[Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
Hello All, I am a final year BE student. While most of my mates are sincerely searching for a spot in the corporates, me and two of my friends cherish a dream of creating a business for ourselves. We got something like a few website development offers and that has motivated us further. But we are not really going to stick to web development as such and want to get into customized application development and software deployment. I recently saw a message in the "NCR Python Users Group India" discussing Data Mining tool for collecting data from Excel Documents and displaying them on web pages. I think these are some untapped areas of software deployment, at least here in India. So, now the questions in my mind are: 1. Can we really survive as a company creating application specific or customized software for situations like the one I have mentioned above? 2. Is there really market for such software and services in India? Kindly keep in mind FOSS. 3. If there is a possibility to survive. Are we going to be judged by the work we do or by the industry experience we have or supposed to have? (Remember I am still at college) 4. At last, how much are we going to be paid for these kind of jobs? Keeping in mind that depends on the quality of work we do and our ability to negotiate, I would like to know the scale where I would be starting. I request whoever reading this mail to give your views and ideas. P.S: If possible repost this mail in the mailing lists you prefer appropriate. I do not know anyone in the field of software or startup as of now. -- Regards P.Arunmozhi Twitter: @tecoholic Website: http://arunmozhi.in ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
hi Good and Interesting post. I am also in the same situation. Thanks & Regards, Amit Sharma MCA (2008-11) University Of Jammu +91-9797432772(Jammu) +91-9811242001(Delhi) +91-9803655892(Chd.) On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 6:47 PM, arunthe...@gmail.com wrote: > Hello All, > > I am a final year BE student. While most of my mates are sincerely > searching for a spot in the corporates, me and two of my friends > cherish a dream of creating a business for ourselves. We got something > like a few website development offers and that has motivated us > further. But we are not really going to stick to web development as > such and want to get into customized application development and > software deployment. > > I recently saw a message in the "NCR Python Users Group India" > discussing Data Mining tool for collecting data from Excel Documents > and displaying them on web pages. I think these are some untapped > areas of software deployment, at least here in India. > > So, now the questions in my mind are: > 1. Can we really survive as a company creating application specific or > customized software for situations like the one I have mentioned > above? > 2. Is there really market for such software and services in India? > Kindly keep in mind FOSS. > 3. If there is a possibility to survive. Are we going to be judged by > the work we do or by the industry experience we have or supposed to > have? (Remember I am still at college) > 4. At last, how much are we going to be paid for these kind of jobs? > Keeping in mind that depends on the quality of work we do and our > ability to negotiate, I would like to know the scale where I would be > starting. > > I request whoever reading this mail to give your views and ideas. > > P.S: If possible repost this mail in the mailing lists you prefer > appropriate. I do not know anyone in the field of software or startup > as of now. > > > -- > Regards > P.Arunmozhi > Twitter: @tecoholic > Website: http://arunmozhi.in > ___ > ILUGC Mailing List: > http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc > ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
You got a very nice reply. I am not sure what value I can add. It will sure be colored by my pessimism and feeling of failure but still I will try. ;) On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 6:47 PM, arunthe...@gmail.com wrote: > Hello All, > > I am a final year BE student. While most of my mates are sincerely > searching for a spot in the corporates, me and two of my friends > cherish a dream of creating a business for ourselves. We got something > like a few website development offers and that has motivated us > further. But we are not really going to stick to web development as > such and want to get into customized application development and > software deployment. Good. > I recently saw a message in the "NCR Python Users Group India" > discussing Data Mining tool for collecting data from Excel Documents > and displaying them on web pages. I think these are some untapped > areas of software deployment, at least here in India. Well well. What should I say? > So, now the questions in my mind are: > 1. Can we really survive as a company creating application specific or > customized software for situations like the one I have mentioned > above? No. > 2. Is there really market for such software and services in India? > Kindly keep in mind FOSS. Whether you like it or not, whether you accept or not, FOSS is the driver for every company; regardless of what they are into. FOSS is all over. Just that many will not be open about it. But as a biz I suggest that you keep tight lipped about FOSS. People know it anyway; being open about it cannot help you in any way. Or even hurt. But companies want support, companies want something real. There are many ways to make money but make sure you choose something you really enjoy. Choose something where you can learn a lot , have fun and struggle. No point in picking low hanging fruits. If Arun can so can Girish. It is pointless. Pick up some area where you have something special. > 3. If there is a possibility to survive. Are we going to be judged by > the work we do or by the industry experience we have or supposed to > have? (Remember I am still at college) You are judged by several factors many of which you have no control over. Why even think about it? When