Amritsar to Kanyakumari 7000Kms + 20 Plus cities
While the data is getting analysed I would like to speak about my observations.
I could write about the challenges faced, the excellent team that I got to lead or the cities that we travelled to, but as a closing post l thought of talking about what is close to my heart #entrepreneurship..
Having been in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India and because of my profile, I have had the opportunity to interact with the best of the minds in the technology space, the entrepreneurs that have built the best of the products..but what I saw during my travels has left me stumped..
Entrepreneurship at its best in tier 2-3 cities.
Yes this is what I saw, right from Amritsar to Kanyakumari, these people were doing multiple things, they would have a shop, then be in real estate or forex trading to owning jewelry business as a second business. The zeal & passion that they showed for the business, why should I settle for doing one thing when I can do multiple things and grow..
Many of the towns that we visited had some traditional business going on for generations, but the new generation gave it a modern twist, be it the baker son’s who now runs a bistro for the younger crowd, or the kundan jewelers showroom from a diamond manufacturing family..
One thing that did strike me was none of them wanted to leave the cities/town that they belonged to, yes they will be expanding to the nearby places but I would like to stay put here, grow & create my own niche, my own brand and identity here..
The younger generation is being encouraged to follow their own dreams, they are the influencers in their parents lives & businesses in terms of use of tech..
We need to take it to them.. we need to go there to teach the same/spread awareness…
They do need help in terms of guiding them in what kinds of tools to use, to help their business grow, I think they are ripe to gain more knowledge, to using tech, the next best product.. yes some of them use whatsapp, facebook, have websites, do cashless transactions, but hungry for more tools or the right use of exisiting technologies..
Yes the best that I saw..
Will sign of with a very cliched line– not the end but the beginning….
Adding a video where we spoke about what we were trying to do and what else needs to be done…#DigitalDesh
Partners in crime
Co-travellers: Animesh Khan, Arpan Ramtek, Swapna & Rohit
Partners in the journey Nowfloats initiative #DigitalDesh
Omidyar Networks, Mobikwik, Ispirt, Microsoft Ventures, Blume Ventures, Inc42, Verisign, Ginger Hotels, Cinnamon Stays, Printo, Zinnov & Microsoft.
Checkout my complete journey here.
