BizSpark has grown so large that it now covers over 100 countries and about 50,000 startups. We have recently started a BizSpark Ambassador series, which takes you into the minds of startuppers around the world, and helps you get a view to what is actually happening on the ground in various countries.
The BizSpark story cannot be just one point of view, and it isn't. With about 50,000 startups in it, it only makes sense to have ambassadors in almost every country we are growing in to showcase what they see in the countries where they innovate and iterate their products and companies. Last week we covered Brazil. This week, we are looking into Calcutta, India.
Meet Arunava Chatterjee, founder of WebWizard Technologies.
What have you learned about managing a technological business that you would pass on to the next generation?
Well, to be very honest.. managing a technological business is always needs 100% dedication, eagerness to learn and adopt new things everyday. If you are a technical guy, you also have to adopt managerial skills very fast to improve organization's scalability. If you want to make your venture a successful one, you need to devote 24/7/365 on it.
What was the most difficult challenge your business faced this year?
Getting good resources. I personally took 100's of interviews to sort out good, dedicated resources.
What problem are you facing now?
As we are also a start-up, we are applying for fund raising..but the success rate is not good here in India. We don't have the crowd funding concept here. I tried to apply on various crowd funding websites, but all of them are looking for US Incorporation Certificates. As we are India based, we don't have that. One of our SaaS-based product is not scaling up due to funds. We know there is potential, but we can't proceed at this moment.
What were you successful in doing this week?
Got a great client this week. X Trade Brokers. We are doing their web based trading portal. XTB is a McLaren Mercedes F1 team sponsor.
What advice do you have to give about securing funding, working with code, or building a scaleable business?
Always try to incorporate your business in a start-up friendly environment. It will be helpful to get good resource as well as help you with good mentors. Try to make a genuine product to attract VC's ..but at first try for crowd funding.. You never know, you might get a chance to get a partner as well.. Always try to maintain code base for later use.
Write biographies or interview your partners in the field. Who are they and introduce them to our community.
Actually our story is a little different.. I was working as a freelancer in my college days.. At that time it was just for fun and getting some extra money. We were three in total. Though we were in college, we still tried our level best to maintain professionalism. It clicked. We formed a company. It was in 2008. But after few months we felt, we need to adopt more to maintain and to sustain properly in this business. I got a support of my Mom at that time. Everybody left the company and my mom continued the business .. In later 2011 I finally left my job and came into the business again. After that I got another partner. We are three (3) partners now.
Arunava Chatterjee: Me
Anita Chatterjee : My mom. Technology enthusiast. But completely non technology person. Age 55. She has over 20 years of marketing experience and teaching experience in Insurance domain. Nowadays, she helps us on recruitment as a recruitment head and maintain finance.
Sanjib Ghosh : A serial entrepreneur. Age 47.He is having a Hardware & Networking business for the last 14 years. Named : Hertech Infotech. He has other export oriented business as well.
How do you know when you are failing in product development and how do you make a correction – do you make the decision on your own, or do you consult your team?
Work culture in our office is very friendly. We are always in touch with each an every person associated with Webwizard Technologies. We always take opinions of every body.
What signals from your consumers do you look for to signify that you are winning?
Repeat Business and sometime Bonus from Clients :)
When you need to ask questions on your team, who do you go to? Who do you usually turn to outside of your organization to ask questions?
Officially we work Monday to Friday 10am to 7pm IST and we have a half day on Saturdays. On every Saturday(10am to 2pm), we schedule a meeting where everyone has the same right to ask or consult .
Who would you like to be your mentor, and what would you ask him or her?
To be very honest 1. is Mr. Narayan Murthi (Founder of Infosys Ltd) and 2.is Mr.Bill Gates . If I get a chance, I'd like to learn the sustainable growth strategies and how to develop next gen leaders who will be our base in coming days.
Who is your mentor, and what was the last great thing he or she told you and your team?
Mr.Hari Balasubhramaniam (Founder & Director of Ontrack Systems Ltd) . He guided me quite nicely about the market prospects and orientation on mobile apps domain.
What has overjoyed you in the past month?
Successfully closed some deals and started creating team for mobile apps. They are working with us now.. Attended a Job Fair for the first time as a recruiting company.
Who inspired you the most this week, and why?
Very tough question. One is Mr.Alok Kejriwal of Games2Win. One of their app is in top 5 position in iPhone and Android app store.
When was the last time you fell in love with a product?
Last week :) Still playing his app :)
What does something in your business vertical need in order for the product to be successful?
Initially some funding.. so that we can hire a good marketing team and as well as can start social media marketing, Advertisements on Internet etc.
What came first for your company – the product idea or your existence on the internet?
As we started as a service based company and trying to move onto product base, Getting more clients and growing will be the initial but with a must focus on product.
Has starting your own company provided any answers about your life? Have you discovered something about yourself that you didn’t know before?
It makes a man very very busy and perfect on your ultimate goal. Made me much more focused on a particular issue.
Entrepreneurs can visit Microsoft BizSpark and discover how they can benefit from receiving free software and in some cases free instance hours on Windows Azure, subject to availability and certain qualifying conditions.
You can find Arunava on Twitter @InArunava
On Facebook (Company) , and in these groups where he shares content and interacts with other developers and entrepreneurs.
Bangalore Start-ups (https://www.facebook.com/groups/blrstartups/)
Startup Saturday - Kolkata (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ssgenie/)
TIE Kolkata (https://www.facebook.com/groups/tiekolkata/)
Hyderabad Startup (https://www.facebook.com/groups/325376410863612/)
Kolkata IT Professional (https://www.facebook.com/groups/kolkatait/)
Kolkata IT Startups (https://www.facebook.com/groups/kolkataitstartup/)
Private Equity (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2209640960/)
Pune Startups (https://www.facebook.com/groups/punestartups/)
Find a Co-Founder (https://www.facebook.com/groups/250854118266951/)