Every
entrepreneurship journey has its own story. The entrepreneurship journey of Santanu
Das, founder of MachPrinciple.com is quite interesting and at the same time
inspiring. After getting rejected by a journal in publishing his research work,
Santanu decided to come up with a social networking platform where every scientist
can publish and promote their research work. Santanu quickly realized the need of
a social platform where scientists can promote their work and science
enthusiasts can learn about research related affairs globally.
MachPrinciple.com is a professional network that is specially created to fulfill
that need.
entrepreneurship journey has its own story. The entrepreneurship journey of Santanu
Das, founder of MachPrinciple.com is quite interesting and at the same time
inspiring. After getting rejected by a journal in publishing his research work,
Santanu decided to come up with a social networking platform where every scientist
can publish and promote their research work. Santanu quickly realized the need of
a social platform where scientists can promote their work and science
enthusiasts can learn about research related affairs globally.
MachPrinciple.com is a professional network that is specially created to fulfill
that need.
In
creating the platform Santanu’s brother was the only helping hand in the first
initial days. His brother developed the initial codes for the blogging website
in 2015. They slowly grew the blog and then he thought of developing it as a
social networking platform. The first
version of the social networking site was launched in December 2018.
creating the platform Santanu’s brother was the only helping hand in the first
initial days. His brother developed the initial codes for the blogging website
in 2015. They slowly grew the blog and then he thought of developing it as a
social networking platform. The first
version of the social networking site was launched in December 2018.
Several
additional features are built on MachPrinciple.com to create values for
students and researchers by helping them to share their presentations, writing
feedback about their institute, finding conferences, etc. Everyone starting
from students, teachers, parents, scientists, researchers, professors will have
something to gain from this network.
additional features are built on MachPrinciple.com to create values for
students and researchers by helping them to share their presentations, writing
feedback about their institute, finding conferences, etc. Everyone starting
from students, teachers, parents, scientists, researchers, professors will have
something to gain from this network.
In an
exclusive interview with Startup Terminal; Santanu Das, founder of
MachPrinciple.com shares more insights about his venture and future roadmap.
exclusive interview with Startup Terminal; Santanu Das, founder of
MachPrinciple.com shares more insights about his venture and future roadmap.
Excerpts:
 |
| Santanu Das, Founder, MachPrinciple.com |
ST: When
did you start your venture MachPrinciple.com? Please briefly explain more about
your venture.
did you start your venture MachPrinciple.com? Please briefly explain more about
your venture.
Santanu
Das:
MachPrinciple.com is a social networking platform for academicians. The website
was first launched in Dec. 2018 and the company was incorporated in August
2019.
Das:
MachPrinciple.com is a social networking platform for academicians. The website
was first launched in Dec. 2018 and the company was incorporated in August
2019.
It is
quite sad that the science coverage attributed to mass media in India is
abysmally poor, i.e. around 3 percent, which is far below the desired level of
10-15 percent, as we see in other developed nations. Therefore, we need a
social platform where scientists can promote their work and science enthusiasts
can learn about the research. MachPrinciple.com is a professional network that
is specially created to fulfill that need.
quite sad that the science coverage attributed to mass media in India is
abysmally poor, i.e. around 3 percent, which is far below the desired level of
10-15 percent, as we see in other developed nations. Therefore, we need a
social platform where scientists can promote their work and science enthusiasts
can learn about the research. MachPrinciple.com is a professional network that
is specially created to fulfill that need.
Then
several additional features are built on top of that to create values for
students and researchers by helping them to share their presentations, writing
feedback about their institute, finding conferences, etc.
several additional features are built on top of that to create values for
students and researchers by helping them to share their presentations, writing
feedback about their institute, finding conferences, etc.
ST: What
motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
Santanu
Das:
I have done PhD in Physics and presently working as a research scientist in a
joint position of University of Wisconsin Madison and Fermilab. As an
academician I felt the need to connect all the academicians into a single
platform. It will help researchers with science outreach. The seed of
MachPrinciple comes from a WordPress blog, that I started for promoting
science.
Das:
I have done PhD in Physics and presently working as a research scientist in a
joint position of University of Wisconsin Madison and Fermilab. As an
academician I felt the need to connect all the academicians into a single
platform. It will help researchers with science outreach. The seed of
MachPrinciple comes from a WordPress blog, that I started for promoting
science.
