Watch this video below. Only one word describes this: Amazing.
I see a lot of potential for this technology, especially in tele medicine, education etc. The doctor comes to the patient no matter whereever the patient is. This might become the standard for conducting board meetings. This also means, greater sharing of resources. Let's say, a Harvard professor can teach a bigger audience. More companies can get a Guy Kawasaki on their board of directors.
Image via WikipediaI admire Cisco. They as a company have shown tremendous commitment to the emerging markets like India. They have moved 20% of their senior management to the Bangalore globalization centre. The above video is from their global conference call done from Bangalore.
"We have to be here," Elfrink, Cisco's chief globalisation officer says. "If we are not here, someone else will be. You have a billion people here, a billion people in China, 300 million people in Indonesia - all of whom will start consuming and enjoying life. If we don't understand these economies and cultures, how can we be a global company?"
From BT: A decade after coming to India for cost, Cisco now sees it as a second global HQ. Here are the company’s plans:
* Move senior management, beginning with Wim Elfrink, to its Globalisation Centre East in Bangalore to manage the transition
* Have business units based and run entirely from India; these will be new entities, and not relocated from the US or Europe
* Address economies in a five-hour flight span from Bangalore from the globalisation centre
* Sell the idea of operating a second global HQ internally and look for more senior and middle managers to make the transition
* Change Cisco’s work culture from ‘command and conquer,’ where the US headquarters dictates strategy to one of collaboration, where senior executives are allowed to run their businesses almost autonomously
* Build middle management bandwidth internally to allow local employees to eventually take over entire global business units headquartered from Bangalore
* Have business units focus on large opportunities domestically and in proximate markets like Saudi Arabia and focus R&D efforts on developing solutions for these economies
Proto.in, India's premier platform for startups is happening in Bangalore on January 23-24, 2009. Founded with the mantra of 'Create, Collaborate, Contribute', proto aims to give India's army of entrepreneurs a platform to share their vision and to showcase a working prototype, for the world to see.
From their site: "Proto.in is the startup event that happens in India, inviting entrepreneurs from within and around the subcontinent to participate, share, discuss and draw strength from the growing entrepreneurial demand and knowledge base that is created, in an effort to create world-class product leaders from the region. Proto is about celebrating entrepreneurship, and encouraging it where it matters the most - at the startup level!
1. To Showcase Innovative technology products borne out of India
2. To Encourage, grow and create entrepreneurial awareness
3. To create a community of startup entrepreneurs, who can grow in strength and numbers, drawing wisdom from each other.
4. To act as a bridge between well-established companies, veteran entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, analysts, journalists, professionals and grass-root entrepreneurs."
Here is how it works: A Judging panel shortlists the companies from the submitted nominations. The companies who make it to the finals, have to sell the idea/concept in a three minute presentation to the audience and may get an opportunity to raise funds from the venture capitals and angel investors present at the event.
More over, there will be presentations and workshops held by distinguished Veterans, successful entrepreneurs and Industry stalwarts who will also share their feedbacks, and interact with the companies. All in all, it is definitely a good arena for the startups to showcase their produts, get some valuable feedbacks as well as visibility and branding for the company.
One interesting concept which they are introducitng at the Bangalore event is the PitchCamp, where startups are mentored how to pitch their idea, keeping in mind the strategic objective behind the pitching.
I would love to participate in Proto.in. There is so much to learn from these energectic and enthusiastic personalities and entrepreneurs that participate.
The nominations for the Jan'09 edition of Proto is open now. The last date for submitting the nominations is Dec 15, 2008.
The pictures of the protests held in Mumbai over the devastating terrorist attacks are spreading virally. A glance at these pictures will tell you how pissed off are the Indian public with the politicians in the country.
This protests sends out a very strong message to the Indian politicians. No more convoluted logics, No more theories, No more hypocracies.. You need to act.. The life of Indians doesn't come cheap. Learn from other politicians in the world - country comes first and then his/her own party... Look at the acceptance speech made by McCain. He said: "From now onwards, Obama is my President. Dear President, Lead us". Hard to think off something like that in India.
No where in the world would you see a person responsible for attacking the Parliament- pinnacle of democracy, the largest democracy in the world, is fed at the government's expense. Indonesia, one of the largest muslim country in the world, hanged the muslim terrorists who were responsible for the Bali bombings. India, is so "secular" that despite its policmen died protecting the parliment, despite the surpreme court ruling, it only sees the religion of the conspirator and protects him. Terrorists have no religion. When will any of the politicians learn that? Surprised? says, Arun Shourie- an excellent article.
Enough of this nonsense. Please do not force us to take weapons for our own safety. If you cannot provide safety for us, we will. Indian politician, we dont know how pathetic you have become. This protests is a warning. Learn from it and Change. Change We Need!
Note: The Mumbai protests have been remarkable with the shear number of people who participated. Bloggers of Mumbai played a big role in it. As Rasmi says, Keep the candle burning. By the way, I really liked slide 11!
Alok Mittal of Canaan Partners gives a short presentation that outlines what they as a venture capitalist look for in the pitches by startup entrepreneurs. Although, this might be different for the different VCs out there, it still gives a fair idea about how to structure the communiation you send out to the VCs. It is no secret that the VCs are flooded with ideas daily and it is very important to "pitch it correctly" so as to "hit it correctly".
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Image via WikipediaI admire Cisco. They as a company have shown tremendous commitment to the emerging markets like India. They have moved 20% of their senior management to the Bangalore globalization centre. The above video is from their global conference call done from Bangalore.
