TechSparks Twitter Chat Summary : Scaling Indian Product TechStartups

On 23rd May 2012 we organized a Twitter based virtual forum, a first of its kind initiative in the Indian startup ecosystem on 'Scaling Indian Product Tech Startups'. Here is the Storify Summary of the Twitter chat. Some of the experts and panelists who joined us included :

Soumitra Sharma: Soumitra Sharma is part of the Investments Team at IDG Ventures India, a US$ 150 million venture capital fund focused on investing in Indian technology and technology-enabled businesses @soumitra_sharma

Aditya Kulkarni: A technologist and blogger with over a decade of experience with software products. Most recently, he was a Product Manager at Google, managing some of their enterprise products@adityapk 

Suresh Sambandam : Founder & CEO, OrangeScape – Platform as a Service @sureshsambandam

Kira M. Newman: A Tech Cocktail writer interested in startups, innovation, and new trends. In 2012, she returned from a 6-month whirlwind tour of Asia, where she met tons of welcoming, inspiring, and infectiously passionate entrepreneurs. @KiraMNewman

Janakiram MSV : Cloud Specialist and Consultant; @janikiramm

[<a href="http://storify.com/raovallab/techsparks-twitter-chat-scaling-indian-product-tec" target="_blank">View the story "TechSparks Twitter Chat : Scaling Indian Product Tech Startups" on Storify</a>]<br /> <h1>TechSparks Twitter Chat : Scaling Indian Product Tech Startups</h1> <h2>Twitter based chat on Scaling Indian Product Tech Startups was organized by YourStory.in in the run up to TechSparks 2012. </h2> <p>Storified by Vallabh Rao · Wed, May 23 2012 16:22:23</p> <div>TechSparks™, an initiative undertaken by YourStory.in, India’s leading online platform for startups and entrepreneurs, is aimed at bridging the gap between the potential of product technology companies in India and the opportunities for them to scale, by bringing together the entire technology ecosystem involving investors, experienced entrepreneurs, developers, corporates and the media.</div> <div>Event for Technology Product Startup & Young Entrepreneurs Development"We are back! After creating large scale impact through vastly successful editions in 2011 and 2010, TechSparks™, the largest nation-wide...</div> <div>#tsparks, freed up my time to participate for the first twitter #tsparks event :-)AkshayKingar</div> <div>I am in.. who else is here #tsparksPradeep Chaudhary</div> <div> <h2>Introductions: The Twitter chat discussed various issues about ‘Scaling Indian Product Tech Startups’.</h2> </div> <div>TechSparks™is an initiative undertaken by YourStory.in, India’s leading online platform for startups and entrepreneurs #tsparksYourStory</div> <div>Techsparks is aimed at bridging the gap between the potential of product technology companies in India #tsparksYourStory</div> <div>Hi everyone, Soumitra from IDG Ventures here. Feels great to be joining this chat #tsparks #tsparksSoumitra Sharma</div> <div>I'm Kira, a US tech journalist for @TechCocktail, just spent 6 months in Asia #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>Hello, I'm Gurmeet, Co-founder @BriSkGap #tsparksGurmeet Singh</div> <div>Hi Everyone, Suresh from @OrangeScape. Look forward to it. #tsparksSuresh Sambandam</div> <div>Hi everybody Pradeep here from @ServiceSutra we help consumers compare prices from Service providers before hiring. Glad to be here #tsparksPradeep Chaudhary</div> <div>We will be taking 4 questions related to the topic 'Scaling Indian Product Tech Startups' #tsparksYourStory</div> <div> <h2>Question 1: <b>What are the barriers/challenges to scale of Indian product startups. </b></h2> <div><b>We start by discussing some of the barriers that product tech startups in India face. From lack of infrastructure and mentorship to the role of media, our panelists had various inputs on this:</b></div> </div> <div>A1)Scaling product companies requires a different team/talent DNA;Indian professionals generally more services oriented #tsparks #tsparksSoumitra Sharma</div> <div>A1) Language/cultural barriers when expanding to other countries in the region #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>A1- The interesting thing, though, is that the skills needed to scale are different from the skills needed in the "survival" phase #tsparksadityapk</div> <div>A1 - Demography plays a vital role. You need to experiment with different strategies at different locations. #tsparksiwillstudy.com</div> <div>The two approaches to scaling - "scale to fit next stage" vs. "scale for the long haul" - Most startups think #2, but execute #1 #tsparksMukund Mohan</div> <div>A1 - Startups need to have a plan for scaling. The worst thing that can happen is that initial success surprises you #tsparksadityapk</div> <div>The biggest barrier is figuring out "what to scale" #tsparksSuresh Sambandam</div> <div>@raovallab Seed stage risk capital is key here,betting capital at the R&D stage-VC would follow once proof points there #tsparks #tsparksSoumitra Sharma</div> <div> <h2>Media/Press Support for Scaling Up?