‘Power doesn't come from clothes, it comes from within’ – 40 quotes from Indian startup journeys
From aspiration to attitude, witness the memorable journey of Indian entrepreneurship in these quotes, excerpts and stories!
Launched in 2014, StoryBites is a weekly feature from YourStory, featuring notable quotable quotes in our articles of this past week (see the previous post here). Share these 40 gems and insights from the week of January 28 – February 3 with your colleagues and networks, and check back to the original articles for more insights. See also our compilation of Top 50 Quotes from 2018 here.
Understanding customers fast is key in today’s rapidly changing markets. - Anthony Thomas, Nissan Motors
It’s critical to build great products for customers, give them a lifetime of experience, and keep innovating. These are mantras every budding entrepreneur must abide by. - Diwakar Nigam, Newgen
Traditional software services companies need to transform from providing “technology arbitrage” to “innovation arbitrage”, and be prepared to undertake innovation services. - Harshit Singhal, HashedIn Technologies
It’s always smart to own a customer’s delivery when you own the customer. - Kushal Nahata, FarEye
The speed of delivery is a given. Customers can now have a say in how their shipments are delivered. In fact, they can schedule a delivery at a time convenient for them. - R. S. Subramanian, DHL Express India
The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. - Oprah Winfrey
Your fear of failure can only be defeated by your desire to succeed. - '1001 Ways to Creativity'
Don't process your failures as "game over," but rather as part of a rigorous startup methodology wherein you gather more information at each step along the way. - John Danner and Mark Coopersmith, 'The Other “F” Word'
Having a fun quotient in marketing always makes it easier to get into many more conversations, and keep the message at the forefront of all online platforms. - Nikunj Thakkar, DataOne Innovation Labs
POS software in India generates a lot of interest but few companies are able to provide a complete solution. - Prashant Lohia, Ginesys
We are yet to see massive growth of digital marketing in Tier II and Tier III cities. - Deepak Kanakaraju, PixelTrack
Most companies use paper and spreadsheets to perform compliance procedures, resulting in errors, oversights, and delays. - Vivek Gera, LeucineTech
Earlier, companies in the supply chain didn’t have a digital platform to showcase data about their product in a comprehensive way, for things like auditing by national and international agencies. - Jitesh Shetty, InfiniChains
India will lead the world in the transport revolution through electric vehicles and energy storage devices, bringing down import dependence and ensuring energy security for our people. - Finance Minister Piyush Goyal
Farm loan waiver is like a saline drip for a patient in critical condition. It is a prescription not for cure. - Shankkar Aiyar, economist
The government should use technology to improve farming methods and use data to change farming. These sops are election-oriented and they don't solve any purpose for us in the long run. - Sunil S, farmer
The government has picked the pulse of job creation by boosting entrepreneurship, something which will most definitely lead to creation of jobs, especially for the youth. - Mayank Bhangadia, Roposo
The Singapore government offers a 400 percent tax break for R&D startups. The Government of India could take a leaf from Singapore. - Seema Prem, FIA Technology
Several brands are digital first today, and it would be difficult for someone who is born online first to now invest in distribution. - Manish Chowdhary, Fit&Glow
India is catching up with the world as educational institutes are harping on cutting-edge technology to enhance learning outcomes. - Atul Temurnikar, Global Schools Foundation
The learning industry is a tricky one with long closure cycles. India is a very difficult market to crack and price realisation is another big problem. - Subramanian Viswanath, Disprz
If telemedicine has to work in India, it has to start with digital health records. - Sohit Kapoor, DRiefcase
With huge investment opportunities coming in the market, there are at least two gaming startups coming up every month. The Indian online gaming industry has a bright future in 2019. - Navkiran Singh, Baazi Games
People like the governing members of the Imphal Angels have come back from the US and other countries and that is a good sign. - Nickson Sharma, North East Venture Fund
The big transition we have now is that David doesn't just have a slingshot anymore, he has several other technological weapons, hence he has a better chance of winning. - Joel Reich, NetApp
VCs will invest in a startup that is validated by corporate. Money from corporates come with much more value than just the money. - Varadarajan Krishna, 100 Open Startups
Digital technology and lean, cloud-based service delivery models allow fintech service providers to reach out to the unserved and underserved masses at lower costs. - Ajit Kumar, RupeeCircle
AI holds fantastic promise for extending the reach and range of human capabilities. - Tom Davenport, 'The AI Advantage'
With AI and financial solutions that address the capital requirements of every Indian, we can make India a financial powerhouse. - Lizzie Chapman, ZestMoney
Digital governance is good governance. - Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union IT and Electronics Minister
The Startup India wave, if fine-tuned for social businesses, has the potential to solve some of our most pressing societal problems. - Paul Basil, Villgro
More than 75% of accidents are actually preventable with timely driver assistance. - Pallav Singh, Kruzr
There’s a thing about internet culture that brings out the worst in humans and there’s a lot of it that brings out the best in us too. - Ian Madrigal, Monopoly Man
If you will not engage, democracy will still be alive, but somebody else’s voice will take precedence. If you want your voice to be heard, you have to use all the tools of democracy available to you. - Revathy Ashok, BPAC
People should stop associating leprosy to the image of extreme disability. It is much like any other skin disease that can be cured completely. - Anil Kumar, NLEP
For India to become a developed country, it must value art and not just technological or economic advancement. - Shombit Sen, gesturism artist
Enjoy and relish the creative process rather than complaining about life. Life is not going to be hunky dory; there is the good and the bad, but focus on the good. - Anonna Guha, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
No one attributes the success of a pianist to the quality of the piano. - Prathap DK, photographer
Power doesn't come from clothes, it comes from within. The whole idea of power-dressing is botched up. - Anita Dongre
YourStory has also published the pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups’ as a creative and motivational guide for innovators (downloadable as apps here: Apple, Android).
