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  • Bootstrapping vs Funding: Which is the Right Strategy to Fund your Startup

    A Startup is a company that is just on the verge of developing and offering services and products that are not available in the market. Startups are now becoming a significant part of every country’s economy; they are providing jobs to the people of this generation and are carrying huge responsibilities.

    They are hugely contributing to the development of the socio-economic conditions of the country. Not only that, through the use of new technologies, they are providing solutions to the problems as well. Every industry is getting to see new Startups and some of them are going to be the future of that industry.

    The survival of a startup hugely depends on the fund, if there is no fund a Startup can never see the daylight, it will shut down even before the beginning. So, for preventing from getting shut down, one needs to arrange funds and must invest in the business and these can be done in two ways.

    One is getting money funded for the startup and the other one is through Bootstrapped. In this article, we will discuss the difference between funded startups and Bootstrapped startups and what they are all about. We will also talk about which will be a better option for your startup. So let’s get into the business.

    “It’s almost always harder to raise capital than you thought it would be, and it always takes longer. So, plan for that.”

    –Richard Harroch

    What is a Bootstrapped Startup?
    Pros and Cons of a Bootstrapped Startup
    Examples of a Bootstrapped Startup
    What is a Funded Startup?
    Pros and Cons of a Funded Startup
    Example of a Funded Startup
    Funding Vs Bootstrapped Startup: Factors That Entrepreneurs Must Consider
    FAQ

    What is a Bootstrapped Startup?

    Bootstrapped startups
    Bootstrapped startups

    Bootstrapped startups are those businesses, where you don’t take capital from an outside source or venture capitalist and totally depend on your own funds for the survival and growth of the business. There is no process for external funding here, you are the leader here and you need to take all kind of decision that is necessary for your business.

    Pros and Cons of a Bootstrapped Startup

    Pros:

    • The thing about bootstrapped startups is that the founder doesn’t have to depend on outside investors for the funds and the ownership solely belongs to the founder.
    • The founder of the business needs to just focus on the business products and services and there is no need for issuing equity.
    • The control of the business belongs to the founder and they don’t get succumbed to any pressures by anyone and have the control to take any important decision regarding the business.

    Cons:

    Examples of a Bootstrapped Startup

    GoPro

    GoPro Logo
    GoPro Logo

    This company is one of the best brands out there for selling personal cameras that capture video photographs was first founded in the year 2002 by Jill Woodman and Nicholas Woodman. It is a successful bootstrapped startup that has now become a big company that sells high-definition personal cameras.

    Nicholas Woodman got the idea of making such cameras that can shoot action photography while he was on a surfing trip to Australia. He funded  $10,000 from his own pocket to his business. He did many jobs such as emailing and truck driving and at last, he was successful. In 2004 his company, GoPro sold the first analogue camera of 35mm.

    GoPro First Camera
    GoPro First Camera

    Zerodha

    Zerodha Logo
    Zerodha Logo

    A popular example of a bootstrapped startup in India is Zerodha, Zerodha is an Indian financial services company founded in 2010 by Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath.

    Nithin Kamath started trading in stocks at the age of 17. When the market crashed between 2001 and 2002, he lost 5 lakh rupees. He still continued to trade in stocks and later started his own brokerage Kamath & Associates. In 2010 he founded Zerodha.

    Now the company has a revenue of 1,093.64 crores INR and is valued at $2 billion. The founder of Zerodha in a series of tweets explained why the company doesn’t raise any funding.

    Nithin Kamath Tweet on Why Zerodha does not raise Funding
    Nithin Kamath Tweet on Why Zerodha does not raise Funding

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    What is a Funded Startup?

    Funding your Startup
    Funding your Startup

    While starting a business, an amount is needed as an investment. There are some startups who decide to raise amounts from the public as the fund for the company. Here you look out for investors also known as venture capitalists, who are actually interested in your business and they provide you with your required amount of capital in return for your company’s equity.

    Pros and Cons of a Funded Startup

    There are some advantages and limitations that one faces when they chose to raise funds from the public for their business and they are:

    Pros:

    • Funding from outside provides businesses with lots of opportunities related to finance which in turn becomes a big factor in the fast growth of their business.
    • The Investors who are funding the business guide the owner of the startup with their experience, if the need arises.
    • The connections of these investors can be a plus point for the startup and it can help them in earning the trust of the public.