The
story goes as follows. In 2013, I wanted to promote my research, in particular,
a paper that got rejected by a journal. I started assuming that if I write
about the work in a blog post then everyone will notice that. But things don’t
work like that. There are about 600 million blogs around the world. It will
take 5-6 months for different search engines even to list your blog. Coming to
the first page of the search engine is a far-fetched dream. But anyway, I keep
writing posts related to scientific work in the blog.
story goes as follows. In 2013, I wanted to promote my research, in particular,
a paper that got rejected by a journal. I started assuming that if I write
about the work in a blog post then everyone will notice that. But things don’t
work like that. There are about 600 million blogs around the world. It will
take 5-6 months for different search engines even to list your blog. Coming to
the first page of the search engine is a far-fetched dream. But anyway, I keep
writing posts related to scientific work in the blog.
Then
my brother developed the initial codes for the blogging website in 2015 and we
moved from the WordPress website to the custom coded blog. We slowly grew the
blog and then I thought of developing it as a social network. The first version of the social networking
site is launched in December 2018.
my brother developed the initial codes for the blogging website in 2015 and we
moved from the WordPress website to the custom coded blog. We slowly grew the
blog and then I thought of developing it as a social network. The first version of the social networking
site is launched in December 2018.
ST: How
has been your entrepreneurship journey so far?
has been your entrepreneurship journey so far?
Santanu
Das:
The journey so far has been extremely challenging yet at the same time also
immensely fulfilling. When I launched the website in December 2018, there were
only a couple of hundreds of monthly active users. We used to get 1-2
registrations a day, sometimes even 1 registration in a few days. Now, after
one year we have about 60,000 monthly active users, and more than 16,000
registered users. As of now, we have more than 110,000 scientific articles on
MachPrinciple and our user base is growing at a rate of 150-200 new
registrations per day.
Das:
The journey so far has been extremely challenging yet at the same time also
immensely fulfilling. When I launched the website in December 2018, there were
only a couple of hundreds of monthly active users. We used to get 1-2
registrations a day, sometimes even 1 registration in a few days. Now, after
one year we have about 60,000 monthly active users, and more than 16,000
registered users. As of now, we have more than 110,000 scientific articles on
MachPrinciple and our user base is growing at a rate of 150-200 new
registrations per day.
We
launched a conference search platform, university and school feedback platform,
university course directory, people directory etc. We also launched separate
websites for mobile and the desktop. The dream of becoming the first social
network for academics is slowly taking shape.
launched a conference search platform, university and school feedback platform,
university course directory, people directory etc. We also launched separate
websites for mobile and the desktop. The dream of becoming the first social
network for academics is slowly taking shape.
 |
| MachPrinciple.com homepage |
ST: What
business opportunities do you see particularly in your industry?
business opportunities do you see particularly in your industry?
Santanu
Das:
The business opportunities for a social network like MachPrinciple is huge
because the user base is large. Everyone starting from students, teachers,
parents, scientists, researchers, professors will have something to gain from
this network.
Das:
The business opportunities for a social network like MachPrinciple is huge
because the user base is large. Everyone starting from students, teachers,
parents, scientists, researchers, professors will have something to gain from
this network.
There
are platforms where researchers can promote their scientific discoveries. But
all of them charge several thousands of dollars just for promoting a single
research work. MachPrinciple can provide researchers a platform to promote
their research work at an exceptionally low price to the proper audience.
are platforms where researchers can promote their scientific discoveries. But
all of them charge several thousands of dollars just for promoting a single
research work. MachPrinciple can provide researchers a platform to promote
their research work at an exceptionally low price to the proper audience.
College
students benefit from MachPrinciple as they can access their lecture notes. But
along with that in the future they will also be able to communicate amongst
themselves and buy or sell their old books and study materials.
students benefit from MachPrinciple as they can access their lecture notes. But
along with that in the future they will also be able to communicate amongst
themselves and buy or sell their old books and study materials.
Conference
organizers can promote their upcoming conferences through our platform. The
conference-goers will be able to register for the conference, buy flight tickets
book hotel rooms etc. through our platform.
organizers can promote their upcoming conferences through our platform. The
conference-goers will be able to register for the conference, buy flight tickets
book hotel rooms etc. through our platform.
