“TechJockey is first of its kind of online platform for Indian SMEs for their IT needs”, Akash Nangia, Founder, TechJockey
 |
| (Left) Akash Nangia with Arjun Mittal |
ST
Bureau: When did you decide to take the path of ‘entrepreneurship’? Do you
remember any special incident?
Akash Nangia: Being a part of a growing &
successful startup since the initial days definitely push the entrepreneurial
spree, and while I working as Vice President- Corporate Sales in Zomato with
brightest brains around, venturing out was always on the cards. Journey started
in 2012 when I joined forces with a batchmate from Shri Ram College of Commerce,
my partner- Arjun Mittal. Had learnt by then that it is always good to be your
own investor and make just one feasible excel sheet. Plan was simple, SISL, the
parent company was born primarily with an objective to tap numerous
opportunities to change the working style in the public sector by pushing
technology, In 2013, started diversifying to large enterprise customers as well
along with big ticket deals that we started gunning in government.
successful startup since the initial days definitely push the entrepreneurial
spree, and while I working as Vice President- Corporate Sales in Zomato with
brightest brains around, venturing out was always on the cards. Journey started
in 2012 when I joined forces with a batchmate from Shri Ram College of Commerce,
my partner- Arjun Mittal. Had learnt by then that it is always good to be your
own investor and make just one feasible excel sheet. Plan was simple, SISL, the
parent company was born primarily with an objective to tap numerous
opportunities to change the working style in the public sector by pushing
technology, In 2013, started diversifying to large enterprise customers as well
along with big ticket deals that we started gunning in government.
The idea of Techjockey was always
evolving in the mind since 2014, with the changing IT landscape. The world was
moving towards cloud and we thought that if given a platform, now even the
smaller software companies would have a chance to make some mark, if they had
it in their product. Requirement was of a simple UI that doesn’t make software
buying/selling too complex, so we segregated the softwares as per different
businesses like- hotels, hospitals, manufacturers, colleges, media houses etc.
evolving in the mind since 2014, with the changing IT landscape. The world was
moving towards cloud and we thought that if given a platform, now even the
smaller software companies would have a chance to make some mark, if they had
it in their product. Requirement was of a simple UI that doesn’t make software
buying/selling too complex, so we segregated the softwares as per different
businesses like- hotels, hospitals, manufacturers, colleges, media houses etc.
ST
Bureau: Can you briefly tell us more about your startup?
Bureau: Can you briefly tell us more about your startup?
Akash
Nangia: TJ is
first of its kind of online platform for Indian SMEs(5-100 employees) for their
IT needs. We are consulting and software selling partner who provides industry specific solutions from
200+ software vendors. Whether it be for a new setup or an existing one, our
industry experts who are veterans in handling software requirements, know the
right software to fix a problem that SME cannot imagine will be faced by them
in times to come. Our USPs are:
Nangia: TJ is
first of its kind of online platform for Indian SMEs(5-100 employees) for their
IT needs. We are consulting and software selling partner who provides industry specific solutions from
200+ software vendors. Whether it be for a new setup or an existing one, our
industry experts who are veterans in handling software requirements, know the
right software to fix a problem that SME cannot imagine will be faced by them
in times to come. Our USPs are:
a.
FREE
CONSULTANCY ON WHAT TO BUY!
FREE
CONSULTANCY ON WHAT TO BUY!
b.
Niche
solutions from major verticals are available on the click of a button!
Niche
solutions from major verticals are available on the click of a button!
c.
Customers
can compare between features/ prices/specs and make informed decision
Customers
can compare between features/ prices/specs and make informed decision
d.
Licenses/
software’s are supplied within hours as opposed to days in traditional model
Licenses/
software’s are supplied within hours as opposed to days in traditional model
e.
Best
prices guaranteed to customer as we have back to back arrangement with OEM
Best
prices guaranteed to customer as we have back to back arrangement with OEM
f.
Within
2 months we will have more than 1000 products to choose from(current 600)
Within
2 months we will have more than 1000 products to choose from(current 600)
g.
