Comments on: We Really Don’t Dream Big Enough.

By: Dreaming big? at The Workosaur Blog

Dreaming big? at The Workosaur Blog — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 12:51:21 +0000

[...] Anand writes on his blog that Indian entrepreneurs really don’t dream big enough. And that got me [...]

By: kakoli

kakoli — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:44:22 +0000

You just said it in the last paragraph – “How will we take care of the poor and the weak amongst us”. I firmly believe in it – I don’t know what gave human beings rights to destroy everything else – weaker human beings, other species, the planet for our selfish dreams, to satisfy our ego. We are not the chosen ones – this planet belongs to everyone, we seemed to have forgotten that. We need visionaries who will make these thoughts a way of life, a doable task and not an Utopian theory. We need visionaries who will help those at the bottom of the pyramid create wealth to better their lives, and at the same time protect and conserve the amazing world that we inherited.

And I’m not saying we have to move away from technology, we will need technology to maximize the efforts. But what we should focus on is the end goal, and not technology itself.

By: Usha

Usha — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:05:07 +0000

It is an interesting post. I firmly believe that there is a need to use technology in order to bring about rural innovation. Technology is not an end in itself but must be a means to achieve something that benefits the underserved.

I came across this website called http://www.rangde.org that enables individuals to participate in microcredit. I think its worth having a look. This is definitely a new age NGO.

By: Vijay

Vijay — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:52:25 +0000

@smartrah: I’d agree with you. But its also such a pleasure to see the young brigade into it, isnt it? There is plenty of time to evolve

@Vijaya: Well, that’s what a business eventually boils down to. As to whether it makes revenues and can sustain itself or not. Otherwise, it’d be an NGO, I suppose so Yep, totally agree. Though, the article was more towards looking outside the usual..

By: Vijaya

Vijaya — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:45:21 +0000

It is often not enough to “dream big”. One also needs the necessary support system to realise one’s dreams. Without a support system to nuture these dreams, they often perish untested. Several organisations do exist that mentor dreams, but in the end everything boils down to dollars and cents and no dream is worth anything if it cannot generate revenue!

By: smartrah

smartrah — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:14:26 +0000

Its basically the young brigade who are into the startup bandwagon. Its actually easy to start a company when all you have to do is load some open source software and buy a domain. Startups in fields of manufacturing, health and infrastructure would need high capital, experience and much more than a college degree. That is the reason why we see fewer of them.

By: Vijay

Vijay — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:28:36 +0000

@Vivek: My rule towards that is that as long as they are not harming anyone, let them be They’ll come around.

@Ranjan: Would be nice to see how they explain smart cards to rural folks. I guess the key is in how its implemented. Might work, but its way too early to call the shots on that.

@Sudhir: That was precisely my point. Be it broiler chickens of web 2.0 or defense startups, we need the diversity. And my claim would be that there are more than enough startups outside the web 2.0, just because a few journos are stuck and wouldnt smell anything more than web 2.0 startups doesnt mean that there doesnt exist a world outside of it.

The key point that I wanted to make was that web 2.0 or not, we need all of them. It is simply childish to take any sides, and “demand” certain kinds of companies to be started – to each their own and at the end of the day, lets remember that is only the entrepreneur who has the right to call the shots… and let them do what they wish to do.

By: Sudhir

Sudhir — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:14:52 +0000

Good post Vijay

I think your point of dreaming big enough is well articulated and in this context if dreaming big enough is equated to taking on Govt. and Govt. policies..then I am with you.

But I think as a community there is a certain glamour and hype around a tech/web 2.0 start-up in India which leads to a ‘Follow the hype’ effect primarily because this is what most founders are exposed to. I don’t think investors cite inability to change govt. policy as a reason not to invest in health, food, infra.. I would assume if they were enough good companies out there..they would invest. And if they are enough good companies out there..a serious effort can be made to change govt. policies.

On the innovation point, I think both companies such as Suguna Chicken and global innovators like the one’s India should be creating are equally important and deserve support.

By: Ranjan

Ranjan — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:00:36 +0000

I have been thinking how technology should be customized for mass Indian use and your point about Indians trying to do US businesses here in India makes a lot of sense.

I read Gurcharan Das (TOI) who says that the national health insurance scheme for the poor is going to be a success b’coz of the smart cards they r using.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIM/2008/11/02&PageLabel=16&EntityId=Ar01602&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

By: Vivek Jain

Vivek Jain — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:51:22 +0000

great post ..the only fear around is folks have started justifying ther confusion and lackof focus with the term “M An entrepreneur”