The Start-up Evangelists
Like this magazine itself, there are innumerable start-ups coming up. All with a vision to change, to make a mark in their respective industries, to take the plunge with a risk that proves to be their adrenaline. Talk about start-ups, and entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists come in mind. One such name that always [...]
Sahil Khan
15.10.2008
Business & Finance, In & Around, Society
Like this magazine itself, there are innumerable start-ups coming up. All with a vision to change, to make a mark in their respective industries, to take the plunge with a risk that proves to be their adrenaline. Talk about start-ups, and entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists come in mind. One such name that always tends to crop up is the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN). They somehow are always supporting sponsors to all the entrepreneurship and start-up events. They have a huge pool of knowledgeable faculty, both offline and online, who try to help benign people like us with respect to any paradigm relating to a new venture.
NEN, in collaboration with Tata, has come out with the “Hottest Start-ups 2008” award. The first time that any such award is open to public voting. Apparently they got this idea from all the reality shows on TV. Corny, I’d say. They want us to vote for our favorite start-up. They seem to have taken care of the fact that a certain e-mail id/cell number can be used to vote only once. How many of us would have a favorite start-up? According to this, the chances for a business-to-customer venture would have a higher chance of getting more votes, because only such businesses would have an interaction with the public. The business-to-business operations are to be pitied.
Anyways, seems like they have a way out. The final results declared will be subjected to a panel who will then decide depending on a combination of expert rating and public voting. NEN has been making its rounds on various campuses all over India and also being covered in the media. People are learning more about the whole concept.
But. Vote for the start-up you think is innovative, if not favorite. How can a common man, who is mind boggled by the current market crashes, give some thought to these company profiles and vote accordingly at this time of the financial year? Do they actually think that they’ll be able to get an audience apart from the entrepreneurs, VC’s and investors and those colleges where they have a presence? It’s a visibility campaign for the start-ups, from NEN. I think that’s what makes sense to involve the public.
In a conversation with one of the NEN consultants, he mentioned that a nominated start-up, SadakMap, had e-mailed him thanking the organization for the visibility that his and fellow ventures have got.
The “Top 5” from the 30 short listed nominees from the approx. 500 nominated will get the opportunity to bag a huge gift pack (cash prize, a pitch in front of the angel investors, seed funding, etc.).
Anyone you know who can be nominated? Because you got to go vote for your favorite start-up. Happy profile reading and voting.
Sahil Khan
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