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Driven by the force

Seven students set up their firm in Technopark and are raring to open the gates to other like-minded youngsters, writes ARUN JOHN

PHOTO: C. RATHEESH KUMAR

SEVEN SAMURAI The technocrats take a break

While their peers feverishly swot for Common Admission Test and GRE, seven tech-savvy students in the city do a different kind of swotting. They discuss their firm's target, marketing strategies and do a SWOT analysis. Proprietors of Torque Incubation Technologies, the first technology incubation firm in Kerala, the seven technocrats count Mammootty, Kairali channel and IT companies in Technopark as their clients.

Anil K. Antony, Sony Joy, Pranav Kumar, Jose Luke and Sanjay V, all from College of Engineering, Trivandrum (CET) and Vishnu Gopal and Vivek Steve from Sree Chitra Tirunal College of Engineering, Trivandrum (SCT), are the proprietors of Torque.

Germ of an idea

Why Torque? "Why not?" asks Sanjay. "We were trying to think of a suitable name. I came up with Torque as it is the force that moves other things. Everything revolves on a torque. The others could not come up with anything better and so it is Torque."

Unhappy with the present system of education and evaluation in Kerala, the seven wanted to travel down the less-travelled path and were on the lookout for something different.

Explains Sanjay, "The problem with the present education system is that they provide good employees, but the many talents of students are not utilised or given a chance to blossom. When you go for an interview, they ask for your Curriculum Vitae, if you have something substantial in that, your chances of doing well increase. However, that opportunity to do something substantial is lacking in our system. To make a difference to this, Torque was started."

Prior to Torque, Sanjay and Vivek used to make money by freelancing for BPL mobiles. To spread their wings, they decided to form a partnership and thus was Torque born about two months back.

"It is a partnership and seven of us have equal shares," says Vishnu.

But these technocrats aver that they plan to continue as CEO's of their company and not seek employment elsewhere. "Vishnu has already got admission in New York. He is the core tech person and so it is vital to the company that he be exposed to the best in the world," Sanjay sagely adds. Vivek plans to pursue business management so that the friends are not found wanting in marketing and finance.

The post of the managing director post keeps rotating. Their aim is to give all the seven members a chance to feel what it is to be on the hot seat.

It was the success of Mammotty's `Rajmanikyam' that made their company the talk of the town. Sanjay, who is all praise for Mammootty says, "Mammootty is the most tech-savvy person I have seen. He has a lap-top with 24-hour connectivity and is up-to-date with what is happening in computers. So, when we approached him with our plan to do the promotions for his movie and give him web support, he agreed and it was a big hit. We got more than 25,000 calls."

Torque is powering Kairali's People channel and are deeply involved in efforts to integrate police stations in a district.

While the upbeat entrepreneurs agree that there has been an upswing in spending capacities, what is not publicised is their decision to donate five per cent of their revenue to charity. To make this altruistic motive a reality, they have started an organisation called `Fast Blood' that supports blood donation using technology.

The seven acknowledge the generous help they have received from R.C. Dutt, senior adviser at Technopark. Says Sanjay, "Dutt sir is our mentor. Similarly our principals and many of our teachers have motivated us."

Dutt in turn is appreciative of the enterprising technocrats, "Ventures such as these in Kerala should be encouraged. Students from premier institutions take up jobs in blue chip companies, but these youngsters have come forward and set up a firm of their own. They should continue with their studies and also be exposed to the latest in technology abroad so that they do not get left behind."

Fine balance

Studying and examinations? "Yeah, that is a problem. But we manage," is the cryptic reply.

Says Balachandran S, head of department, Mechanical Engineering, CET, "These youngsters are very motivated. Teachers should encourage such students, but also make sure that students who take up such ventures are genuine. They should take academics seriously too."

However, Sanjay avers that their future is Torque. "It is not as if we would not get employment elsewhere. In fact, two of us got selected for the Indian Navy. We could have opted for a job in a But we want to make a difference to our country. Something that has to do with technology."

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