As a
social network we will also have social advertisements on our platform. So,
there are immense business opportunities in this field. The total population in
the research community, in India and USA combined, is about 5.25 million and
their yearly purchasing power is more than $200 billion. We can easily target
them through MachPrinciple.
social network we will also have social advertisements on our platform. So,
there are immense business opportunities in this field. The total population in
the research community, in India and USA combined, is about 5.25 million and
their yearly purchasing power is more than $200 billion. We can easily target
them through MachPrinciple.
ST: As
an entrepreneur, what challenges do you face in your day to day life, if any?
an entrepreneur, what challenges do you face in your day to day life, if any?
Santanu
Das:
When you are an entrepreneur challenges are an integral part of your life.
Initially the challenge was to develop the website. My brother, who was a
web-developer, designed the first version of a website in 2015. More than 80%
of the initial codes of MachPrinciple blogging platform were written by my brother.
But when we decided to launch it as a social network, developing such a big
platform just by him was impossible.
Das:
When you are an entrepreneur challenges are an integral part of your life.
Initially the challenge was to develop the website. My brother, who was a
web-developer, designed the first version of a website in 2015. More than 80%
of the initial codes of MachPrinciple blogging platform were written by my brother.
But when we decided to launch it as a social network, developing such a big
platform just by him was impossible.
I
hired a company to develop the website. But they did not do much and delayed
the project for 7-8 months. So, I had to fire them and it was difficult to
develop the site in the initial phases. Now we have a good tech team.
hired a company to develop the website. But they did not do much and delayed
the project for 7-8 months. So, I had to fire them and it was difficult to
develop the site in the initial phases. Now we have a good tech team.
At
present, the main challenge is marketing. It will never behave as a social
network unless there are a few million users. Everyday, we are developing new
strategies for marketing, branding and sales etc. It is really satisfying to
see the user base is growing at a very fast rate.
present, the main challenge is marketing. It will never behave as a social
network unless there are a few million users. Everyday, we are developing new
strategies for marketing, branding and sales etc. It is really satisfying to
see the user base is growing at a very fast rate.
ST: How
big is your team? Are you planning to hire more?
big is your team? Are you planning to hire more?
Santanu
Das:
Currently, the team at MachPrinciple is a small one. I am personally
administering things. I am also handling the marketing myself. There is a
website and app development team consisting of three people. My brother, who
developed the initial codes of MachPrinciple, sometimes helps me with technical
advice about the development.
Das:
Currently, the team at MachPrinciple is a small one. I am personally
administering things. I am also handling the marketing myself. There is a
website and app development team consisting of three people. My brother, who
developed the initial codes of MachPrinciple, sometimes helps me with technical
advice about the development.
Apart
from these, I keep on hiring freelancers for part-time jobs.
from these, I keep on hiring freelancers for part-time jobs.
ST: What
are your future plans?
are your future plans?
Santanu
Das:
As I said, we started very slow. But now after about 1 year of launching the
website, we are getting about 150-200 new registrations a day. A social network
will grow exponentially. That’s how the social network grows in the world.
Das:
As I said, we started very slow. But now after about 1 year of launching the
website, we are getting about 150-200 new registrations a day. A social network
will grow exponentially. That’s how the social network grows in the world.
As
people will learn about our network, find their friends on the platform, and
gain trust in MachPrinciple, they will join the network. We are in the very
initial phase. Till now I am investing my personal capital in developing the
platform. But now, as we have a decent user base, we are planning to start
generating revenue from our website. We are about to launch multiple paid
services on our platform in the coming months.
people will learn about our network, find their friends on the platform, and
gain trust in MachPrinciple, they will join the network. We are in the very
initial phase. Till now I am investing my personal capital in developing the
platform. But now, as we have a decent user base, we are planning to start
generating revenue from our website. We are about to launch multiple paid
services on our platform in the coming months.
We are
also planning to start a campus ambassador program which is expected to expand
the user base rapidly. Several products are in the pipeline and will be
launched throughout the year. It will change the way academia functions.
also planning to start a campus ambassador program which is expected to expand
the user base rapidly. Several products are in the pipeline and will be
launched throughout the year. It will change the way academia functions.
