Thoughts of IT Entrepreneurs

“The first thing you learn about entrepreneurship is that there is always a ‘time dimension’. Tomorrow is not OK; it has to be done today. You always have fixed budget- you never have what you want. Your resources are always constrained. But if you are determined and give your best, you can succeed.”
- S. S. Kshatriya, Silicon Valley Greats

“I think it’s sometimes your ability to trust other people that helps. It is not the destination that is of interest, it is the journey that is of paramount importance.”
- K. B. Chandrasekhar, Exodus

“Indians are smart, creative and hard working people. India is poor with all the resources it possesses. India is poor because of wrong economic policies and vision. Entrepreneurship has been long suppressed in India. Wealth has been squandered in unproductive activities. I believe, India has potential of being a super power. No doubt, it requires a great deal of political will and leadership to push India forward. What is required is that if you feel very strongly about something, you should lead the way by actions and by setting an example. People should build their own schools and hospitals. The government’s presence should be minimal in day today life.”
- Kanval Rekhi, Excelan

“Notice the opportunity in future and convert it into business. Life is asset of opportunities and circumstances- wherever you do, you have to work hard.”
Pradeep Kar, Microland

“Founders must know that a company in its formative years is made of a few good people and the 80:20 rule applies here as well. 20% of the people do 80% of the job. Take care that you don’t loose key persons. Empower key persons to to build their own team. Hiring one’s own team gives two things: a sense of ownership to manager and a sense of loyalty to the new recruit. Hiring known people through personal network brings the best people and helps develop a good chemistry. Aiming high with a big picture is a key to building a large company. As an entrepreneur, one’s company should have large goals, focus on an achievable subset of it, and develop a corresponding operational plan to manage that subset. Put the rest on company’s roadmap, so as not to lose sight of it.

The old rule of wearing multiple hats does not apply here. The principle is one person for one job and the right person for the right job. Otherwise things don’t get done in time. A CEO should never limit the growth of his company because of the limits of his own experience and the bandwidth of his capabilities.”
- Raj Singh, Digital Design and Verilog HDL

When a startup becomes successful, either a larger company buys it or it goes public. Either way its shares acquire value. For example suppose an employee is offered 50,000 shares at one cent per share. Thus for $500, he becomes eligible for a large number of shares. If the company share opens at $20 a share, the employee is worth $1 million immediately.
- S. S. Kshatriya, Silicon Valley Greats

Technology is the ticket to the game and not the name of the game. You have to find out how much is your space, and how much is your company’s space. It is important to learn to share. You have to find your own balance, and hang on to it.
- Umang Gupta, Gupta Technologies

Infosys Technologies is a corporation by professionals for the professionals.
Its businessplan- Source capital from where it is cheapest, produce where it is most cost-effective and sell where it is most profitable.
- N. R. Narayana Murthy

(Ref. S. S. Kshatriya, Silicon Valley Greats)