform, ED Cell aims to bridge the gap between the industry and the academia. The magazine has now become the face of ED Cell and speaks volumes of our work and level of activities undertaken.

ED Cell is the place where we, under the guidance of our beloved HOD Dr. B. V. Sangvikar Sir and faculty coordinator Dr. Rajesh Pahurkar Sir focus to develop a sustained platform that supports students of PUMBA in starting up; showcasing their skills and structuring their thoughts in the less explored field of entrepreneurship. We hope to empower students to take a leap and start their entrepreneurial journey and by doing so support government of India’s “Startup India Standup India”.

Once again congratulate the team and sincerely appreciate their dedication and hard­work. I hope that this edition will enrich reader’s views and opinions about Entrepreneurship!

Aug 2016

IV

Editor's Note

Soham More Embark Editor, ED Cell

We are proud of this release of Embark that features six interviews and three articles. The settings of the works span the rural entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs to the latest start­ups, the writing explores the stories behind these start­ups and the path that the founders have chosen.

Our prime focus is to develop a sustainable platform that supports students of PUMBA in starting up; showcasing their skills and structuring their thoughts in the less explored field of entrepreneurship & thereby realizing their ideas and converting them to reality. Embark, as a part of ED cell, is our small effort to pen down these ideas and share them with others.

I would like to extend sincere gratitude to our HOD Dr. B.V. Sangvikar and Dr. Rajesh Pahurkar for giving us the opportunity to bring out EMBARK and for supporting us and giving us valuable feedback from time to time. This edition wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the ED Cell members. I would like to thank all the cell members for their help, support and suggestions.

I hope the content of the magazine will help to add your knowledge and to encourage you towards least consider entrepreneurship as a career. Also, feedback from readers is always welcome. It will help us all to improve inclusively and to come up with better content in the coming editions.

Aug 2016

V

Content 1 . HAPPY ROOTS 2. THE STORY OF VAISHALI 3. CAMPUS TIMES PUNE 4. UNIPRO EDUCATIOIN PVT LTD. 5. BREXIT 6. ACCELTREE SOFTWARE 7. AN ENTREPRENEUR IS NEVER A FAILURE 8. PASSION 9. WATERMELON FOODS AND BEVERAGES

Aug 2016

1 3 7 9 12 14 16 19 20

1

Reema Sathe

Elaborate about the business you

Sweet

Malaysian

Mango

Dip

are into.

(mangoes with ginger, cinnamon

connecting

the

farmers

Reema: Happy Roots joins hands

& some spices).

consumers

is

extremely

with small farmers & women SHGs to

create

the

wide.

Majority of the money is earned by the middlemen. At the same time,

Reema: I got into the world of

I realized there is also a demand

economy. We not only buy all our

agriculture

my

on the market side, people are

raw materials from our network of

passion to work with low income

now getting conscious about the

farmers, but we’re also training

communities

the

quality of the food they consume

rural women SHGs, who would in

dream of working with small and

& where is it coming from. That’s

future

marginal farmers. For about a

when I decided, this is the area I

year

a

want to work on. Happy Roots

that

came into being in April 2015. The

in

whole year, I worked closely with

communities. Our first product is a

Gujarat. This gave me an idea

farmers in Vidarbha, with the help

Snack Meal, that consists of whole

about how the social impact space

of

wheat

works and how you work with

Foundation), trying to understand

seasonal fresh dip. Currently, we

farmers.

the

have two choices of dips – Greek Tzatziki

and

a

sustainable

to

How did your journey begin?

food

delicious,

of the food value chain & the gap

stronger

manufacture

product.

rural

our

end

So technically, we’re

I

building a food value chain that

Mumbai

contains

worked

almost

thins,

cucumber

(a &

70%

served

yogurt fresh

of

rural

with

a

in

2014, pulled

was

when me

associated

based with

with

start­up

small

When

to

I

farmers

was

on

the

a

local

challenges

NGO they’re

(Chetana facing.

ground, working with farmers, I

Farmer suicide is on rise in this

dip

with

realized

generations

region & one of the major reasons

herbs)

and

farmers have been at the bottom

forcing them to take such a drastic

that,

for

Aug 2016

2 step is not earning enough income

reason that, we did not want to

making a difference in someone

to sustain their families. Our vision

add any chemicals, preservatives

else’s life, even though I’m not,

is to generate more income for

or anything that is refined to our

monetarily, making as much as I

small & tribal farmers. Today we

products.

was. We’ve generated meaningful

are working with around 8000

Currently where are you supplying

incomes for about 2000 farmers &

farmers & we are spread around

your products?

in some areas we have increased

Vidarbha, Pune & Nagar district.

Reema: We’re supplying to about

their incomes by 300%. So it is

4­5 restaurants in Pune. For the

definitely much more rewarding

restaurants,

than a corporate job.

What challenges did you face &

we

supply

how did you come up with the idea

Students are always advised to

of Snack Meal

get a corporate experience & then

Reema:

My

first

idea

was

start with a venture. What is your

to

connect organic poultry farmers

take on that?

directly to restaurants in Pune.

Reema: I would say you don’t

We started off working with tribal

even need an MBA! Of course

poultry farmers in Vidarbha. We

education

also had a tie up with the state

importance in life. MBA did help

government of Maharashtra.

The

me gain soft skills, but you never

always

has

its

cage

free

&

we

apply the theories you read. You

around

200

–

300

only get to learn on the job. I

chickens across the families near

would say, it definitely gave me an

birds

were

distributed

Akola & Amravati districts. We got

commodities

as

per

the

chef’s

edge

great

requirements

&

for

B2C

to

know

about

different

we’re

processes, but nowhere would it

across Pune, and according to the

pitching the value added meal i.e.

have been a disadvantage, had I

food tests done, we beat all the

the Snack meal.

started Happy Roots without any

reviews

from

restaurants

corporate

branded eggs in the market. But

experience.

If

you’re

we

To start any new business, raising

passionate about something & you

supply

funds is crucial and is equally

dive into it, you’ll learn to swim in

chain and it had to be put on hold

difficult;

the ocean along the way.

in

this?

due

to

couldn’t

lack

of

resources,

maintain

September.

that I

was

then

how

did

you

manage

struggling with what we could do

Reema: Whatever savings I had

Any advice for our students?

next. So we spent the next 3­4

from my corporate job, I invested

Reema: It’s great that a lot of

months

it

students

interviewing

chefs

&

into

business.