I first started writing articles many years ago I never thought. I had knowledge which I wanted to share. I gave a very small writeup to my boss in pencil and he did not even care to comment. I did not lose hope. Two years later I found that everything I wrote got published. I was not a newsmaker or an opinion maker and even today am not. But I made quite a lot of money in writing. It is all about confidence, knowledge, hard work and what you feel within. No external entity can instill that confidence. It comes from within after worldly success which comes from out. Now to answer your question, certainly your reputation and credibility will count. Today nobody wants to know whether I am a fresher or not. Perhaps it is due to my grey hair or appearance or whatever. Or people just know that I have nothing to do with any college. ;) I think this is not even a point of consideration. What people think. Now as a company you sure need to manage perception. Coming to that you need a very professional looking website, very high quality brochures and so on. You need very high degree of professionalism and diligence. Get well wishers, God fathers and good friends who can guide you. Without all these things nothing is possible. Get helpers. Get helpers. People who will help either for money or otherwise. Either way get them. And build contacts. Good ones. Not fools. I just stay away from people who I think are not sensible. Their contacts will cause you pain. On the other hand good people, smart successful people tend to know other such souls and they will help you. Think about it. > 4. At last, how much are we going to be paid for these kind of jobs? In the beginning peanuts. But once you get more work and show customer references and once you get some name in the market and word of mouth you will start seeing some cash. But it is going to be tough for the first two years. > Keeping in mind that depends on the quality of work we do and our > ability to negotiate, I would like to know the scale where I would be > starting. Scale? What scale? How much cash you need? 2L? 10L? Or 50k? Who knows. Even today as I speak I don't have cash to pay the rent. That is biz. It is the fire within that counts. What do you mean by ability to negotiate? There is no such thing. I always find that I take up deals where I win and the other party wins. If not it does not work out for either of us. No use trying to negotiate out of business. Once again a lot of factors are at play many of which you have no control over. Just don't think of it. I am not good at negotiating; I am bold and know what I want and am explicit about it. That is my idea of negotiation. I have knowledge and I know what the customer wants
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 6:47 PM, arunthe...@gmail.com wrote: > Hello All, > > I am a final year BE student. While most of my mates are sincerely > searching for a spot in the corporates, me and two of my friends > cherish a dream of creating a business for ourselves. We got something > like a few website development offers and that has motivated us > further. But we are not really going to stick to web development as > such and want to get into customized application development and > software deployment. > > > So, now the questions in my mind are: > 1. Can we really survive as a company creating application specific or > customized software for situations like the one I have mentioned > above? > Yes > 2. Is there really market for such software and services in India? > Kindly keep in mind FOSS. > Yes > 3. If there is a possibility to survive. Are we going to be judged by > the work we do or by the industry experience we have or supposed to > have? (Remember I am still at college) > On the work you do. Specifically, your timeliness and reliability. > 4. At last, how much are we going to be paid for these kind of jobs? > Keeping in mind that depends on the quality of work we do and our > ability to negotiate, I would like to know the scale where I would be > starting. > > This you'll have to explore and find out. Try something like assembla.org My advice is just jump into it. At worst, after a year or two, you would've have found concrete answers to all your questions! And you would be way ahead of your corporate classmates in terms of knowledge ans skills. I call it the MBA from the University of Life :-) Best of luck. mano -- Computers are useless. They can only give you answers. -- Pablo Picasso ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
> > Remember, entrepreneurs are the fuel for any nation. Any economy. > > Without them who will you work for? > > Give it your best shot. > > But the reason I feel you should not start now is that it is rare to > see mature people below > the age of 26 or 28. > > And maturity counts in biz more than anything else. > > Also working for companies will tell you what it takes to do biz. > > True, the maturity/experience always counts in biz than anything else. @Girish - The best answer for those who think about making a career in FOSS business. Regards S. Baskar CEO/LinuXpert Systems ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
> And maturity counts in biz more than anything else. > > Also working for companies will tell you what it takes to do biz. This is a myth. The history of startups shows us that the best entrepreneurs were neither mature nor experienced when they started out If anything, the history of college-dropout entrepreneurs shows us that understanding a specific customer need and build a kickass product to address it is the best way to build a startup. In fact, I'd argue that starting a company before you work for anyone else will ensure that you have an open mind before dogma kicks in. Now running a startup -- once it becomes a full-fledged company -- takes experience. That is when maturity, experience, and understanding the caveats of doing business in the real world becomes important. Best, Karthik On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 6:02 AM, Baskar Selvaraj wrote: > > > > Remember, entrepreneurs are the fuel for any nation. Any economy. > > > > Without them who will you work for? > > > > Give it your best shot. > > > > But the reason I feel you should not start now is that it is rare to > > see mature people below > > the age of 26 or 28. > > > > And maturity counts in biz more than anything else. > > > > Also working for companies will tell you what it takes to do biz. > > > > > True, the maturity/experience always counts in biz than anything else. > > @Girish - The best answer for those who think about making a career in FOSS > business. > > Regards > > S. Baskar > CEO/LinuXpert Systems > -- Karthik Narayanaswami Email: met...