It's reasonable to expect people to donate to charity or to invest for a profit. A combination of both i.e donating to a for-profit venture makes an unreasonable expectation.
During the last couple of weeks, I had the pleasure of supporting one such unreasonable cause: raising $ 8,000 for Arohana Dairy Pvt Ltd, headed by my cousin, Devi Prasad Rao.
With no prior experience and no precedents to learn from, we were very much on our own. A combination of the “Social network” and low tech was what followed:
Facebook, Twitter, Emails, SMSes, LinkedIn, Digg and videos being posted on youtube.
Knocking on your neighbor's door, calling the uncle you’ve not called in the last 2 years, going through your phone-book and spending the better part of 20 minutes talking about their life, then yours and finally about Arohana. I’ve spent every night sitting up late to speak to friends overseas on Skype, spending hours chatting to raise the cash. Old favors were called in and new ones done, finding hotel rooms in Paris, arranging conference calls with Devi so that potential donors can clarify their doubts directly, proof reading a friend's script for a movie! Unreasonable indeed.
While the social networks created the hype and awareness, the personal interactions were more successful. Family and close friends pitched in, big time. We'd end the day by sharing success stories, inspiring feedbacks received and frustrations. Every week we'd have new recruits in our ever growing circle of campaigners and we kept learning. Our pitches got refined, objections anticipated and handled better, FAQs created, a chic, new video launched and confidence that we'd make it. We also realized early on that the race was essentially against ourselves, to be better every day and remain motivated and focused without being over-confident. As the word got out, the money poured in.
From our key supporters, a few rich obnoxious, relatives and a generous grant from HP, we built a backup of guaranteed donations of over $ 3,000 that we could rely on, if required. In the end, we raised $ 8,000 in 31 days without accessing any of these funds.
Through it all, we got sore voices, aching heads, puffy eyes, lots of pending work but had truckloads of fun, raising money for a cause we believed would make the world a better place.
The Marketplace for this years unreasonable institute is now open at https://marketplace.unreasonableinstitute.org , check it out
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, August 5, 2011
Rock revisited
Mr.Akhilesh Alva, a cherished buddy and an ardent heavy metal loyalist unlike yours truly shared today the unplugged version of four horsemen and it all started to flow back.
From a time when I used to listen to Britney spears - Hit me baby one more time at full volume with the equalizers in the V(high bass, high treble and no vocals) mode(I swear, that's all I know about equalizers). To where I am now, a bit of a softie and not much of a rock fan. As musical taste has always been, a matter of peers, choices, opinions, taste and always evolution with an ever expanding repertoire. Let me take a look back while the Aces are still high :)
In the life and times of a teenager, identity is all that matters. During these times,
Life it seems will fade away,
Drifting further everyday,
Getting lost within myself,
Nothing matters no one else,
I have lost the will to live,
Simply nothing more to give,
There is nothing more for me,
Need the end to set me free
Meant more that what anyone book, person or song could ever say about what I perceived was happening to me and expressed in a way only Metallica could.
There have been times where we have seen the face of Wickerman in the CFTRI ground right next to home soon after half a strong beer and few chips.
These were the times when a sore neck was the souvenirs to show our mates who weren't lucky enough to make it to scorpions who told us the winds of change are blowing towards us and most beautiful violinist I ever saw only stamped that thought into my head.
A period where 666 was the only number worth remembering and hallowed was the name of him who had remorse on the morning of his end.
To us, they were the sounds that our parents hated so much that we loved them.
To us, they were stuff that yellow shirt wearing poppers could only hate.
To us, The air guitars that I have carried, red fire spitting and black as the night sky had played tunes with slash and kirk, the way only we can. In sync with the greats, Sweat pouring, soul aching, mind churning and absolutely liberating.
Life was sad but still true. The fear of the dark was overcome at 2 minutes to midnight cause we were the riders of the storm.
The end was near but it was beautiful, it was slow, and it was full of love. For the black and the white, For the blood and the tears, For the living and the dead.
BUT NOT THOSE BLOODY POPPERS ;)
From a time when I used to listen to Britney spears - Hit me baby one more time at full volume with the equalizers in the V(high bass, high treble and no vocals) mode(I swear, that's all I know about equalizers). To where I am now, a bit of a softie and not much of a rock fan. As musical taste has always been, a matter of peers, choices, opinions, taste and always evolution with an ever expanding repertoire. Let me take a look back while the Aces are still high :)
In the life and times of a teenager, identity is all that matters. During these times,
Life it seems will fade away,
Drifting further everyday,
Getting lost within myself,
Nothing matters no one else,
I have lost the will to live,
Simply nothing more to give,
There is nothing more for me,
Need the end to set me free
Meant more that what anyone book, person or song could ever say about what I perceived was happening to me and expressed in a way only Metallica could.
There have been times where we have seen the face of Wickerman in the CFTRI ground right next to home soon after half a strong beer and few chips.