I

have

also

nowadays

are

getting

consumers across Pune & Mumbai

borrowed some money from my

involved with start­ups and doing

to find out what they were missing

family to run the business. But

their internships with them, so I

& what would they like in their

that is not sufficient to take the

think that would really add a lot of

daily diet. We realized that the

business to the next level. So in

value. Apart from what you learn

retail

another 2­3 months we’ll be going

in your curriculum, there is so

out to investors & venture funds.

much

consumers

were

missing

something healthy & natural in

to

learn

in

the

outside

world. The earlier you get a sense

their snack meal, especially an evening snack. That gave us an

How different is it; to be working

of how things are done on the

idea to develop our snack meal,

for someone else and working for

ground, the better will you know if

which we are currently testing in

yourself?

you want to work for a company

the market. It took us 4 months to

Reema: It is a huge transition.

or start something of your own.

develop

But

this

it,

for

the

sheer

I

feel

extremely

satisfied Interviewer: Tanmayee Varpe

Aug 2016

3

The Story of Vaishali Jagannath Shetty Founder Vaishali Restaurant, Pune

Could you briefly tell us about

along. So, I left with him with just

4 sets of clothes. The Railway

your

4 sets of clothes. The Railway

Station from where we were to

childhood?

Station from where we were to

leave for Mumbai was situated 100

Jagannath Shetty: I originally hail

leave for Mumbai was situated 100

km away from our place. In order

from a small village called Belur of

km away from our place. In order

to cover those 100 km, we had to

Karkala district. It is situated in

to cover those 100 km, we had to

change 8 buses. During the bus

the State of Karnataka. My father

change 8 buses. During the bus

journey, I fell ill and had high

was a farmer by occupation. Apart

journey, I fell ill and had high

fever. I had to rest many times by

from

fever. I had to rest many times by

sleeping

comprised of 4 siblings — three

sleeping

(one meant for sitting) at the bus

sisters and one brotherÍž of which,

(one meant for sitting) at the bus

station.

I was the eldest. Economically, we

station.

when

were

when

family

my

background

parents,

very

poor.

our

and

family

I I

remember had

been

the

time

extremely

nor any vessel to fetch it. Then,

Since the village had nothing to

nor any vessel to fetch it. Then,

Sunder Shetty somehow managed

offer

my

Sunder Shetty somehow managed

to get some water in his shawl and

grandfather told me to leave and

to get some water in his shawl and

squeezed it out into my mouth. I'll

earn my livelihood. I was 13 years

squeezed it out into my mouth. I'll

never forget his act of kindness.

old then. So, in the year 1945, I

never forget his act of kindness.

We overcame all these hurdles

left

to

We overcame all these hurdles

and finally reached Mumbai in

my

and finally reached Mumbai in

three days.

Mumbai.

village Due

and

to

went

poverty,

parents did not even have money

been

time

thirsty, but we neither had water

my

had

the

managed to study up to Std. Vlth. and

I

remember

bench

bench

thirsty, but we neither had water

father

I

I

the

the

extremely

my

Somehow,

underneath

underneath

three days.

to send me out of town.

Where did you begin working after Post leaching Mumbai, where did

reaching Mumbai?

you begin working?

Jagannath Shetty: My uncle was

Mumbai?

Jagannath Shetty: Right next to us

the manager of a hotel at Kalyan.

Jagannath Shetty: Right next to us

lived a gentleman by the name

Sundar Shetty left me in the care

lived a gentleman by the name

Sundar Shetty. He was also a

of my uncle. I was running high

Sundar Shetty. He was also a

farmer. But financially, he was

fever even then. For 2 days, I

farmer. But financially, he was

better

was

slept at the hotel's storehouse.

better

Then,

when

off

did

us.

He

After getting better, I told my

me

uncle to get me a job. My uncle

work.

along. So, I left with him with just

immediately employed me as a

take

was

than

work.

to

He

off

scheduled to leave for Mumbai for

offered

us.

reach

scheduled to leave for Mumbai for He

than

you

me

He

offered

to

Aug 2016

take

4 dish washer in the same hotel.

went there and told the owner

Jagannath Shetty: After leaving

Every day I worked for 12 hours in

about our situation. He was a

Vasai, my uncle had moved to

water,

good person. He provided us with

Pune.

Here,

my

a full meal without charging a

Road,

he

hands and legs started to rot.

penny. After lunch, we left for Haji

responsibility of running an Irani

Every night after my work, I used

Malang on foot. By the time we

hotel. My uncle sent a person to

to feel a burning sensation — as if

reached there, it was night. It was

fetch me from Dadar. However,

work in a small hotel at Dadar.

impossible to scale the hill top

my owner Achanna Shetty refused

The hotel's owner was Achanna

before the break of dawn. There at

to let me go since he believed that

Shetty who turned out to be my

a tea kiosk, we had some tea and

my

other savior. He looked after me

bread. The owners of the kiosk

suddenly

like his own child. He gave me

were a very old couple. With their

telling anyone. In other words, my

clothes and took care of me. After

permission we slept there. They

owner did not trust my uncle even

6

me.

provided us with the blankets. In

one bit. Some days later, my

Someone told me that he was in

the morning, we climbed the hill

uncle sent two men to fetch me.

Vasai. So, I decided to go look for

top and reached the dargah. We

This time, my owner, agreed to

him. I took one of my co­workers

prayed. As we were leaving the

send me. But while doing so, he

along with me. After finding my

place, we ran into a person was

took the precaution of asking his

uncle,

washing

utensils,

etc.

cups,

As

a

saucers,

result,

at

Jangli

Maharaj

assumed

the

my hands and legs were set on fire. I, therefore, had to spend many sleepless nights. At that time,

a

waiter

named,

Gopal

Shetty looked after me. Every day, after making bhaji’s, he used to apply the leftover oil on both my hands and legs. Apart from that, he used to wash my clothes as well. I worked there for 2 years. In the same year, plague had struck Mumbai and began to spread. After this, both me and my uncle moved out and began to

months,

me

my

uncle

the

habit

disappearing

of

without

colleague

offering Prasad. He immediately

own man to accompany me and

recognized me since he was from

further asked them to get the

place. After 6 months, the place

my mother's village. We told him

information vis­a­vis my uncle's

had shut down. We only had 8

about our plight. He gave us a lot

credentials.

annas. We were at our wits' end

of Prasad to eat and took us to

concerned about my safety. The

as to what to do next. Again my

Mumbai along with him. Since we

man who accompanied me stayed

uncle had left me.

had

reached

with me for 8 days and left only

Mumbai ticketless. (Laughing) On

after he felt that I was safe. I

What did you people do next?

the way, I started thinking that if

started to work along with my

Jagannath Shetty: Me and my co­

police were to catch­us, then the

uncle in the same hotel. By then, I

worker decided to visit a nearby

police would at least provide us

had turned 18. This way, I worked

place called Haji Malang where a

with the food. I once again joined

for 4­5 years with my uncle. I was

dargah was situated. We decided

my

Achanna

interested in doing business on my

to climb the hill to reach the

Shetty's hotel as a dish washer.

own. In 1951, I rented a small

dargah and offer our prayers. In

This way, I stayed there for the

shop on F.C. Road and started my

the

period of two years.

own hotel. I named this hotel,

of

our

my

had

started to work there at a small

midst

and

left

uncle

journey,

we

no

money,

former

we

owner

spotted a hotel. We were hungry and had no money with us. We

He

Madras Health Home.