@gmail.com Web: http://www.metlin.org ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 8:56 PM, Karthik Narayanaswami wrote: > > And maturity counts in biz more than anything else. > > > > Also working for companies will tell you what it takes to do biz. > > This is a myth. The history of startups shows us that the best > entrepreneurs were neither mature nor experienced when they started out > > I agree there are remarkable exceptions. But this cannot be generalized. Adobe's founders were 40+ when they started out. Unless you had a product idea which is simply out of the world, it is unlikely that VCs will fund inexperienced and/or immature individuals. Arun ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
Hi, >> This is a myth. The history of startups shows us that the best >> entrepreneurs were neither mature nor experienced when they started out [snip] > Adobe's founders were 40+ when they started out. To add, founders of CISCO and RIM (famous for Blackberry brand) were also 40+ when they started out :-) What really matters are self-motivation and passion to succeed by creating value to customers - which in turn would eventually translate to business/growth. Age and industrial experience (or lack thereof) does not set the criteria for running successful businesses IMO - though industrial experience would at best help boosting the self-confidence and much needed support to help create a start-up. > Unless you had a product idea which is simply out of the world, it is > unlikely that VCs will fund inexperienced and/or immature individuals. True, but in my opinion running a company these days with VC funding is like walking on a tight rope - especially if the company was funded much before it reached critical mass in terms of business growth and were not destined for expansion. -- Chandrashekar Babu. http://www.chandrashekar.info/ http://www.slashprog.com/ > > Arun > ___ > ILUGC Mailing List: > http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc > ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
> > Adobe's founders were 40+ when they started out. > > > >To add, founders of CISCO and RIM (famous for Blackberry brand) were > >also 40+ when they started out :-) > *Mark Elliot Zuckerberg* (born May 14, 1984) : He is the founder of Facebook at the age of 26. So, Please don't discourage others. I will suggest if you don't know how a business works in IT. Then you should work at least 1-2 yrs in an IT company, try to find how they work, what is the marketing strategy they apply. Also, try to find what is the disadvantage on there strategy. This will let you to create your own business strategy. Always keep one thing in mind what an engineer can do, that a business man can't. So, be a good engineer first I can suggest you startup field. Start working on Opensource collaboration. Regards Subhojit Ojha ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
> > I agree there are remarkable exceptions. > But this cannot be generalized. > Adobe's founders were 40+ when they started out. > One or two would have been remarkable exceptions -- more than half a dozen in just the Forbes 25? Not so much. Unless you had a product idea which is simply out of the world, it is > unlikely that VCs will fund inexperienced and/or immature individuals. > Don't get me wrong -- I am not discounting the value of experience. However, it is less important than most people would have you believe. VCs would much rather that you have a great idea than you have oodles of experience. They could care less about your experience, as long as you can show revenue. Best, K. -- Karthik Narayanaswami Email: met...@gmail.com Web: http://www.metlin.org ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 10:39 PM, subhojit ojha wrote: > > > Adobe's founders were 40+ when they started out. > > > > > > >To add, founders of CISCO and RIM (famous for Blackberry brand) were > > >also 40+ when they started out :-) > > > > *Mark Elliot Zuckerberg* (born May 14, 1984) : He is the founder of > Facebook > at the age of 26. > > You are quoting me out of context. Both the quotes were for a post which claimed only young inexperienced people can run startups and end up with unadulterated brilliant ideas. > So, Please don't discourage others. I will suggest if you don't know how a > business works in IT. > Neither me or the other poster were discouraging others. I was warning them about realities of being on your own. For your information I have never worked for anybody. I have been on my own since finishing school. I have had some really great times and really bad ones. I just want the OP to know that it is a long road. Be prepared for it. If the OP comes to think that this is discouragement, business is a long way off. > Then you should work at least 1-2 yrs in an IT company, try to find how > they > work, what is the marketing strategy they apply. > > Also, try to find what is the disadvantage on there strategy. This will let > you to create your own business strategy. > I already am running my own business. > > Always keep one thing in mind what an engineer can do, that a business man > can't. > > So, be a good engineer first > > What? Can you explain? Arun ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
On Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 11:32 PM, Karthik Narayanaswami wrote: > > > > I agree there are remarkable exceptions. > > But this cannot be generalized. > > Adobe's founders were 40+ when they started out. > > > > One or two would have been remarkable exceptions -- more than half a dozen > in just the Forbes 25? Not so much. > Again, like the prev mail, the context in which I quoted was in response to a post which claimed only young inexperienced people can run startups and end up with unadulterated brilliant ideas. > > Unless you had a product idea which is simply out of the world, it is > > unlikely that VCs will fund inexperienced and/or immature individuals. > > > > Don't get me wrong -- I am not discounting the value of experience. > However, it is less important than most people would have you believe. VCs > would much rather that you have a great idea than you have oodles of > experience. They could care less about your experience, as long as you can > show revenue. > Point well taken... But- The fact is that they will evaluate your abilities to show revenues. Showing revenues is not only about a great idea. A business has to be built with it. And generally, the experience will come from the VC's side if you dont have it (read share). On the same topic, nothing related to the original post. Just a note - I attended a seminar conducted by Hindustan Chamber of Commerce 2 months back on Venture funding. Quick fact : VC funding in India - No. 1 sector : Financial services No. 2 sector : Core industry No. 3.sector : IT and IT enabled services (less than 20%) Investment phase : More than 70% of investment by VCs were made in the secondary grown phase. Extremely small percentage was made into startups. VC funding in India is very very different from the VC funding in mature economies. I was pretty surprised by the facts and figures shown during the seminar. Arun > > Best, > K. > > -- > Karthik Narayanaswami > Email: met...@gmail.com > Web: http://www.metlin.org > ___ > ILUGC Mailing List: > http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc > -- Arun Venkataswamy http://arun289.wordpress.com ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
I've been in early stage investing and an entrepreneur for a good while now. There are two sides to a coin. For every success that one sees in startups, there is a graveyard of 10. Aspiring entrepreneurs must be aware of this as these would give pointers to what succeeds. It also points to the fact that must not be blinded by the idea if traction does not occur and carry on creating frustration within. It is a fine line one has to tread. On funding, it is true that seed funding is not as easy in India as in the US but it has got a lot better in the last 4 years. Angel investing is not as evolved either. There is a large gap between $100K and $1M where players are very scarce. If anyone wants under $1M, it is a tough ask. Entrepreneurs in India must strive to funds themselves far longer than their US counterparts. -- Mohan Sundaram On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 12:01 AM, Arun Venkataswamy wrote: > Point well taken... > But- The fact is that they will evaluate your abilities to show revenues. > Showing revenues is not only about a great idea. A business has to be built > with it. And generally, the experience will come from the VC's side if you > dont have it (read share). > > On the same topic, nothing related to the original post. > Just a note - I attended a seminar conducted by Hindustan Chamber of > Commerce 2 months back on Venture funding. > > Quick fact : VC funding in India - > No. 1 sector : Financial services > No. 2 sector : Core industry > No. 3.sector : IT and IT enabled services (less than 20%) > > Investment phase : > More than 70% of investment by VCs were made in the secondary grown phase. > Extremely small percentage was made into startups. > > VC funding in India is very very different from the VC funding in mature > economies. I was pretty surprised by the facts and figures shown during the > seminar. > > Arun ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
all points were good i would like to add more getting some inspiration ...choosing a mentor... listening to people like steve jobs at Stanford commencement speech 2005... reading http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/06/the_art_of_the_.html#axzz1Fcve0pwk... this is something very imp i noted more than a 1.5 decade back and suggest to young turks who come to me i think its apt to share with larger fraternity now... 1) Surround yourself with passionate people 2) Have a clear vision 3) Remain focussed 4) Move quickly 5) Communicate openly 6) Be prepared for change management 7) Leverage networks my barometer is simple if i am not enjoying what i am doing i rather do something else , also there is one feeling of immense energy which pushes you .. when you are on the correct path. one at my CA's place who is a astute follower of Bramhakumaris i read " past is a cancelled cheque future is promissory note" there is no silver bullet , nor is it rocket science -Satya fossevents.in ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
Re: [Ilugc] Making a Career in FOSS [New Business]
Hello all, I am grateful to everyone of you for responding to my questions. Most of you apart from just answering my question, have gone great lengths to explain many things related to it. Even new threads have been created discussing the topic. I think my mail not just helped me but a lot others. I have deliberately postponed my "thank you" mail to this thread hoping something new and useful would be added. I was right, in the past one week though many things were posted the last mail came telling me of mentorship which is untouched until now. Everyone's mail helped me as much as it helped others who read this thread. Some were motivating, some encouraging, some warning, some explaining, some discussing; nevertheless everything was useful. Thank you all who have contributed in the past week. I think we could wrap up the thread for good now, which not necessarily restrict you in adding anything, just to put an end to the discussion. Thank you all. -- Regards P.Arunmozhi Twitter: @tecoholic Website: http://arunmozhi.in ___ ILUGC Mailing List: http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
