Therodinhoods.com is highly privileged to have Vijay Shekhar Sharma – the CEO and Founder of One97 Communications send in his interview.
Vijay has MASSIVE achievements to his credit. He not only runs One97 that is on the verge of an IPO in India (and the really differentiated Mobile VAS Company that will truly reflect value creation), but also someone who is really down to earth and very entrepreneur friendly.
With VC’s he is legendary. He operates his OWN Mobile VAS fund and actively funds starts ups and budding entrepreneurs.
Just yesterday I met a VC whom Games2win and One97 has in common as an investor. While discussing One97, the VC gentleman said ‘For Vijay, I will write out a 10 million $ cheque in a day’
Here goes:!!
Your Name any any other details (site address, twitter handle, mail id(?) etc..
Vijay Shekhar Sharma
@vijayshekhar
What exactly do you do?
Work at One97 Communications. We create compelling mobile apps and services.
Why do you do what you do? Is it to make money, to become famous, to retire, to kill boredom, WHAT?
Have fun making money.
I remember planning to retire early, in college days. Now I think, retiring is overrated.
Is there anything unique in what you do? And here ‘unique’ can mean anything – doing what’s been done for donkeys years and yet in a more cost efficient manner, or something new in a boring business or line or simply inventing something completely new?
It was unique when we started. Tech companies did not want to do content and content companies didn’t know about technology much. Now everyone is ready to get into other’s pants.
We have added customer knowledge and user behavior know-how as an advantage. Hope it remains for long.
What happens if this fails?
We most of times kill our business offering in internally reviews to find out what will be better than who we are today.
If it fails, we will only be better.
Any one or two incidents that make you shiver or feel proud of your journey so far?
Shiver: office caught fire in 2006. It burnt all but one separate room. Did not know how will I get money and challenges of business continuity. Since that day, we started giving laptops to everyone working : )
Proud: Fund raising at the bottom of financial melt down (Nov 2008). Marquee investor support, which I never knew why will any one support.
State one really bad habit and one good habit (if you actually have one)
Bad habits: Endless web surfing and not exercising enough
Good Habit: hmmm… not anyone worth mentioning.
Famous last words to the readers ( if you knew you are going to be hit by a truck tomorrow, what would you like to tell the world (other than to be crossing the road safely)?
Take a chance. You can be what you dream.
Finally, say YES below the next para:
I solemnly put my hand on my religious book/favorite novel and swear that what I have said above (including my photos) is the truth. So help me, Rodinhood
YES !
You can be here next! Just visit this link and interview yourself
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