When did you come to Pune?

Aug 2016

was

very

5 How did Madras Health Home fare

undertook the expansion work of

letters to their boyfriends. When

business­wise? When was Vaishali

the hotel. Thereafter, we renamed

their boyfriend used to come to

established?

our hotel as Vaishali. We also

the

did Vaishali get in its early days?

added more and more items to the

waiters used to hand them their

Jagannath Shetly: Initially, when

menu. I did not add many dishes

respective

we had a stall for the snack centre

on the menu . I decided to go for

waiters, Lingu was quite popular

for some days. We offered baji,

one dish at a time. I used to taste

among

missal pav etc., to our customers.

the new item personally. Then, I

served 2 generations of family in

Later, we confined ourselves to

would offer the same to my staff

Pune. For them, he was just like a

serving only South Indian dishes

and

like dosa, idli, vada and so on.

feedback,

sort of a response

after

1­2

letters.

the

days,

One

of

students.

He

our our has

After

taking

the

family member. When the news of

would

make

the

his death reached the customers,

Alongside, I started to carry out a

necessary changes and, only then,

some of the people came to our

thorough

restaurant and literally cried.

research

of

I

food

would I add the dish on the menu.

items. For instance, I learned how

I would wait patiently till the time

to make different types of dosas,

the customers totally accepted the

Pune boasts of scores of hotels

how to make it more tastier and

dish. After that, I started adding

and restaurants today and yet

how to serve the customers in a

other items to the menu. Thus, we

people prefer to dine at Vaishali —

better way. I worked a lot and

were able to achieve perfection

even after long wait. Why is this

succeeded

vis­a­vis each food item.

so? ?

in

our

friends.

hotel

bringing

improvement in taste and service.

Jagannath What

sort

Shetty:

The

secret

of

behind Vaishali's huge popularity

did

is the immense hard work put in

Vaishali get in its

by me and my staff members. I

early days? Which

never used to sit at the counter.

category of people

Instead, I used to be on my toes

represents

and

response

bulk

the

of

your

customer base?

making

rounds

of

the

restaurant. I used to personally pay attention to the smallest of

Jagannath Shetty:

things. If a customer asked me to

Ever

the

fetch water, without waiting for

beginning, Vaishali

anyone, I used to personally wash

did

good

the glass and deliver water to the

business and, over

customer. I believe that no work is

time,

on

too small. Likewise, my staff too is

increasing.

To

good at customer service. It is the

achieve

we

hard work of each of our staff

put in a lot of hard

members that not only does the

work. The bulk of

customer get to eat the best of

our

customers

food but also the conduct towards

I started to add more and more

were students. Those days, many

them is very good. They keep in

items to the menu. In order to

parents used to phone their kids

mind the customers' likes and

come up with new items as well as

who were in Vaishali and we used

dislikes; communicate with them

for improving the older items, I

to get them across for carrying out

in

used

the conversation. Back then, we

customer

leaves

experiments. As a result, Madras

had

thoroughly

satisfied.

Health Home got a very good

arrangements

Our

regular customers of Vaishali find

response. The business continued

waiters' were so friendly that the

our ambience so inviting that they

to grow through word­of­mouth

girls felt quite comfortable with

want to keep coming back for

publicity.

I

them. (Laughing) Many girls used

more. Unlike Mumbai, Pune is not

purchased additional space and

our waiters as a courier to pass

a big city. In order to survive in

to

personally

Then,

in

carry

1967,

out

separate for

Aug 2016

since a it

kept this,

seating girls.

a

polite

way

so

that

the

the place

Therefore,

6 Pune's restaurant business, one

Jagannath Shetty: As far as South

the beginning of my life has stood

ought to have the wherewithal to

Indian food and other snacks go,

me in good stead throughout my

have

we already were giving our best to

entire life. Therefore, I could stand

repeated visits. For doing so, one

customers

the entire day at my restaurant —

ought to put in a lot of hard work

Restaurant.

Through

to maintain taste, quality, service,

restaurant,

I

the

customers

to

make

through

Vaishali new

right from the opening of the

do

restaurant early in the morning to

hygiene of the highest standards.

something different. In the year

the closing time at the night and

Only then will the customers make

1976, I opened Amrapali to cater

deliver my best. Neither had I

repeated visits for years. Our staff

to those people who wanted North

compromised with the values of

very

Indian

Continental

honesty even once nor did I do

etc.,

dishes. Here, I offered only Main

any harm to anyone deliberately. I

accordingly

Course Food. For this, we didn't

have an abiding faith in God.

carry

well

customers' and

understands choice,

treats

keeping

in

habits,

them view

their

the

likings.

Food

and

marketing

Therefore, I believe if a problem

whatsoever. Thanks to the word­

has come, then the solution would

us in large numbers ­ be it ­ from

of­

also

film, TV, politicians, businessmen,

began to come in. This hotel has a

consistently maintained the same

artists,

capacity

to

even

mouth

publicity,

customers

available.

I

have

60

taste over the years. Never have I

people at a time. Each day, more

told any customer to move on.

People

than

When a customer sees that a lot

to

dine

at

our

restaurant even if they have to

300

accommodating

be

families visiting us on weekends. prefer

of

any

to

Therefore, people of all class visit

youngsters

out

this

wanted

customers

visit

for

having their favorite food.

wait out for quite some time. In

of other people are waiting their turn to have food, they on their

this regard, we are quite helpless.

You started off your life's journey

But once the customer occupies

from a small village with just 4

the table, we give nothing but the

sets of clothes. Today, you are the

best. Irrespective of how long they

owner of the city’s two famous

sit, we never ask them to move

restaurants. So, what all habits

on.

would you attribute your success

own leave the table.

to?

