Tata Nen's hottest startups

Lots of entrepreneurial activity going on in India.
The most encouraging fact is that the entrepreneurial activity is not in the old tried and tested waters but in the innovative value waters.

Tata-NEN have announced the hottest startup awards for 2008.
The TATA NEN Hottest Startup Awards are a result of the combined efforts of TATA, a rapidly growing business group in India with significant international operations, and the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), a non-profit organization, and India's leader in entrepreneurship education.I am not here to explain what it is, just tune into their homepage.Click here

Businessgyan has come up with an article on the 30 shortlisted startups here

While I was researching each business, these ideas struck me as innovative.

Ecomove solutions: Its like the bicycle rental service available in France.
Ecomove Solutions Pvt Ltd (EMS) is intending to launch rental station network that allows you to hire and return a bicycle.
"It is proposed to provide eco friendly and economical alternative travel solutions to the members of EMS. To start with, we are looking at providing high-end bicycle rental services to all the members at various locations in Mumbai. We intend to have about 40 locations to start with around Mumbai and nearby areas."
(Wonderful idea, but I am afraid if the market is ready for a change like this. I may rent a bicycle in US, but would not do the same in India. My reasons would be sweaty, personal safety and pollution.)

Dailydump: Helps you compost most of your home waste at home. It sells related products and helps in after sales service.
(Can see a niche market in upper class and few sections of the upper class society. If the investment is not huge, breakeven would be pretty easy. Great idea though.)

Deskaway: Online project management tool.
DeskAway gives you an accurate view of your project progress and eliminates common problems when working in teams. DeskAway is an online software, so, there is nothing to download or install on any computer. All you need is an Internet connection and a web browser.

Elements Akademia: Elements Akademia - conceptualized, funded and run by a group of IIM Alumni - is envisaged as an innovative national chain of vocational schools.

Lakshya: The background looks very impressive. Built hobby into a business. Figured in the entrepreneurial case study in Darden Business School and ISB, Hyderabad. Lakshya is a dream child of four young IIT graduates, conceptualized with an aim to revolutionize the way learning is perceived and teaching is delivered. "We believe that with a proper thought process given to teaching pedagogy, "Learning can be made Interesting" and hence effective."

The Loot: "The LOOT" is a multi-brand discount store, offering customers a wide range of products with discounts ranging between 25% -60% - throughout the year.

Evam Entertainment: Evam is a 'theatre entrepreneurship' fuelled by youngsters for the youth. A 5 year young 'happy factory' with one mission - use theatre to make people's life happier and to fill their lives with lightness and a sense of purpose.Primary Revenue streams include live stage theatre shows, corporate theatre performances, theatreLIVE methodology based corporate training modules, 'd sound n d light' - Evam's audio media productions and student interaction modules.
(This looks promising, esp for the Gen-N group who wanna do diverse activities while working on their full time job. Suprisingly met an old friend after 16 years and she mentioned that she was part of this theatre chapter in hyderabad.)


Sanmaan Org: Sammaan's idea is to systematize the working of all Rickshaw pullers by bringing them under one roof and to modernize the cycle rickshaw pulling sector (which contributes 30% in urban transport) with small but innovative changes. This not only makes it easier for the rickshaw pullers to drive and increase their income through Outdoor Advertising, but Value Added service such as sale of Mineral water, Juices, Mobile recharge, courier collection, Bills collections also makes it more comfortable and enjoyable ride for the commuter.
( I like this idea a lot. Was just reading "The Blue Ocean Strategy" which mentioned of entering unchartered market spaces by adding value with innovation. This is exactly what they are doing.)

Librarywala: Librarywala provides a wide selection of books to readers at a low cost and at their convenience.
(An idea that everyone has but no one has the guts to go about it. Success depends a lot on the marketing, operation and serving customer values)


These were the most striking and innovative ideas among the shortlisted 30.
The common positive point observed among all these firms is the website design. The website designs of all these companies are really strikingly innovative. Lots of young minds working creatively...