    Cons:

    • When external forces started involved in the business, decisions related to payments, finance, equity by the startup founder become limited.
    • The founder loses a big amount of the company to the investors and thus holds a very small part of it.

    Example of a Funded Startup

    Flipkart: Funded by Venture Capital

    Flipkart Logo
    Flipkart Logo

    This online shopping website was founded by Binny Bansal and Sachin Bansal in the year 2007. The online E-Commerce company that started its journey by selling books now sells everything. In the year 2018, Flipkart got its first fund from Junglee and Helion Venture’s founder Ashish Gupta. After that, Flipkart received $10 million from Tiger Global Management. Tiger Global Management is an American investment firm.

    Flipkart keeps getting bigger and bigger with various investments by the investors It even acquired Myntra in the year 2014 for $270 million dollars. In 2018 Walmart acquired Flipkart and became the fund provider of the business and Walmart now owns almost an 82.3% stake in the Indian E-Commerce giant. It has raised almost $12.6 billion. As per reports, the current value of Flipkart is $37.6 billion as of 2021.

    Funding Vs Bootstrapped Startup: Factors That Entrepreneurs Must Consider

    In the choice between funding and bootstrapped, one must decide what they want with their business. Here they need to consider some factors that would help them in deciding between funding and bootstrapping. Those factors are:

    Objective

    The main aim of your business is one of the prime factors that help you in deciding the future of your startup. If you just want a profitable business, bootstrap is the option for you. On the other hand, if you want your business to have maximum revenue growth then, external funding is the answer.

    Pace of Growth

    When you are the only one who is investing in your business, the growth will be slower in pace. As the resources you have, including the financial ones, are limited in nature. While funded business provides resources like new connections and finances thus the growth is way faster.

    Control

    In a Bootstrapped startup, you have control over your startup. Whatever the important decision is, your call is the last one. On the other hand, funded startups don’t give you that much freedom, where you can take the final decision for your startup as it involves the investors who are funding your business.

    Conclusion

    In the end, the decision of choosing between funding and bootstrapping is yours. If you decided to bootstrap your business, in the future you can go for funding as well. Whatever you do, you need to consider the factors while making the decision, because the survival of your business depends on this.

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    FAQ

    What is a funded startup?

    A funded startup means a business where money is raised from externals or third-parties as an investment.

    What percentage of startups bootstrap?

    75% to 80% of startup founders prefer bootstrapping their startup.

    Is funding important for a startup?

    Funding is definitely important for a startup, as it increases visibility in the market and helps in attracting the public’s attention.

  • Top Gmail Add-ons Every Entrepreneur Needs

    Entrepreneurs supervise the entire business in their hands, from generating ideas, to collaborating with teams, and to assessing profits. While it is reported that an average number of people read, send, and respond via Emails, so an entrepreneur should spend plenty of hours preparing powerful content that binds the targeted audiences effectively & efficiently.

    You can enhance your email productivity and reduce that time with Gmail’s powerful features. But don’t be baffled by Gmail Add-ons and Gmail Extensions because these two terms are completely different with slight similarities. Thus, extensions can be installed for the Google Chrome browser while add-ons can be installed for the entire G Suite. Therefore, if you are managing your business with the help of Gmail Add-ons, then I assure you that this tool confers many advantages in accomplishing your objectives from establishing customized video conferences to e-signing important reports add-ons.

    Trello
    Zoom
    Wisestamp
    Dropbox
    Right Inbox
    Streak CRM
    Smartsheet
    Grammarly
    FAQ

    Trello

    Trello Gmail Add-on
    Trello Gmail Add-on

    Trello is a progressive Gmail add-on that helps to manage your business’s projects onboard. Keeping boards and inbox connected is the goal of the Trello Add-On for Gmail. And a very simple mechanism is just by clicking the Trello icon in a Gmail message.

    It would be a disaster if you and your teammates illustrated a PPT with the help of a whiteboard that has no option, images, videos, or any other sources of visual content. That would definitely bring dull reactions from your clients. But Alternatively, visualize having a whiteboard that is accessible from any computer or electronics through the web, connected to your smartphone wherever you are.

