What not to do to Succeed as an Innovator in India
Conventional Wisdom From an Indian Entrepreneur
1. Do not be disruptive (creative)
2. Do not provide new solutions, adapt existing ones (copy)
3. Do not look for capital (bootstrap)
4. Do not build product for consumer (or copy a successful global product)
4.1 Do not prospect for gold, make shovels instead
6. Do not break any rules (unless they tell you to)
7. Do not build products (make money spinning schemes)
7.1 Money gets more respect than innovation, or investors get more respect than innovators
8. Do not build products for someone who needs it
8.1 Build products for someone who can spend on it (a fool)
9. Derisk (Avoid risk altogether)
As Indians, we still think like farmer tribes. Hoard, save, protect.
Can we hunt for a change?
Some more from my friends from the services business...
10. Do not work for free
11. Do not build PoCs for free (value your own time)
12. Do not try to impress or convince anyone (Go to market)
13. Do what you are paid for (Do not innovate. It will create suspicion)
14. Do not spend much time with mentors (Just keep in touch and keep going)
15. Do not work with customers who do not pay on time
Cheers!
Innovation Leader
6 年Ecosystem prevails over individual initiatives and directs them to do what is hot and rewarding at that time. Industrial revolution led to inventions using steam as power. When there was race for building planes there were inventions in USA and Europe. JFK ignited race to the moon and there were breakthroughs in space. China focussed and then turned into manufacturing hub. India aligned its internal capabilities towards IT and now forces are aligning for startups. There is no reason why innovation will not flourish in this land too and many more inventors will show up. Now is the time to adopt design thinking as Japanese did Kaizen.