When did you establish Amrapali?

What was your thinking behind

Jagannath Shetty: The immense

this?

hard work that I had put in since

Interviewer: Rahil Parab

Interviewer: Vaibhav Shinde

Aug 2016

7

Febin Bejamin Founder Campus Times Pune About Campus Times Pune

Times currently operates in the

profitable way.

Campus Times was established in

digital and advertising industry. So

2014. It operates in the Digital

What

and Advertising space. It operates

Entrepreneurship over job?

as

Febin

two

different

entities

viz.

made

you

Benjamin:

prefer

here we have to portray a concept in the most creative way possible,

Firstly,

I

simultaneously competing with the

Campus Times Pune and Campus

wanted a lifestyle that was not

tens

Times Media. Campus Times Pune

limited to the traditional nine to

competitors.

aims to provide an ever growing

five and two weeks’ vacation that

changing on a day to day basis

and

corporate life permits. There’s this

and keeping tab on the trends is

platform for aspiring writers and

old

is

very necessary if you are looking

photographers to showcase and

living a few years of your life like

to create loyal consumer base.

hone

self­nourished

their

skills.

internet

entrepreneurship

hundreds

of

other

Markets

keep

content

most people won’t so that you can

Please note that I am not talking

mostly revolves around students

spend the rest of your life like

about just the consumers, the real

and college life. Campus Times

most people can’t. Secondly, the

headache is to create a ‘loyal’

Media

environment

consumer base and not to mention

operates

The

saying,

and

as

a

service

around

you,

once

provider for web video productions

you become an entrepreneur, it is

and advertising.

dynamic. Lot of things change and

What

is

your

idea

evolve and there is a whole lot of

What keeps you going in difficult

of

learning!

times?

of

What was your feeling when you

motivation.

got your first seed?

compelling

entrepreneurship?

Febin Benjamin: entrepreneurship person

to

the fierce competition.

Febin The

idea

varies

person.

For

from me,

Febin

Benjamin:

We

are

Benjamin:

whatever

There

a)

reason you

Self­

should

do.

a

behind And

currently a bootstrapped start up

compelling

than just setting up a business

and haven’t opted for external

something that you just can’t live

venture.

funding as of yet.

without and this is what keeps me

more

about

the

mindset – thinking and acting. It’s

should

this

entrepreneurship is much broader It’s

reason

be

be

going no matter what the situation

more about being patient, being

What

able to sense opportunities out of

industry of your start­up?

b) A team that never quits. I have

nothing and knowing when to take

Febin Benjamin: There are tons

an

risks. The most important aspect

of challenges that come up while

working with me and the efforts

of entrepreneurship though is to

operating in any industry but the

that these guys put in keeps us

look at problem and find out an

most terrible of them all is the

afloat amidst fierce challenges.

effective solution for it in the most

dynamicity of the market. Campus

are

the

challenges

Aug 2016

in

is. amazing

team

of

people

8 What

are

milestones

the for

key the

company next

6­12

months that need to be achieved?

Febin Benjamin: As of today, we are

operational

in

Pune

and

Mumbai. The short term goal is to expand into four major cities of India

i.e.

Pune,

Mumbai,

Bangalore and Delhi. We will also be looking out for investors in next 6 months’ time.

What is that one piece of advice you

would

share

with

other

entrepreneurship enthusiasts?

Febin

Benjamin:

Entrepreneurship

and

comfort

zone never go hand in hand. If you opt for being an entrepreneur then you should be prepared for sacrifices,

sacrifices

and

more

sacrifices. The only good thing

about comfort zone is that it has an exit door, use it; sooner the better.

How do you define success?

Febin

Benjamin:

Definition

success is subjective. In simple words, for me success is when you are no longer bounded by the limitations of time and money.

Interviewer: Vaibhav Kulkarni

Aug 2016

of

9

UniPro Education Pvt.Ltd. Founder: Mr. Vivek Sharma Co­Founders: Mr. Kunal Prajapati & Mr. Ankit Khare Please elaborate on the business

integrated payment gateway.

Tell us about UniPro’s growth story A: We started the company with a

of UniPro A: A full service digital agency and

How did you come up with the

clear

a forerunner in marketing to the

idea?

institutes reach out to their target

education sector, Unipro Education

A:

largest

audience (students) without media

provides

education system globally and the

wastage which happens a lot on

driven offerings throughout their

largest

other

journey

education, the education industry

television

in India is enormous and so are its

wanted to see their marketing

marketing spends. Having worked

spends being used effectively and

in

quantifying

customers from

with

value

impressions

to

enrolments.

Combining

an

understanding

unparalleled

of

the

education

Being

the

third

market

the

Media

for

and

higher

Education

help

mediums and

education

like

print,

outdoor.

Clients

the

ROI

was

also

industries

solutions,

founders of Unipro Education Pvt.

agency,

customers a portfolio of services

Ltd,

addressing

that leverage the best in digital

potential in the industry which was

bringing

technology and are tailored to

spending far too much money on

education sector onto the digital

work perfectly in the education

traditional

a

platforms. We focused on building

industry’s context.

majority of its audience being on

awareness about digital marketing

brings

to

its

saw

a

sea

of

media

the

to

sector and rich expertise in digital Unipro

themselves,

focus

untapped

despite

difficult with other mediums. As an Unipro these their

focused

on

challenges

by

clients

in

the

with

digital platforms. Seeing to the

which was very low when we

education institutes in achieving

fact that the youth make up over

started off, but we took it up as a

their business objectives through

60%

challenge and today have worked

advertising solutions like search

country and over 91% of them use

with

engine marketing, search engine

the internet to research colleges,

institutes and universities in India

optimization,

media

the founders became interested in

as well as many abroad.

advertising,

the idea of a digital marketing

Unipro

works

marketing,

closely

social mobile

of

internet

users

in

the

all

the

leading

education

setup for the education industry.

What are the challenges faced by

and technology support.

The

you during this journey?

Unipro

end­to­end

adopted digital solutions with only

A: Our biggest challenge was to

solutions from ideations to lead

10% of their total ad spends going

create the awareness for digital

generation for all kinds of digital

the digital way, and had hardly

marketing,

campaigns.

