Indian Software Industry has come of age. With the Indian companies now moving quite up in the value chain. And global software services majors often citing strategy decisions to better the Indian Sis. But is all well? Isnt much of this vibrant eco-system just a software-services' factory for the world? How much of this is long-term value creation? How much of this is IP and innovation led? Isn't this the next wave that will also provide long-term sustainability for the industry? If so, why are there so few software product companies?
We have the skills- our IT workforce is highly recognized the world over for its capabilities. We also have a large breeding ground in the MNC product companies that build and sell products in India. We are a fairly enterprising country. We have decent amount of academic research. We have highly successful entrepreneurs. We have a fast growing domestic market that would serve as a good launch pad for any new product. And still not many products from India! Why?
I don't know the answers. Just know that this doesn't seem right. It could be that we don't have any huge product successes that inspires new entrepreneurs. It could be that we don't have a culture of building enterprises based on innovation. It could be that our graduating engineers see an MS in US, or MBA from IIMs or just a good campus job as the best start for a career. And don't look at making a career out of interesting ideas. Those that do have a good idea, do not really know how best to go about it. Those that do know how to go about it do not find some essentially skills such as product management, product marketing or plain product packaging and selling. Those that even figure this out, don't find seed or angel funding easily available. A vibrant startup culture is lacking.
What we need, among other things, is to create an eco-system that actively fosters, supports and promotes new startups. An eco-system where there is help around the corner to tweak a new idea, give clarity and shape to it, put it in a clear biz context, help get some early stage funding, help build it, help find that first customer or partner and anything that gets startups off the block. Essentially creating an active incubation system, without there actually being incubators as a commercial enterprise. The likes that academic institution's entrepreneurship cells are trying to create or organizations like HeadStart and Proto are trying to create. A good start. But need to be amplified with support from VCs, larger organizations like Nasscom and even government's innovation support initiatives like TIDE.
With this spirit, at the NASSCOM product conclave we are having a series of talks and panels dedicated to this eco-system. We will have an interactive un-session where the audience can interact with a panel of leaders from the eco-system movement and organizations like HeadStart, Proto, incubation centers in leading academic institutions (IITs/IISc/ IIITs/IIMs) and even from corporate initiatives that foster and support tech startups. We can discuss the challenges that new or wannabe tech entrepreneurs face and how the eco-system can help the "starting-ups".
