How many of us yearn for a chance to show the world what we've got? “All big movements start with a big thought” and here's the WagonR's big movement: Think BIG! A unique platform for innovators to present their ideas to investors for seed capital, this contest seeks to reward the most promising business idea.
India's presence in the global business scenario is rapidly increasing and keeping this trend alive depends largely on innovation. Harnessing the vast pool of ideas, WagonR chose to give the Indian population a chance to make their dream a reality, to bring ideas together and moving forward, transforming socially and economically. In Indian Angel Network they've found an able and focused partner to nurture these novel ideas.
Having seen off Season 1 in 2009, WagonR came back this year with Think Big Challenge Season 2. From an overwhelming 80,000 ideas that poured in, 19 finalists were selected after rigorous evaluation and screening. Now they're gearing up for the final lap at Delhi May 20-21.
Chennai finalist
Imagine using an inhaler to introduce insulin in your body. Dr. Thirumalai Vijayan from Chennai came up with that idea, along with help from the TBI, Madras University and colleague Aparna Thirumalai, BE. A contender for the top spot, his inhaler is built to be a compact, simple device that doesn't use any gases, having a better, non-polluting, safe drug mist formation. It allows for slow, deep inhalation, lower mouth coating and lesser waste of drug spray that easily goes through the windpipes into the lungs. It is easy for children, the elderly and illiterate people to use. A filter removes all air polluting dust and germ particles for safe inhalation.
NXg interacted with some finalists; Here's what they have to say!
Bipin B. Agravat
I was a volunteer at a village for a project. I came across someone with a sight and hearing disability.This led to the birth of Ability, a software that converts text to voice and sign language. Currently supporting 2G and 3G platforms, R&D is being done so that even lower end mobile phones can support it. If Ability wins the WagonR contest, the funds will be directed to developing the desktop-mobile-web versions with Indian lingual facilities for exporting to all mobile OS's, thereby increasing interaction.
Amit Baradia
The greatest wealth is health. Pure, high quality, unadulterated food is hard to come by. Creating a retail space of organic food and marketing the same will increase health awareness, strengthen the immune system and keep people healthy. The produce of the Mass Grocery Store (MGS) apart from being pesticide- free, goes through more than just the simple norms of certification. This concept will change the future of the natural food industry. Greenday Organics (Chhattisgarh) started along with Yogesh Muthreja, was the first venture and winning the WagonR challenge will help us expand our roots.
Lokesh Singh
India depends heavily on produce from the agricultural sector. Having studied management and being aware of the importance of microfinance, Sanchetna, a microfinance service easily available to and affordable by poorer sections of society was born. It is a combination of providing financial services to those unbanked and business enterprise solutions, especially in the field of milk production. Sanchetna currently provides micro credit and loan cover insurance services through two companies: “Sanchetna Financial Services Private Limited” and “Samridhi Agri Products Private Limited” dealing with financing and products such as milk and vegetables respectively. Winning the challenge will broaden our scope to at least 100,000 members by 2015.
Shraddha Misra
The need to purchase every day commodities from organised, nature-friendly markets is increasing and the present operation of Sabji Mandi fails to provide it. Using technology and manpower to develop centralised grocery hubs named Aho Vanaspati, an initiative to provide markets a new face with adequate infrastructural premises should be taken. To improve standards of living of vendors, hawkers and farmers, supply hubs employing them must be formed to procure goods from villages to the central hub for sale. Reorganising the grocery supply chain will help in efficient procuring, sales and delivery of food items from rural markets and also enable them to compete with existing retail grocery stores.
Sarfaraz Hassan
One of the nicest things about life is the way we regularly stop whatever we're doing and devote our attention to eating. Opportunities to experience exotic flavours of traditional and global food, relish it in an energetic, radiant and homely environment will take eating to a whole new level. Initial surveys and online campaigns led us to work on ChefsNear.me, a location based platform connecting Gen Y foodies using mobile and Internet connectivity. The beta version is being developed and will be released soon. Recognition received through the challenge will help us scale up faster and connect easily with our target group.
Satish Kumar Jale
Only someone with an urban mind and rural experience will succeed in rural retailing. Thus was born Grameen Sahyog Kendra, a retail chain to serve daily needs of rural people with a range of knowledge services leveraging IT. Rural people lack IT services and good quality daily items. Blending IT with retail will solve the existing problem of implementing IT in rural areas and provide both to the rural people. Daily need stores will enable grocery and FMCG purchases and IT services will provide the necessary information. The increase in literacy and purchasing power will aid in creating a common service centre.
The WagonR Think Big Challenge is an amazing opportunity for all big thinkers to present their ideas not just among the expert panel of judges but also before the whole nation. It's a chance to transform an idea to a foundation of business success.
Shweta J. Nichani, BSc. (ISM) student at M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women .
