If you want to launch your own start-up you need more than just funds. A good understanding of your target clients, an innovative concept, the means to implement your ideas and the right kind of technological exposure to take your start-up forward; were some of the factors highlighted at ‘Generation We’, a youth event organised by the local chapter of AIESEC, recently. With prominent speakers like Sam Rufus of Mxit, Naresh Dubbudu of Abhyaas and Shankar Muralidharan of Woxsen Business School, the event saw over 800 youngsters turn up for the event.
The focus at the event was on how technology could be put to optimum use to promote an entrepreneurial venture and how to channel one’s inner entrepreneur. “The whole idea was to get our generation to understand technology and the entrepreneurial aspect of it. We’ve come a long way and are more connected to technology these days. A lot of us prefer to learn via an online forum than from a book. This event was about blending technology, entrepreneurship and leadership,” said Clinton D’Souza, an AIESEC member.
The event that was held at JRC Conventions saw a surprisingly large turn-out, with several students also tweeting their business ideas hoping to bag their very own entrepreneur kit as part of the ‘Tweet your business idea competition’ by Woxsen School of Business. With several youngsters looking to set up their own companies rather than pursue a regular 9-to-5 job, the ideas that were thrown around ranged from Food Adda: Indian varieties of food in all countries to Envision Inc. Tech: An electric pulse camera to provide sight for the blind. Some of the other ideas included setting up a mobile phone app to track train timings, delays and updates to make commuting all the more easier.
The event also had successful entrepreneurs and people from the corporate world speak about what it takes to succeed in today’s cut-throat competition. “It is important to strategise on laterals and think big,” said Sam Rufus, semi-finalist at Apprentice Asia and now the CEO of Mxit, who spoke about his cross-cultural experience in the corporate world. An interactive session, his talk highlighted some of the companies that had managed to hit the nail on the head and what it takes to set up a successful start-up.
Talking about how entrepreneurship is a way of life, Naresh Dubbudu, founder Abhyaas Edu Corp., said, “Ideas are not worth much unless they are developed and implemented. It is ventures that sell. To be an entrepreneur one needs to have all the four Fs – fortune, fame, family and fervour. There is no right time to set up an entrepreneurial venture, if you believe you are ready go for it. Like they say, once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur.”
The event however, was not all about just serious shop talk. It included a Twitter workshop, the Tweet your business idea competition, an interactive session on how to set up their entrepreneurial ventures, beat-boxing and jives.
