The soft-spoken blogger says the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India is inclined towards charismatic and media-savvy entrepreneurs. Quite a few bright start-ups fail, he says, as their promoters can’t create a buzz around them. “Pluggd.In, on the other hand, talks only about a product or a technology. We do not get influenced by the personal charisma or media suaveness of an entrepreneur,” he says.
And as for showcase events such as Proto and HeadStart Network Foundation for start-up firms, Sinha says many of these are about creating that buzz and gathering a large audience. “Most events are sophisticated, suit-and-tie events. You really cannot go there and say, ‘I don’t have money to give to my employees’. They are not the forums to talk about such things.”
Sinha says many companies that were first profiled on Pluggd.In were later showcased at start-up events. Expectedly, he is criticized by the organizers of these events for spoiling their bid to bring a company into the limelight for the first time. “The number of hate mails I get is very high. As long as what you are doing is right, even if it (annoys) certain people, it’s OK.”
Kallol Borah, a co-founder and director of HeadStart Network Foundation, says a start-up showcase event is different from Pluggd.In, except for the common link provided by entrepreneurs. “Pluggd.In is a website. I also visit it. It’s a media portal driven by Ashish. HeadStart, on the other hand, was founded on the premise that an entrepreneur showcases his company and that we help the company become more customer-centric and not VC (venture capital)-centric,” he says.
Early-stage technology venture capital firm Ojas Venture Partners, a regular visitor at both Pluggd.In and HeadStart events, says neither blogging nor a showcase can lead to funding. “They are both discovery mechanisms,” says Rajesh Srivathsa, managing partner, Ojas, adding that both have their place.
Sinha says his biggest challenge lies in reaching out to companies in smaller cities. “A lot of social entrepreneurs are working there, but no one is writing about them.” Sinha says his friends and acquaintances help him get in touch with new firms. At times, these firms approach him directly.
Meanwhile, some very young firms have gained from Pluggd.In’s coverage. For six-month-old Wingify, a New Delhi-based firm that offers website optimization software, the biggest challenge was in getting early adopters. The firm is yet to launch its product, but was pleasantly surprised when, within three weeks of being featured on Pluggd.In, it got 10 early users and possibly its first customer. Pluggd.In had profiled the firm in July, says Paras Chopra, chief executive, Wingify. The start-up had approached Sinha for using its optimization software on his website.
He used it, liked it and profiled it, says Chopra, adding that Sinha continues to use the software. The firm is now in talks with a Bangalore-based venture capital firm, which has a portfolio company looking for the kind of technology Wingify offers, said Chopra, adding that the talks are at an advanced stage.
“Having early adopters is crucial for a firm like ours. We need validation, some early users, before we make an announcement to the world. A lot of positive things have happened to us since the coverage,” says Chopra.