When the start-up bug bites journalists

 The start-up phenomenon is infectious. Start-ups excite not just those who are starting up but also those who are covering it. When the start-up bug bites, who cares a damn about the high rate of mortality?
 Every idea looks great and promises to solves this or that problem the society faces.
  Tracking start-ups in the last five years, I'm always bewildered at their agility, their ability to think differently and busting the myths.   Their innocent and sincere belief that they can create something big, out of thin air. 
  Their devil-may-care attitude and their ability to take risks, particularly in a country like India where failure is not treated with any respect never fail to amaze. 

Positive Vibes

  You feel energized with the young entrepreneurs moving around with a lot of optimism, spreading positive vibes. For someone in journalism with a lot of skeptics around spreading negative vibes, it's a cultural shock.
   You feel younger than you are after spending some time with them. I never lose an opportunity to interact with them, see them presenting their ideas.
  No wonder if the start-up bug bites journalists too. At least two journalists I know and worked with at some point of time in my career quit their otherwise comfortable jobs to start up.
 It's not something new that journalists quitting their jobs to set up their own business ventures. That was pre-start-up era.
A friend of mine, Prasad Kunisetty, quit journalism in the dotcom boom era of late 1990s to try something in technology business.
In the last two months at least two journalists that I know have announced their start-up plans.

Adrobe Networks

   Raji Reddy Kesireddy, who worked in a couple of Telugu newspapers before joining Economic Times, put in his papers to set up a hyper local e-commerce venture Adrobe. He says there is a lot of potential that local groceries and other local retailers can tap.
  He argues that the discounts that they offer are going to the 'physical' customers. They can do well if they offer the same discounts to the virtual customers.
  With Rs 1 crore he raised from family and friends, he has just rolled out the services. He hires 18 people to connect the retailers with the customers, who have just begun to relish taste of e-commerce.

FactorDaily 
 The other initiative is from Pankaj Mishra, arguably one of the finest technology reporters in the country. I admired him for his simple writing skills, breaking reports and level-headed approach to journalism and people.
 His FactorDaily promises to bring technology news that you can use. I see a dire need for such kind of a news site. Though technology reporters have been writing on technology products and services that impact our lives, it's all in bits and pieces. 
I can't wait to see how his venture lives up to the promises it makes. 
Here's what Pankaj relates the idea. https://medium.com/factor-daily/why-we-started-factordaily-94ad3d4611b3#.1o401ayso 

"So why are we doing this?

Technology is going mainstream in India, and by that, I am not referring to the country’s software services industry. It’s the way people in India, across the demographics, are applying technology and social tools to get more out of life. It’s very similar to how software is eating the world. And as technology storytellers, we believe this is the best time to make sense of technology disruption, newer companies and people shaping the next big ideas in India."

Challenging task
I'm sure they know how risky it is to run a start-up. We know. Because, nothing is riskier than being a journalist. I wish both all the best in their endeavours.

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/adrobe.in/?fref=ts
https://medium.com/factor-daily/about

Smart Cities, Ugly Life

Technology is democratic in nature. It is a great leveler -- no matter who is using it, it gives the
same results, same comfort. But there are a couple of important riders -- you must be able to afford to own and understand technology to enjoy that democratic space.
Technology can improve quality of life. It can significantly change the way we buy things and access services -- public or private. One layer of urban India has already become smart and is enjoying the benefits the Smart world is offering. They are buying tickets, ordering food, booking cabs -- on the go.
With technology tapping all the unused potential, bringing down prices, life has become much more easier for those who can buy a good smart phone with a good Internet connection and, of course.
No wonder the urban India is anxiously waiting for 'Smart Cities' project launched by the Centre. Tasting the utility of smart tools, they want much more.
But the immediate challenges the urban India facing are not so smart. They, in fact, are ugly and deserve immediate attention. It sounds          rhetoric, if one talks about the acute poverty, poor sanitation, abysmal healthcare facilities, illiteracy and lack of jobs. The cost of living has gone up so high that even the middleclass is feeling the pinch. Majority of people in urban areas are living in unlivable conditions.
Looks like our priorities are skewed. It's become glamorous for politicians to talk technology, Smart Cities, e-commerce. The more you talk technology and 'smartness', the more you get coverage in the media.
A sense of equity must prevail. While a larger section of cities are under tremendous pressure. While the cities are saddled with poor and insufficient infrastructure making travel a real hell, smart apps are equipping the police with super smart tools to nab those who violate traffic rules. You are blaming the victim.
A top Telangana bureaucrat announced that the Government intends to do away with all physical interactions over a period of three years. "We will make all the G-2-c services available only electronic form," he said.
Sounds great. Isn't it?
But, then, one must remember that we are not the US or the UK or Sweden.
The talk on Smart Cities is targeted at satisfying the influential layer of urban areas. If it is satisfied, its vocal section is satisfied. Or, they can quickly write a blog post or send out a Tweet that would be retweeted several times over, or start a Facebook page to quickly garner public support.
I am not saying it is not important. It's any way being taken care by the social media. Young, enterprising start-ups are driving innovation, taking care of the needs of this layer.
But what the government must focus on is the bigger, uglier part of the urban areas. People are dying in hundreds of dengue, swine flu and diarrhea and need urgent . They deserve immediate attention. Now.