Ok, let me ask this, what do you think made Steve Jobs or Apple great? innovative? superb? Many will say their products, their technology, maybe Alok will also say their packaging, right Alok? even their pursuit of wow or their meticulous ways of working! Yes, all this added on to make Apple what it is today but the most important ingredient according to me for Apple or Job’s success is the ecosystem in which it grew, matured & then finally thrived! Yes, its the Valley – The Silicon Valley which is the valley of not just great kings but its the valley of great kingmakers too!!
Now, What makes the Valley special? is the people within the valley whom we call the ecosystem. Ecosystem is not just about infrastructure or resources et all. You can get better resources & infrastructure than the valley in many other parts of the world but its basically the approach of the people, the support & the mentorship which it offers makes it ‘THE SILICON VALLEY’
So coming back to my first line, Apple & Steve Jobs became great due to this great valley ecosystem. This ecosystem does not write-off failures but it puts them as stepping stones to success. This valley loves nerds & maniacs & with great guts they put in money across the table over lunch or a coffee (and this is substantial money not just a few thousands or a few lakhs with which you can’t make any damn prototype whatsoever!) They ensure you have enough funds to execute what is being discussed & get it in shape! Basically both parties understand what is being talked & how to get that executed. Its not just about money or funds or capital, its about execution which the valleyites understand it the best & since its a closely knit world they ensure they get it done by helping each other!
With whatever limited I know of the valley [Since I’v never been there still but raring to go :-)] even competitors work & help each other (even if there is cut throat competition!!!) & that’s what makes it special. The employees, the customers, the investors, the mentors, the professors, the experts, the entrepreneurs & their families, all pitch together to make 1 great apple made in the valley but for the world & then they ride their monies on 1 crazy jockey who can make it tick of the breed of Steve Jobs! So, thats how the valley works & time in time out creates master pieces like Apple, Google, Facebook & many more are in the hood am sure!!!
This blog is to call all like minded entrepreneurs, mentors, businessmen, investors, funders, employees & last but not the least & most important part of our ecosystem (customers) to come together & lets form an ecosystem like the Silicon Valley but which is more Indianised, more jugaadi 🙂 to make a thousand Apples & Steve Jobs bloom in India! We need this suppport to make the dream of many entrepreneurs from India come true!!! Trust me, the Indian DNA is far more entreprenerial than the west!! The only thing lacking here is an ecosystem of sharing & growing!
To all the biggies, like your open hearts do open up your purse a little more & help us budding entrepreneurs to make the next big thing from INDIA!! To all the NOT-SO-BIGGIES cut down on your holidays or shopping or malls or movies, save a bit of that self pleasure money & put into start-ups, ideas via various angel communities or crowdfunding platforms available across the globe, who knows your seed fund can make the next Apple & you will never need to work then 🙂 What say? Think abt it!!
Cheers!
Akshay Shah
Aditya Babbar
My reading into this incident and a very very valuable lesson for Entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneur’s kneejerk reaction to being able to deal/prospectively deal with a Big Name Client – “Let me quote this at a Lower Price to ensure I get the Order and Beat competition”
Big Name Client / Business House who truly values quality over price – “If she quotes lower, it would mean she would cut corners in the deliverable to ensure she can complete the order. The lower amount she makes, a lesser amount would be earmarked for quality standards, service and R&D, which would ultimately harm our product.”Â
So to all of us, lets ensure the pricing mechanism is not following an “undercut competition with lower pricing” psyche, but a “top value offering from our stables at competitive prices” psyche.
Agree ?