We

provide

any

technology

mediums like print, television and

customized

solutions

through

capability for digital. This made it

outdoors, do not provide highly

unique products like

a ripe market for entrepreneurs to

quantifiable

• Lead management system ­ a

bring

does,

unique CRM solution that helps in

marketing

could

platforms has always been low in

tracking,

reach out to and engage the most

the education industry. This has

distributing leads in real time

digital

any

always been the biggest hurdle

• Content management system for

business could have – students.

which we had to overcome hence

client websites

One thing led to another and that

we focused on building awareness

is how Unipro was born.

about digital marketing through

display

•

ads,

provides

Student

platform

creative

solutions,

also

managing

online that

and

application

includes

education

resource

in

sector

or

innovative solutions

savvy

that

audience

barely

digital

the

while

ROI,

conventional

which

awareness

of

digital digital

our initiative of digital marketing

an Aug 2016

10 workshops in various colleges to

managed to succeed in doing so

Tell us about your future growth

showcase our knowledge in this

because we built Unipro on a

plans

domain and the strength of digital

business model that worked and

A: A recent survey shows that the

platforms. This has led to most

we had our revenue projections in

education sector is among the top

institutions understanding the fact

place from day one. We are now

5 sectors when it comes to yearly

that digital is indeed an important

planning to raise more funds for

media expenditure and the rate of

platform for them. Our team effort

an

to

growth in these spends is also

played a vital role in shifting the

capture a larger share of the

quite high, at 15%. Education is

aggressive

growth

plan

Team Unipro industry’s

mind­set

from

digital’ to ‘how digital’.

‘Why

With the

market

and

partnerships

build to

strategic

expand

still a middle class segment when

our

it comes to the digital advertising

increased awareness about digital

capabilities and offer more value

expenditure. There is no agency

platforms, we are now gearing up

to our clients.

focused particularly on this sector,

for the next big wave of growth.

which has limited knowledge when What

is

the

current

status

of

it comes to the marketing nuances

Funding is always an issue for

UniPro?

for the industry and the target

start­ups, how did you tackle it?

A: At Unipro, we work with some

audiences.

When and how did you receive

of

funding?

education

sector

A: We invested around half a

likes

TOEFL,

million to get this venture rolling

Chandigarh

and today we are a profit making

TAPMI, Amity University and many

definitely

company. Yes for any start up

more. As of today, we work with

considering the growth in internet

funding is a challenge and we

over

providing

penetration and an active user

were fortunate that Vivek Sharma,

solutions

on

digital

base of over 200 million of which

the founder and investor behind

platforms

such

Unipro, saw enough merit in the

Facebook, Mobile ads, Video ads,

Focusing exclusively on the digital

idea to seed fund it. While it is

Re­targeting and Lead generation

media solutions for the education

never easy to get the initial capital

campaigns.

segment has been Unipro’s main

rolling

into

the

business,

the

largest of

a

players

in

the

expenditures

including

the

industry

LPU,

towards

GRE,

University,

100

The

clients, various as

we

–

MICA,

Google,

digital

are

current

in

the

media on

education

largely

traditional

media skewed

media.

But

expenditures

are

a

rapid

rise

over 60% users are the youth.

motive and it is playing a crucial

Aug 2016

11 role in creating an eco­system of

over 100% YoY.

are

now

able

to

control

the

advetisement spends and ensure

knowledge driven services where their clients are being educated

Any advice for aspiring student

that they are being directed where

about

entrepreneurs?

their audiences are. Today with

thus

various in

turn

digital

platforms

building

greater

A:

Finding

the

solution

to

a

Digital Media execution our clients

confidence in digital advertising

business relevant problem is the

spends

solutions for the industry. The real

key to success for any new start­

efficient manner and they are able

understanding of the pain areas of

up idea. Even in the case with

to reduce costs and prevent media

the valued clients is what notches

Unipro,

wastage.

above the competition since they

educational

work exclusively with education

spending

far

sector clients and this enables

traditional

advertising

we

could

see

that

being

used

in

an

Getting

were

students/enrollments in not the

on

major problem for institutes but

their

getting the right quality at a low

them to deliver results that are

ROIs were always off the charts.

cost is the biggest challenge and

beyond customer expectations on

They

all

resources

occasions.

And

that's

the

institutes

are

were

too

much

pumping

somewhere

but in

the

that problem is what Unipro is

but

their

solving with their focused digital

reason we are currently growing

audiences were somewhere else.

with an aggressive growth rate of

With Digital Media solutions they

media solutions.

Interviewer: Tanmayee Varpe

Aug 2016

12

BREXIT An Opportunity for Indian Financial Market and Trade

The term Brexit is about Britain’s

of global concern.

exit from the EU. This vote has put

globalisation

leave campaign into the winning

trade consider it as a big blow to

devaluates Yuan in the name of

side. Brexit can be defined as

the whole process of globalisation

currency war, India’s Balance of

giving more power to the people

going on all over the world.

payment

of London in decision making of

My objective of writing this paper

already

their country, rather than being

is limited to the implications and

worst.

the

opportunities to Indian Markets.

mere

implementer

of

the

Advocates of

and

boundary­less

policies made in Brussels. But it's not as simple as that.

immune from implications of any such

war.

If

with

China

China,

unfavourable,

again

which may

is get

India May lose its Gateway to A currency war may start

Europe

The very first thing, that is going

India

to be affected by the decision, is

largest source of FDI for Britain.

the currency. Last year, People’s

The

Or can it be considered a big blow

Republic

associated to historic ties between

to the endless efforts being taken

devaluating

The

UK and India. Indian Companies,

by

whole Asia got fetched into the

that would setup their factories in

Currency war; every member was

UK, could sell their products to the

in

its

rest of the Europe under European

stay

Free Market system. In addition to

Is it only Exit of Britain from EU?

regional

organisations

intergovernmental for

the

economic

and cultural integration of regions?

the

can

we

see

divide

being

China its

race

currency Or

of

in

had

started

currency.

to

devaluate

order

to

competitive in the global markets.

created in EU where some of the

is

presently

reason

for

the this

second can

be

this, some other benefits can also come to India’s share, and these

members will be on Britain’s side

Similar situation may arise in this

benefits

and others will be on other side?

scenario.

economic value if tapped properly

Uncertainties are many and so are

would try to devaluate pound to

the questions.

stay competitive and to increase its

With

London

be

of

great

by Indian Corporations.

Consequently,

From Indian­owned Jaguar Land

not

members of EU will push for Euro’s

Rover PLC to outsourcing giant

regional and cannot be dealt in

devaluation. This currency war can

Infosys

isolation and is actually a matter

reach to Asia. India would not be

companies do business in U.K.

Implications

of

Brexit

are

export.

