ST Bureau
Bengaluru
Polycom Inc., the
global leader in unified communication and collaboration and IvyCamp, India’s
first alumni driven online marketplace for innovation and entrepreneurship,
engaged with the founders of over 35 startups at a joint event held in
Bangalore recently.
global leader in unified communication and collaboration and IvyCamp, India’s
first alumni driven online marketplace for innovation and entrepreneurship,
engaged with the founders of over 35 startups at a joint event held in
Bangalore recently.
The event, ‘Start
Small, Think Big’, was held to mark the visit of Jeffrey Rodman, Co-Founder and
Chief Evangelist of Polycom to India and was hosted by Vikram Gupta, Founder
& Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures. The event was attended by eminent start
up leaders that included K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur, Partner – GrowthStory
and Chairman – Portea Medical and Priya Mohan, Co-Founder & Director,
Vidhyartha.
Small, Think Big’, was held to mark the visit of Jeffrey Rodman, Co-Founder and
Chief Evangelist of Polycom to India and was hosted by Vikram Gupta, Founder
& Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures. The event was attended by eminent start
up leaders that included K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur, Partner – GrowthStory
and Chairman – Portea Medical and Priya Mohan, Co-Founder & Director,
Vidhyartha.
Driven by factors such
as network proliferation and a government with a powerful digital agenda, India
has rapidly progressed to become the third largest technology startup hub.
Technology is expected to be one of the biggest drivers of growth for the
Indian economy, boosted by transformative government initiatives such as
Digital India and Startup India.
as network proliferation and a government with a powerful digital agenda, India
has rapidly progressed to become the third largest technology startup hub.
Technology is expected to be one of the biggest drivers of growth for the
Indian economy, boosted by transformative government initiatives such as
Digital India and Startup India.
In his address, Mr.
Rodman spoke about how established and aspiring entrepreneurs could thrive in a
challenging and competitive market, by narrowing focus in concept to stand out
from the competition. He pointed out that to leapfrog success for startups, key
considerations in development and design should always address the end-user and
customer experience. “There are big advantages in starting small and simple –
in fact, Polycom’s biggest breakthrough happened as a result of a 95-cent book
which taught us about “acoustic suspension”. This tiny investment helped
conceptualise and build the revolutionary Polycom conference phones which are
now used in millions of meeting rooms today.”
Rodman spoke about how established and aspiring entrepreneurs could thrive in a
challenging and competitive market, by narrowing focus in concept to stand out
from the competition. He pointed out that to leapfrog success for startups, key
considerations in development and design should always address the end-user and
customer experience. “There are big advantages in starting small and simple –
in fact, Polycom’s biggest breakthrough happened as a result of a 95-cent book
which taught us about “acoustic suspension”. This tiny investment helped
conceptualise and build the revolutionary Polycom conference phones which are
now used in millions of meeting rooms today.”
Ensuring longevity of
startups
startups
Despite being home to
over 4,500 startups, the current landscape poses numerous challenges such as
lack of mentorship, business uncertainty and increased competition. Factors
such as unrealistic valuations and growth targets coupled with uncontrolled
hiring targets further add to these challenges.
over 4,500 startups, the current landscape poses numerous challenges such as
lack of mentorship, business uncertainty and increased competition. Factors
such as unrealistic valuations and growth targets coupled with uncontrolled
hiring targets further add to these challenges.
Mr. Rodman underpinned
the necessity for strong collaboration with experts and larger companies in
ensuring longevity of startups. “Although there is a wonderful spirit of
enterprise and entrepreneurial passion among the millennial generation, there
is huge risk attached to startups largely due to lack of market, product, and financial
awareness. To keep ideas and business concepts alive, startups should harness
the power of collaboration for knowledge transfer and expertise.”
the necessity for strong collaboration with experts and larger companies in
ensuring longevity of startups. “Although there is a wonderful spirit of
enterprise and entrepreneurial passion among the millennial generation, there
is huge risk attached to startups largely due to lack of market, product, and financial
awareness. To keep ideas and business concepts alive, startups should harness
the power of collaboration for knowledge transfer and expertise.”
Vikram Gupta added
“It’s no secret that entrepreneurs with specific qualities are mostly
poised for success; these qualities being hardworking, focused and dedicated,
the ability to take risks, seek mentorship and leverage support. Today, with
startups being under tremendous pressure to perform, the need of the hour is
also an iterative approach to growth that can mean the difference between boom
and bust.”
“It’s no secret that entrepreneurs with specific qualities are mostly
poised for success; these qualities being hardworking, focused and dedicated,
the ability to take risks, seek mentorship and leverage support. Today, with
startups being under tremendous pressure to perform, the need of the hour is
also an iterative approach to growth that can mean the difference between boom
and bust.”
Mr. Gupta also led a
panel discussion on the topic in which industry leaders discussed the
importance for Indian startups to ‘start small but dream big’. The panel
encouraged entrepreneurs to not just focus on something radically new, but on
solving a core need or problem for the market, thus creating a culture of
iterative improvement.
panel discussion on the topic in which industry leaders discussed the
importance for Indian startups to ‘start small but dream big’. The panel
encouraged entrepreneurs to not just focus on something radically new, but on
solving a core need or problem for the market, thus creating a culture of
iterative improvement.
The joint event was a
Polycom and IvyCamp effort to foster the entrepreneurial culture in India.
Polycom and IvyCamp effort to foster the entrepreneurial culture in India.