These were the times when a sore neck was the souvenirs to show our mates who weren't lucky enough to make it to scorpions who told us the winds of change are blowing towards us and most beautiful violinist I ever saw only stamped that thought into my head.
A period where 666 was the only number worth remembering and hallowed was the name of him who had remorse on the morning of his end.
To us, they were the sounds that our parents hated so much that we loved them.
To us, they were stuff that yellow shirt wearing poppers could only hate.
To us, The air guitars that I have carried, red fire spitting and black as the night sky had played tunes with slash and kirk, the way only we can. In sync with the greats, Sweat pouring, soul aching, mind churning and absolutely liberating.
Life was sad but still true. The fear of the dark was overcome at 2 minutes to midnight cause we were the riders of the storm.
The end was near but it was beautiful, it was slow, and it was full of love. For the black and the white, For the blood and the tears, For the living and the dead.
BUT NOT THOSE BLOODY POPPERS ;)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Changing the nation and leading the world
Enterprising is defined as having or showing initiative and resourcefulness. Sounds like a pretty desirable quality to have right, but today there is another BUZZ word : Entrepreneurial, the willingness to take risk and make profit.
It all came about rather suddenly in the weeks of february when all of a sudden, my dodappa agreed to send me and my elder brother a conclave held by "The indus entreprenuer"'s mumbai chapter. Enterprising India - coming together of some highly succesful diverse entreprenuers, fantastic business enablers and all in all, some genuinely admirable human beings.
The focus was "Changing the Nation, Leading the World". They even made a song about it(I'll post the link when I find it), it was a super catchy tune, I swear I've heard before - Something that's stuck in my head even today.
The panel was something to look forward from the word go, an early landing at NCPA meant and we could attend the first session of meet the investors. These were gentlemen with money - to invest in companies of the future. Including the likes of Mr.Sandeep Murthy who heads Sherpalo, which holds stake in some very admirable startups and his portfolio today seems to be filled with companies that will be tomorrows Googles. I clearly remember these words "We dont have enough good companies to invest in, money is not an issue". Its a bit hard to believe, especially if you are in my position. During this meet, we had one entrepreneur interlace his question to the investors with his 5 second pitch, and the response from Murthy was simple - "Sure, lets talk" and getting those words from a VC I'm sure was music to the gentlemans' ears.
That set the tone for the next 2 days - The writing was on the wall
- Identify your customers need and serve it
- Opportunity exists
- Money is available
As the CEO of redbus, Mr.Phanindra Sama put it, echoing the words of JRD tata - "Always figure out ways to solve other peoples problems, that the only way you will get what you want". It is definitely a slow process, but its what customer insight is all about. Often times, it is what you get offered - is what is most important but in reality, if we are to achieve anything worthwhile, with full support, we need to always, keep our customer in mind.
I suppose, that was made great entrepreneurs of all those who claimed that stage on that day and the next, ability to spot opportunity in problems! Case in point, Mr.Ram Karuturi of Karuturi Global networks. As on date, the worlds largest rose manufacturer, based on out Bangalore, catering to 110 countries worldwide, but with farming in AFRICA! He took the problems of Africa political instability and turned it on its head to lower his operating costs. His ideas on managing the show there and ensuring his assets brought him and his company stake holders VALUE was indeed inspiring and reminiscent of the all encompassing indian phenomenon of JUGAAD!
During the days, we were witness to some of the great minds, some who were born geniuses such as Ashwin Mahesh of Mapunity and other who had philanthropy as their lifes' goal - Quitting a top job in singapore, to start a company that provides clean water to millions - A salute to Walterlife and Sudesh Menon.
I could go on and on for another hundred pages on all that I saw and all that I perceived, but let me end by saying this. It takes a lot to give up but it takes even more to GO up.. And I believe that these 2 days have not only given me ideas to GO up, but shown that it is possible and how?
Thanks Dodappa.
Love,
Adi
It all came about rather suddenly in the weeks of february when all of a sudden, my dodappa agreed to send me and my elder brother a conclave held by "The indus entreprenuer"'s mumbai chapter. Enterprising India - coming together of some highly succesful diverse entreprenuers, fantastic business enablers and all in all, some genuinely admirable human beings.
The focus was "Changing the Nation, Leading the World". They even made a song about it(I'll post the link when I find it), it was a super catchy tune, I swear I've heard before - Something that's stuck in my head even today.
The panel was something to look forward from the word go, an early landing at NCPA meant and we could attend the first session of meet the investors. These were gentlemen with money - to invest in companies of the future. Including the likes of Mr.Sandeep Murthy who heads Sherpalo, which holds stake in some very admirable startups and his portfolio today seems to be filled with companies that will be tomorrows Googles. I clearly remember these words "We dont have enough good companies to invest in, money is not an issue". Its a bit hard to believe, especially if you are in my position. During this meet, we had one entrepreneur interlace his question to the investors with his 5 second pitch, and the response from Murthy was simple - "Sure, lets talk" and getting those words from a VC I'm sure was music to the gentlemans' ears.