Brexit,

would

Aug 2016

Ltd.,

plenty

of

Indian

13 Recently, Tata Steel Ltd. closed

between EU and Britain, India can

down 6% on a Mumbai stock

use this time to improve its export

exchange while Tata Motors Ltd.,

to U.K. and Europe. Commodities

Trade Negotiations may get easier

the group’s flagship company that

which were previously offered by

with European Union

owns Jaguar Land Rover, plunged

EU to UK can now be offered by

The Brexit impact is not only

8%. As UK would no more be a

India

limited

gateway for Indian companies to

advantage to EU of tax benefits.

as

there

would

be

no

limited

access

for

Indian

always Britain

has

been

more

of

to

Britain,

but

also

European countries. London has

enter European market, there will be

further increased.

a

which

acted gives

as

financial

access

to

hub,

capital

The

importer than exporter. With a big

markets of the world to Europe.

companies would start moving out

economy and low resources it is

But with Brexit, European Union

of UK. UK most certainly does not

dependent on Europe, China and

will end up having a limited access

want to lose out on capital coming

India for its imports. Europe being

to

from India and thus UK would try

a

likelihood, access to this market

hard to attract companies by easy

providing

to

will form a key part of trade

norms

Companies

to

Europe.

free

trade

area

has

been

the

free

access

capital

markets.

In

all

and

markets for Britain until now. But

negotiations. India can make good

breaks. Indian Companies must

in case of a Brexit, Britain needs

use of this opportunity.

tap

to look into other markets like

and this

tax

benefits

opportunity

before

everyone else.

India

and

emerging

China

economies

and

other

for

trade.

All India needs to do is to do a comprehensive

study

of

Exports from India to Britain may

India has already positive trade

opportunities

improve further

surplus of $3.64 billion in terms of

and start negotiating with Britain

Exports to the U.K. and the rest of

bilateral trade with Britain. The

and EU before any other emerging

the European Union account for

total trade stood at $14.02 billion

economy to taste the fruit.

0.4 per cent and 1.7 per cent of

in FY16, out of which $8.83 billion

India’s GDP respectively. Now as

was in exports and $5.19 was in

there would be no free Trade

imports. This surplus hence can be

of

the

Written by:

Sumit Patil ED Cell

Aug 2016

happening

14

AccelTree Software Shanth Mannige Co Founder & ED at AccelTree Software

Please elaborate the business you

You started INDUS in 1991 when

are into

India was adapting to technology

Shanth

Mannige:

provide

and the economy was changing.

enterprise mobility solutions. Our

What difference did you observe

focus

while starting INDUS in 1991 and

is

on

innovation,

We

bringing

domain

together

knowledge,

AccelTree in 2001?

technology and an excellent team

Shanth Mannige: There was a

to deliver quality software which

huge difference. In 1991, we were

enables customers to run their

the 73rd company that was on

business with maximum efficiency.

NASCOM along with many other

It has enabled clients from the

companies. INDUS was first to

BFSI,

bring

FMCG

and

Telecom

software

to

Pune.

I

industries to automate their field

remember MIDC came to meet us

force through enterprise mobility

and asked if we would like to have

solutions. Currently our biggest

property in Hinjewadi. That time

clients

Hinjewadi was nothing! When we

are

from

insurance

&

banking sector.

started

AccelTree,

the

software

world in Pune was already well How did your journey begin, from

established

&

INDUS

had

presence.

software

to

AccelTree

their

many

We

were

software?

extremely

Shanth Mannige: INDUS was our

them. But there was no one in

first

that

retail finance & we were the first

period, we were working with BFSI

ones to initiate that in India. No

sector, but not for retail finance.

one had tapped enterprise mobility

Hence we wanted to create a

space, so we decided to make this

product that would enable retail

our prime focus.

finance

To start any business, you require

venture

to

and

provide

during

loans

for

small

companies

compared

to

purchase of white goods. Every

funds. How did you manage that?

country has its own way of getting

Shanth Mannige: For INDUS we

money back, but here we have

received venture funding at an

collection & verification systems,

early stage. After we sold INDUS,

which were still new then. At that

we had some cash in hand. The

point, 23 years ago, we left INDUS

only funding we received later was

& decided to enter the mobility

from by three angel investors,

space since it was the beginning of

some 5­6 years ago. After that we

the internet era. Mobility space

had no funding. We used our

was coming to India, everybody

resources simultaneously & banks

owned

a

handset.

That’s

how

helped us by providing for the

AccelTree

Software

came

into

working capital.

being in 2001.

Aug 2016

What are the marketing strategies for your current business?

Shanth Mannige: With INDUS, we never needed any marketing strategy, but with AccelTree we are competing with the best. We work in hybrid space. We don’t work in native, which is why our system

can

be

used

in

any

environment.

What challenges did you face in your journey?

Shanth

Mannige:

enterprise

your

need

For

an

capital,

product & customers you can sell it to. And you can’t just have one idea, you need several ideas to figure out what else can you do in future.

Another challenge is not having the right people when you start small. You have to adjust due to budgetary constraints. But as you grow, you get people with better work

experience.

We

organize

training workshops to understand the knowledge of our employees.

What’s your success mantra?

Shanth

Mannige:

Lage

Raho(Laughing). Seriously just do it.

Any

advice

for

our

budding

entrepreneurs?

Shanth Mannige: Team matters & team is not only you. You may be the entrepreneur but there are others who are part of your team.

You can’t do everything alone; you

15 need your team with you. Whether

team output.

along

they are your workers or the

In other words it’s not yours; you

organization.

developers

senior

are just the creator of it. At stage

management, doesn’t matter. So

1, there will be so many other

remember, look at any setup as

people who will be adding value

or

the

with

you

to

Interviewer: Aditi Deodhe

Contributor: Swati Gaikwad

Contributor: Revathi Karuppaiah

Aug 2016

the

same

16

An Entrepreneur is never a failure “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” ­ Winston Churchill An entrepreneur, in today's world,

For entrepreneurs, the ability to

stronger

is associated with words like self­ starter,

and

more

conscious

embrace failure is essential for

about doing the business. You

worker,

fierce

success. Mistakes are going to be

would find one less way to run

taker,

money

made. Something or someone is

your business.

maker, etc. According to Merriam

always going to be at fault. But

Webster, an entrepreneur is a

one must never quit. Persistence

One should always look out for the

person who starts a business and

is the key here. Understand the

reasons for your failure. Make

is willing to take risks in order to

difference

and

yourself a promise to not repeat

make

business

quitting. People who quit make

those same mistakes again. Try

succeeds, she reaps the profit, but

their decision out of fear. Fear of

out few other ways to succeed.

if it fails, she takes the loss.

another

of

You may fail again but get up and

a

keep fighting. A failure becomes a

a

failure if you do not learn anything

hard

competitor,

risk

money.