Our
consultants are there in case customer faces any issue with products/support
Our
consultants are there in case customer faces any issue with products/support
ST
Bureau: Did you get any funding for your
startup? Are you planning to attract funding in the near future?
Bureau: Did you get any funding for your
startup? Are you planning to attract funding in the near future?
Akash
Nangia: There is
no external funding for Techjockey as of now. Since its inception, TechJockey
has acquired a lot of SMB clients across
India. We have earned revenue of above 1 Cr in a very short span of time. We
will evaluate external funding in future on the basis of scalibility and
growth.
Nangia: There is
no external funding for Techjockey as of now. Since its inception, TechJockey
has acquired a lot of SMB clients across
India. We have earned revenue of above 1 Cr in a very short span of time. We
will evaluate external funding in future on the basis of scalibility and
growth.
ST
Bureau: What challenges do you face in
your daily professional life?
Bureau: What challenges do you face in
your daily professional life?
Akash
Nangia: The SMB
market that TJ caters to is fragmented. Most of my time is consumed in working
with product and marketing team to develop the strategies to reach out to these
clients and spread awareness about this unique business model. Since nobody in
market has tried this business model and our business model is different from
the traditional ways of selling IT products, I spend considerable time with
sales team to understand the unique business needs of these clients.
Nangia: The SMB
market that TJ caters to is fragmented. Most of my time is consumed in working
with product and marketing team to develop the strategies to reach out to these
clients and spread awareness about this unique business model. Since nobody in
market has tried this business model and our business model is different from
the traditional ways of selling IT products, I spend considerable time with
sales team to understand the unique business needs of these clients.
ST
Bureau: How do you see yourself in next
2 years from now?
Bureau: How do you see yourself in next
2 years from now?
Akash
Nangia: As a
timeline TechJockey, the first year is currently about learnings and
understanding the online space and potential customers a little better in order
to cater to them as per their expectations in the second half of the year. The
next year will be about delighting the customer with retention programmes
(loyalty), on-site service for pre and after sales, a full feature rich app
that allows easy picking of software on the go, entering into the market
abroad. The 3rd year is far sight for now but we are really hoping to be the
largest player that has brought together SMEs from all over India and possibly
abroad too (depending on scalability & the run of first two years), by this
time we want to establish ourselves as a trusted, well known international
consultant that addresses IT pinch points who has all known and sought unknown
brands in the domestic & international market.
Nangia: As a
timeline TechJockey, the first year is currently about learnings and
understanding the online space and potential customers a little better in order
to cater to them as per their expectations in the second half of the year. The
next year will be about delighting the customer with retention programmes
(loyalty), on-site service for pre and after sales, a full feature rich app
that allows easy picking of software on the go, entering into the market
abroad. The 3rd year is far sight for now but we are really hoping to be the
largest player that has brought together SMEs from all over India and possibly
abroad too (depending on scalability & the run of first two years), by this
time we want to establish ourselves as a trusted, well known international
consultant that addresses IT pinch points who has all known and sought unknown
brands in the domestic & international market.
ST
Bureau: What are your hobbies in your
personal life?
Bureau: What are your hobbies in your
personal life?
Akash
Nangia: Reading
business magazines and listening to Audio books on Reado or Amazon Audible.
Recently I finished biography JackMa. It’s really inspiring how JackMa created this big online empire through
the Alibaba.com at the time when nobody
in China was using Internet.
Nangia: Reading
business magazines and listening to Audio books on Reado or Amazon Audible.
Recently I finished biography JackMa. It’s really inspiring how JackMa created this big online empire through
the Alibaba.com at the time when nobody
in China was using Internet.
ST
Bureau: Which is your favorite holiday
destination?
Bureau: Which is your favorite holiday
destination?
Akash
Nangia: New
Zealand because of its natural beauty. I was on a 15 day road trip in
NewZealand.
Nangia: New
Zealand because of its natural beauty. I was on a 15 day road trip in
NewZealand.
ST
Bureau: What is your most favorite
gadget?
Bureau: What is your most favorite
gadget?
Akash
Nangia: Playstation,
I love playing FIFA on my PS3.
Nangia: Playstation,
I love playing FIFA on my PS3.
Interviewed by Startup Terminal Bureau
