NASSCOM EMERGE Community Catalyst for Growth of Emerging & Start-Up companies

Bob, great idea! How can we help?

Bob: When many companies used the term "Development Center", it was a great feeling when I heard Phillips "Innovation Center".

While we continue to drop many great seeds, we should collectively focus on improving the soild condition and the eco system.

I see many good seeds am sure one day we will all see wonderful fruits that will feed billions. 

Sounds awesome! What does one do to work with this initiave?

-Sangeeta

Bob,

  Good work. I've seen some of the companies you've referred to in Cambridge. I actually think that these ones (in UK) are more structured than the startups in India.

We seem to be more of a "garage" startup mode in most cases.

Do you think so too ?

Rgds

Ravi.

Dear Narasinham,

Am not sure how you can help other than make suggestions. I have a website where cfbii.com where you can find a description of what we do and the first consortium on E-Health. I just returned from Bangalore yesterday, and made great progress and found generally positive responses.

Would appreciate your review and criticism and maybe suggestions for further consortia to run.

Bob

Hi Sangeeta,

Maybe you can suggest companies that I should approach to sign up for the first consortium on E-Health.

I am also considering to organize a network of Innovative Companies, based on Cambridge Networks, and Bayern Innovativ. Have a look at their websites. I am not sure how to implement this in India, but maybe we could start in Bangalore. The network activities would focus on networking events (which is different from traditional Indian events that focus on Gurus downloading their incredible knowledge), and organize matchmaking events.

Bob

Hi Ravindra,

The system in Cambridge has developed over decades and the University over 800 years. So we have a bit to catch up. The main difference I think is in the amount of experience that is brought in by angel investors, and the employees and companies. Serial entrepreneurs are abundant in Cambridge. And the government stays out of the way, or supports on demand.

I come from Eindhoven, and read a comment that many start-ups fail there because their management hails from Philips (like I do) and has been spoiled as an entrepreneur. The same applies in India, where real entrepreneurship is only 18 years old. So we need some more practice. And many entrepreneurs look at the ICT industries, which worked to meet existing demands across the border, by supplying cheap engineers. It may not be the oldest profession in the world, but also not the most advanced, and when heralded as entrepreneurship may be a little deceiving. It is not about creating new value, but reducing cost. It has proven to be very disruptive but has created hundreds of thousand of white collar factory workers. Not sure if those fit the mould of an entrepreneur, or could even work in an entrepreneurial high risk venture. But it is great that many employees make the jump. If enough do, some will succeed and build critical mass.

The reason for my E-Health consortium and CfBII is that those could potentially lead to disruptive innovation that leads to a global competitive edge for India, with benefits for the whole world. When India solves its problems creatively, it will lead to global Innovation, whether in healthcare or in electricity generation, etc. And the eco-system in India will gain confidence and build further.

But it does not happen overnight.

Bob

Thanks, just read my latest comment to Ravindra, which basically supports your statement.

Bob

Whoa!!! I do not think I have heard a harder hitting statement than this one comparing Services and Innovation!

Bob, you said - "Many entrepreneurs look at the ICT industries, which worked to meet existing demands across the border, by supplying cheap engineers. It may not be the oldest profession in the world, but also not the most advanced, and when heralded as entrepreneurship may be a little deceiving. It is not about creating new value, but reducing cost."

You deserve an applause for putting it so succinctly without holding back your punches!

-Sangeeta

Bob,

   I agree to your point on "catching up" and the message that bridging a demand-supply gap with cheaper (read service) options is NOT innovation....

   However, what I do believe is that these organizations actually produce a small % of people who turn out to be the mavericks ...basically, the outcasts of the service organizations who in my fond hope will be the eco-system for innovation.

   In some sense, I'm using the point that historically Bangalore's own rise within the IT space has a lot to do with the following 2 points

   a. There were relatively active educational centers (would stop short of calling them institutions in deference to your reference to Cambridge)

   b. Had a good base engineering skills structure (community respect) that came out of all the public sectors and the defence labs

   IMHO, what has actually hindered entreprenuership development (more than governmental / structural support) is our CULTURAL abhorence to risk. I include my own generation which was fed & brought up on the mantra that an individual has "made it" in life if he / she gets a job in a Public sector or a Bank.

   It is only the success stories and an appreciation of risk over the last 2 decades that seems to have started a small transformation. The real "kick" in the graph would be when people (as a society) come to terms with a failed enterprise and it will be ok to fail and learn ?

  Off topic : I'm sure there are others who can help in the E-health side more than I can, but, would be glad to be involved in anything to do with Energy efficiency (your note on Electricity)

Rgds

Ravi.

Hi Sangeeta,

I did not mean my comment as hard hitting, it just came out that way. But the services have played their role and will do so for a while. But India will not become the great nation it is destined to be without innovation driven from the inside. Just serving developed nations is a transient stage.

Bob