That set the tone for the next 2 days - The writing was on the wall
- Identify your customers need and serve it
- Opportunity exists
- Money is available
As the CEO of redbus, Mr.Phanindra Sama put it, echoing the words of JRD tata - "Always figure out ways to solve other peoples problems, that the only way you will get what you want". It is definitely a slow process, but its what customer insight is all about. Often times, it is what you get offered - is what is most important but in reality, if we are to achieve anything worthwhile, with full support, we need to always, keep our customer in mind.
I suppose, that was made great entrepreneurs of all those who claimed that stage on that day and the next, ability to spot opportunity in problems! Case in point, Mr.Ram Karuturi of Karuturi Global networks. As on date, the worlds largest rose manufacturer, based on out Bangalore, catering to 110 countries worldwide, but with farming in AFRICA! He took the problems of Africa political instability and turned it on its head to lower his operating costs. His ideas on managing the show there and ensuring his assets brought him and his company stake holders VALUE was indeed inspiring and reminiscent of the all encompassing indian phenomenon of JUGAAD!
During the days, we were witness to some of the great minds, some who were born geniuses such as Ashwin Mahesh of Mapunity and other who had philanthropy as their lifes' goal - Quitting a top job in singapore, to start a company that provides clean water to millions - A salute to Walterlife and Sudesh Menon.
I could go on and on for another hundred pages on all that I saw and all that I perceived, but let me end by saying this. It takes a lot to give up but it takes even more to GO up.. And I believe that these 2 days have not only given me ideas to GO up, but shown that it is possible and how?
Thanks Dodappa.
Love,
Adi
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Joys of campaigning
First of all, quick update! Its been a very very long time since I wrote.. Almost 6 months and there's a reason why - I'm at home, I got a hundred million things to do which beg for my time, not to mention I continue to watch all the series that I used to watch when I had little to do and was in the EU!! SO, that explained, onto other most important things.. Like the title above.
I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I'M CHUFFED ABOUT IT.
Some background here : I have a very special cousin(no, he's not disabled ;) - ok, that was unwarranted) who's been a quite inspiring for me. SO, he has a social enterprise which aims to improve the lives of marginalized farmers through education, co development, empowerment etc etc... Which I think is a great initiative, so I jumped into the bandwagon and started campaigning for him..
How? well, I have a all my wonderful friends on every social network worth its salt and started putting it up on the wall + mentions to friends I could chat up with and so on.
That was fun, but here's what I saw.......
People love to talk causes
People love to talk about making differences
People love to appreciate people who are making differences
BUT THEY DON WANNA PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, thats an entirely different ball game.
Well, this particular venture I'm talking about is a bit different too, judging by the fact that its called the unreasonable institute... Well, different because you will never see the money you gave away again, its gone... POOF.. and this money will go to support the entrepreneur, not the cause... to go meet PE(private equity) guys who will help him/her scale up the model and make a difference on the ground... LONG CYCLE, agreed... But, there are a hundred million questions asked, some are very tough, some much easier.. And with a lot of effort, I saw 2 distinct patterns in the deals that did finally go through!
- Either people get convinced right away and ask you how much they can part with and how
- or people are least bothered about whatever it is you are doing!
So, been going viral until about last week, an approach that hasnt worked, so after a deep look at the content, and with the eager effort from MR.CEO=>Mr.Devi prasad rao himself, we have had a brand new video and a new campaign....
and TADA, no wait...
thats later...
I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I'M CHUFFED ABOUT IT.
Some background here : I have a very special cousin(no, he's not disabled ;) - ok, that was unwarranted) who's been a quite inspiring for me. SO, he has a social enterprise which aims to improve the lives of marginalized farmers through education, co development, empowerment etc etc... Which I think is a great initiative, so I jumped into the bandwagon and started campaigning for him..
How? well, I have a all my wonderful friends on every social network worth its salt and started putting it up on the wall + mentions to friends I could chat up with and so on.
That was fun, but here's what I saw.......
People love to talk causes
People love to talk about making differences
People love to appreciate people who are making differences
BUT THEY DON WANNA PAY FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yup, thats an entirely different ball game.
Well, this particular venture I'm talking about is a bit different too, judging by the fact that its called the unreasonable institute... Well, different because you will never see the money you gave away again, its gone... POOF.. and this money will go to support the entrepreneur, not the cause... to go meet PE(private equity) guys who will help him/her scale up the model and make a difference on the ground... LONG CYCLE, agreed... But, there are a hundred million questions asked, some are very tough, some much easier.. And with a lot of effort, I saw 2 distinct patterns in the deals that did finally go through!
- Either people get convinced right away and ask you how much they can part with and how
- or people are least bothered about whatever it is you are doing!
So, been going viral until about last week, an approach that hasnt worked, so after a deep look at the content, and with the eager effort from MR.CEO=>Mr.Devi prasad rao himself, we have had a brand new video and a new campaign....
and TADA, no wait...
thats later...
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