If

the

between

failing

failure,

uncertainty.

Always

picture

fear look

Nine out of ten entrepreneurs who

bigger

start their business fail. That is a

conscious decision about your next

90% failure rate; a bleak truth.

step. Think about why you started.

The practical reasons for such a

Don't get distracted from your

Many

high failure rate are many. To

journey just because you missed

have had some pretty colossal

name a few: the product lacks the

the

find

failures in the past. However, they

market need, a lack of sufficient

another way to accomplish your

were able to move past these

capital, the assembling of wrong

mission. A few failures in business

setbacks

team for the project and strong

won't matter if you want your

greatness.

competition.

dream

bus.

You

to

and

for

can

take

always

become

a

from it. successful

and

entrepreneurs

use

it

for

their

reality.

Consider your failure as a stepping

Let's look at some of the examples

Most people assume that once a

stone to success. A clichéd saying

of women and men who didn't get

business fails, that's it ; it’s time

but a true one.

it right the first time.

for

Failures

the

owner

to

apply

for

are

going

to

happen

someone else's company and give

whether one wants it or not. This

Bill Gates and Traf­O­Data

up their entrepreneurial dreams.

does not mean you shouldn't try

Bill Gates and a few of his friends

But those who think about giving

to avoid failure, but you should

founded Traf­O­Data. This system

up aren't true entrepreneurs.

embrace

recorded traffic information and

In fact, people who have strong

inevitable. You have no control

fed

will to start a company are often

over failure. But you have control

authorities,

those the least deterred by failure.

over what to do next. Step out of

others that needed it. But, this

They

tend

to

view

a

lack

it

when

it

becomes

it

back civil

to

government

engineers

and

of

your comfort zone. Take charge.

concept ultimately failed. Now we

success as a motivation to work

Early failures are like a wartime

all know how much Bill Gates does

harder and smarter.

scars.

earns.(Net worth around $ 78.5

They

only

Aug 2016

make

you

17 billion) Steve

Jobs

–

Fired

by

the

popular vote. However, she did

total, more than 100 million toys

learn something from her failed

were purchased and warehoused

political campaign.

in anticipation of the Christmas

Company He Helped Found

season.

After

the

Christmas

Do you remember Apple I, or the

According to Huffington, running

season, 50 million toys were left.

Apple Lisa? If not, you aren’t

for office taught her about the

They were mostly given away due

alone. These were two products

power of the internet. She used

to lack of space.

Apple

this

produced

that

failed

disastrously.

Unfortunately

Steve

these

new

found

knowledge

to

for

launch her website, The Huffington

• When Amazon first launched,

both

Post. This is a news website and

people could leverage a glitch that

products that he pushed and that

blog that is among the most well­

allowed them to buy a negative

Apple

known and frequently visited on

number of books and receive a

developing. It was these kinds of

the

credit

decisions that led to Steve Jobs

positive view of failure, calling it a

Ultimately,

being ousted from Apple in the

necessary part of success.

created

an

culture

and

Jobs, lost

were

millions

mid­eighties.

of

dollars

Fortunately,

internet.

She

has

a

very

Jobs

from

the

Bezos

company.

righted

amazing has

ship,

company

managed

to

eventually found his way back to

Jeff

the company in 1997. He helped

Launching Amazon

website for online shoppers.

lead the company during a period

Bezos, founder of Amazon, made

No matter what business you step

of

some amazing mistakes getting

into, probability of failure remains

the company off the ground, and

high. The ones who successfully

even

face and overcome the obstacles

growth

and

innovation

that

continues to this day.

Arianna

Huffington

Rejections

Before

–

Multiple

She

Found

Bezos

more

–

Costly

after

the

Mistakes

company

maintain Amazon as the premier

launched. Here are just a few of

are

them:

victorious. Let the above examples

Success

the

ones

who

emerge

be a guiding source for those who

After Arianna Huffington finished

• When the company began selling

dream to tread the waters of these

her second book, she received

toys, in addition to selling books,

unchartered territories and teach

rejection notices from nearly 40

Bezos insisted that the business

us to never be deterred by failure.

publishers.

model be changed and that the

governor

When of

she

ran

California,

for she

received less than 1 percent of the

company

would

purchase

and

store millions of dollars in toys. In Written by: Pallavi Bansod ED Cell

Aug 2016

18

Alumni Corner Articles and Interviews from ED Cell Alumni

Aug 2016

19

PASSION “If you wish to achieve great things in life, then go find your passion and pursue your dreams” Entrepreneurship without passion is a

prepared to fight and overcome this.

boat without anchor. As an anchor holds

Situations may arrive where your idea of

on its boat in all highs and lows; passion

business though a fantastic one may

helps an entrepreneur to hold on to

become

his/her business. For any entrepreneur to

market conditions. Here is the point

be successful in the long run he/she has

where truly passionate entrepreneurs will

to keep the inner fire lit up; and passion

pick themselves up, dust off themselves

is the fuel to that “fire”.

and apply whatever they have learnt to

obsolete

due

to

prevailing

even better ideas. Such situation may Entrepreneurship is no doubt a struggle

prove to be quitting point for most.

but without passion it becomes even

Passion is that core belief that keeps

harder.

pressing

It

is

not

easy

to

motivate

yourself to work for long hours, to sacrifice

your

entire

savings

an

entrepreneur

in

such

circumstances.

or

sometimes even your home, to wait

Now just do a little thought process. It is

patiently to succeed, to make people,

Friday and you have worked your tails off

investors

for the entire week doing work that

believe in your product, to

inspire your employees to follow you;

doesn’t

without

results you really don’t care of. The only

genuine

passion

for

your

business.

interest

you

and

producing

good thing about this is you have earned a decent income. Now compare this to

Challenges are a daily part and parcel of

how would you feel when you have done

building

to

similar activities, pulled in same amount

success. It’s passion that will give you

of income but the results you have

the tenaciousness required to overcome

produced give you satisfaction and pride.

the

enterprise

and

on

these regular hurdles. In such situations quitters quit, but entrepreneurs driven by

their

inner

passion

are

That is the energy of passion.

mentally

Nikita Chavan Coordinator, ED Cell (2015­2016) Nakshatra Woodcrafts

Aug 2016

20

Digvijay Khairnar

Founder & Director WaterMelon Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. Cocreative Head, ED Cell (2015­2016)

documents by placing them inside my shirt to protect them from heavy rains & much more. These are things I’ve never done in my life. But in the end, all efforts have paid

off.