</h2> </div> <div>A1 What about media/press? Is it tough to get attention outside India (to bring in more customers)? #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>@KiraMNewman this is a very important point. does a startup from India to have access to global coverage? #TsparksJubin Mehta</div> <div>A1 Global press can definitely help, because lots of products/apps can be used anywhere #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>@KiraMNewman Global press is not even needed to that extent . Local media houses (of respective countries) bridge the gap! #tsparksAlok Soni</div> <div>If you have a 'story' often called product-market fit, easy to find money, money will find talent #tsparksSuresh Sambandam</div> <div>A2 on culture/language: Do your research and don't make assumptions...for ex, Indonesians love Blackberry! #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div> <h2>Question 2: <b>How can we address these challenges and barriers?</b></h2> <div><b>What are some of the things that could help startups overcome these barriers ? </b></div> </div> <div>A2 - When you're addressing the scale problem, it is very important to seek out help from experts - Folks that have been there #tsparksadityapk</div> <div>@raovallab 1. Don't lose the vision for core product2.Keep long term perspective in mind while recruiting3.Use media efficiently #tsparksAlok Soni</div> <div>If as a founder, you dont get absolutely sick of recruiting all the time, you are probably doing it wrong #tsparksMukund Mohan</div> <div>A2) 1) Make optimum use of available resources 2) network with quality people 3) Learn from mistakes and correct it fast #tsparksRajeevnath</div> <div>A2 Media tips: 1) Tell your backstory/motivation, 2) Compare to similar startups, eg. "LinkedIn 4 India," 3) Be short & sweet #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>when that happens, easy to find match for the entrepreneur hypothesis and investor hypothesis - leading to capital , hopefully big #tsparksSuresh Sambandam</div> <div>A2)Also, we need Indian investors across the spectrum(angel,VC,growth) to better appreciate investing in product ventures #tsparksSoumitra Sharma</div> <div> <h2><b>Question 3: Success stories/Good examples who have scaled</b></h2> <div><b>Despite the constraints and barriers, Indian startups have managed to grow and scale, panelists and participants had many names to share </b></div> </div> <div>A3)Komli-online ad network #tsparksSoumitra Sharma</div> <div>A3 My Fav from Hyderabad - MartJack and DimDim #tsparksJanakiram MSV</div> <div>DimdimEasy, open, affordable collaboration for online meetings, eLearning, desktop sharing, training, distance education, webinar, free web m...</div> <div>#Zoho is a good example of a B2B product company that has done well - scaling #tsparksCharlee Johnston</div> <div>A3)Inmobi-lucky to get angels/VCs who believed;CEO who thinks large and global and fast;outmuscle through capitalization #tsparksSoumitra Sharma</div> <div>A3 - JustDial, MicroMax, Zoho to add more #tsparksChandan Raj</div> <div>More Than 5 Million Users Work Online With ZohoZoho offers a suite of online web applications geared towards increasing your productivity and offering easy collaboration. Zoho's ...</div> <div>some names we have come across minecraft, inmobi, united mobile apps, Manthan , zoho , perfint ,druva, gluster , pubmatic #tsparks more?YourStory</div> <div>A3 Recently interviewed @sharmashradha and she cited Reverie, Forus Health... #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>undefinedTechcocktail</div> <div>A Peek Inside India's Startup Scene, with Female Founder Shradha SharmaSomething is brewing in India. "The joke about Bangalore is that if you knock at a door, you'll meet either a startup or somebody plannin...</div> <div> <h2>Question 4: <b>Resources, tools available to scale your product </b> </h2> <div>As a startups what are the resources you have access to that will enable you to scale ? Surprisingly most answers we got were very accessible:</div> </div> <div>A4 I would strongly recommend the latest from Guy Kawasaki - Enchantment! Essential guide to create a community! #tsparksJanakiram MSV</div> <div>A4) You have to draw inputs from many; similar companies, books, investors, yr team & imp. yr customers and connect the dots. #tsparksSuresh Sambandam</div> <div>A4 Read & learn from other regional media like @sgentrepreneurs @dailysocial @Techinasia #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>A4 Tapping into your inner circle and choosing the right mentors is an essential resource! #tsparksJanakiram MSV</div> <div>Steve Jobs biography for design, vision, inspiration #obvious #tsparksKira M. Newman</div> <div>Businessinsider</div> <div> <h2>Closing Remarks:</h2> </div> <div>With TechSparks our endeavor is to provide a platform for tech startups to scale and grow #tsparksYourStory</div> <div>Are you a product tech startup? Apply for TechSparks 2012! </div> <div>Application Form | Technology Event in IndiaApplication form for Techsparks 2012 startup business event in India</div> <div>This year we go to 6 cities in India! Log on to http://yourstory.in/events/techsparks/ to keep yourself updated! #tsparksYourStory</div> <div>Please follow updates from TechSparks at @techsparks2012 #tsparks , there's more to come !YourStory</div>