We’ve

managed

to

achieve our target, even though setting

up

our

company

got

delayed by few weeks.

Elaborate about the business you

in

our

They say, ‘You never use the

are into

passions. This motivates us to

knowledge from books in real life,

&

move ahead in life. Coming from

but

Beverages Pvt. Ltd. is a group of

an agricultural background, I have

lessons!’ True indeed. But I also

factories with a vision of bringing

grown

food

believe books are our navigators.

superior sips and bite alternatives

related series on channels such as

Right from concept generation to

in your day to day life. Our prime

Discovery, NGC, Travel and living,

entering

focus is on health, hygiene &

NDTV Good Times. This sparked

applied everything that I learned

taste. Fresh & sugary watermelons

my interest to work on FMCG

during MBA and effectively utilized

are

the

products

all possible tools at various stages.

our

category.

Digvijay:

WaterMelon

already

adding

happiness

quotient

customers’

post

Foods

to in

dinner

transforming

them

watching

in

tons

food

&

into

of

beverage

life

teaches

the

you

its

market,

I

own

have

What challenges did you face post

plate.

the company formation?

Moving ahead, we’ve come up

How

with a clean and pure packaged

‘WaterMelon Foods and Beverages

Digvijay: Getting the right person

drinking

Pvt. Ltd.’ ?

for

Digvijay: People always told me

challenge

successfully managed to make its

converting

mark in the beverage category.

successful

water,

WATERBOAT.

called

WaterMelon

– has

did

this

idea

become

the

right

job

for

was

us.

a

We

big were

into

a

pressurized by the local bodies to

model

is

employ local people. Identifying

For our forth coming products, our

extremely difficult. But I won’t call

their talents and assigning them

team

providing

it difficulty. It’s a process that

for the right task was a challenge

health supplements & is carrying

requires time, detailing & lots of

we not only accepted but enjoyed

out an intensive research on its

patience.

executing.

is

working

on

an

idea

business

All

three

things

are

This

took

about

a

extremely essential. Same is true

month, but finally we had the right

for me. Working late nights with

human

What ignited the spark in you to

no holiday for months, roaming on

perfect technology was another

start a new business venture?

two­wheeler to meet suppliers &

challenge since I’m less versed

Digvijay:

vendors in scorching heat had me

with

tanned,

technology that would meet all our

vitamin & nutritional content.

Our

surroundings

always fuel our interests and help

protecting

Aug 2016

important

resource.

that

field.

Selecting

We

needed

the

a

21 requirements & keep a balance of all the allied resources required for the

same.

Understanding

the

current trends in the technologies available

in

the

market,

their

expertise and scope for future improvisation,

is

an

ongoing

challenge. Above all, the most

What keeps you going in difficult times?

Digvijay: My parents’ trust & faith in me is the best motivation! They redirected all their life long saving for my single project. Their efforts always keep me alert & wide awake.

Fortunately

the

around

people

me,

friends,

my

relatives,

stakeholders, genuinely want me to succeed & achieve what I’ve planned.

Their

continuous

support is a huge motivation & keeps me going.

you supplying your products?

Digvijay: Currently we are supplying our around important

challenge

understand

is

to

government’s

approach towards the field of your business.

Studying

government

policies and regulations is crucial.

We had to interact with various authorities Municipal

such

as

Panchayat,

Corporation,

Pollution

Dept, Irrigation Dept, Bureau of Indian Standards, Food & Drugs Association, and the experience of dealing with all of them is so different! forget.

Something

I’ll

never

well

as

the

in

and

Nashik

northern

parts

as of

Maharashtra. Soon we will have presence in Mumbai and few other cities outside Maharashtra.

hygienic

Bringing and

tasty

healthy, foods

&

major objective. Within the next of

expanding

years

we

capacities

will of

be our

current products by ramping up the

production

contract

What

exporting

made

you

and

manufacturing.

over

placements?

Digvijay:So many things! To list a few: ­ I like to set my own rules and follow them strictly. ­ I was never fond of the word ‘Appraisal’ ­ I like to set my own CTC! ­ Business is working 7 days a week…and 7 days a week holiday! ­ The more I work for myself, the more my empire expands. The more I would have worked at a have got! ­ I go to office because I love my work. I don’t go to office to wait for weekends!

Any advice for your juniors?

Digvijay: Success never comes easy. If it does, either it is coming in

the

wrong

through

way

or

it’s

temporary. So work hard, sweat a lot, be positive and never quit! any

of

failure

stories

the

and

successful

read

more

his/her

that

their

success stories. You’ll realize the value to persistence!

Do what you love & love what you do! Never be afraid to switch. Only if you jump out of your comfort zone, you’ll realize how versatile you are!

We’re

Interviewer: Tanmayee Varpe

Aug 2016

few

choose

entrepreneurship

entrepreneur

beverages every year will be our couple

at

products.

Pick

What are your future plans?

Digvijay:

looking

job, the more assignments I would

Currently where are

products

also

22

Aug 2016

Quick Read Elon Musk and SpaceX Once a spunky start­up, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, better known as SpaceX, has become a major force in the burgeoning space industry, with more than 4000 employees, a backlog of orders to launch commercial satellites, and multibillion­dollar contracts with NASA to fly cargo and eventually astronauts to the International Space Station(ISS). It was founded in 2002 by former PayPal entrepreneur and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk with the goal of creating the technologies to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonization of Mars. Elon Musk is also the co­founder and chairman of SolarCity, co­chairman of OpenAI and co­founder of Zip2.

At the start of the Falcon 1 journey, Musk was a forceful software executive trying to learn some basic things about a very different world. Musk initially relied on textbooks to form the bulk of his rocketry knowledge. But as SpaceX hired one brilliant person after another, Musk realized he could tap into their stores of knowledge. “I thought at first that he was challenging me to see if I knew my stuff,” said Kevin Brogan, one of the early engineers.

“Then I realized he was trying to learn things. He would quiz you until he learned ninety percent of what you know.”

SpaceX, as of July 2016 has flown nine missions to the ISS under a cargo resupply contract. It intends to launch a Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon Heavy in 2018 to soft­land on Mars ­ this is intended to be the first of a regular cargo mission supply­run to Mars building up to later crewed flights. Maybe one day it will be routine — so boring, as Musk has stated that it will no longer be newsworthy. But for now his attempts to launch and then land rockets are still dramatic, as exciting as sporting events.

Elon Musk is one of the greatest inventors and entrepreneurs of our time.

Aug 2016