    Notable Features of Trello

    • Organize your projects and track the progress.
    • Collaborate with your teammates for important meeting discussions, share files.
    • Customize the list of your teammates and use an automated notification to inform them.

    Zoom

    Zoom Gmail Add-on
    Zoom Gmail Add-on

    You have heard this application in recent times, especially during this pandemic, where crucial meetings to online classes happen via Zoom. As entrepreneurs who are WFH, prefer Zoom to other video conferencing applications because it is simple to use, stable, and packed with many features that can be customized to fit specific requirements.

    Notable Features of Zoom

    • Seamless to use, manage and set up.
    • Multitasking application for video, audio, chats, and webinars.
    • Connects through any device- Desktops, Laptops, Smartphones, etc.

    Wisestamp

    Wisestamp Gmail Add-on
    Wisestamp Gmail Add-on

    Well, a signature defines a person’s identification. So, it is very much important for an entrepreneur to sign any crucial project without any fraudulent acts. That’s where Wisestamp launched to help you make the right decisions about the layout, fonts, colours, image shapes, and more for your email signature to help your entire organization.

    Notable Features of Wisestamp

    • Delivers professional email signatures for your business.
    • Provides a wide range of templates, fonts, layouts, and themes features.
    • Dashboards to be implemented for mass e-signature purposes.

    Dropbox

    Dropbox Gmail Add-on
    Dropbox Gmail Add-on

    As we know, hackers can easily get into your files or any other significant documents. Your business’s important documents or files can be saved with proper files, secure storage, easy accessibility, effortless sharing, protect your private files, track file updates, and many more. And that’s Dropbox for a reason!





    Try Dropbox Now


    Notable Features of Dropbox

    • Easy-to-use
    • A high secured platform for storing your important documents & files.
    • Provides backup on your desktops and is easily retrieved.
    • No Internet connection is required for working with DropBox.

    Right Inbox

    Right Inbox Gmail Add-on
    Right Inbox Gmail Add-on

    Email marketing is an essential element for a business in the digital run, as many clients read or acknowledge the mails on short notice. And considerably one of the professional ways of marketing strategies for entrepreneurs. There are numerous benefits to adding Right Inbox to your Gmail such as Notifications, tracking, follow-up emails, email notes, email clues, templates, signatures, CRM, recurring emails, reminders, and templates.

    Notable Features of Right Inbox

    • Time-consuming.
    • Improve campaigns and track your business progress.
    • Optimize conversion rates.

    Streak CRM

    Streak CRM Gmail Add-on
    Streak CRM Gmail Add-on

    While making a presentation to clients, you would feel great anxiety, leading to miscommunication, delayed responses, and missing out on many opportunities. Using this, Streak CRM is a software introduced to make your business run more efficiently, close more sales, juggle thousands of customer interactions at once effortlessly, and stay always on top of clients’ needs.

    Notable Features of Streak CRM

    • Significant CRM and analysis of your growth.
    • Provides productive tools such as email tracking, snippets.
    • Enables seamless collaborations.
    • Highly secure application.

    Smartsheet

    Smartsheet Gmail Add-on
    Smartsheet Gmail Add-on

    Smartsheet keeps track of your relevant information, automated workflows, time management in reminding you of your due work on the sheet, and builds a new solution to every IT need. You can now add emails and additions to a specific row in a sheet without leaving Gmail, allowing you and your team to find authorizations and other important items promptly. Smartsheet advances with over 15 integrations with Gmail, hassle-free e-signing, and overseeing all your business tasks on a single platform.

    Notable Features of Smartsheet

    • ALERT, remind and notify about your business task timely.
    • Customize Workspace and dashboards.
    • Bestows Live Chat, Budget analysis, and reporting.
    • Manage content, documents, contacts, resources, and projects.

    Grammarly

    Grammarly Gmail Add-on
    Grammarly Gmail Add-on

    Grammar is an essential element of content to attract your readers, with unique writing styles by correcting spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Grammarly is automated directly into keypads, which helps to proofread and submit the content without any errors. Advanced writing tools like the synonyms tool can help you increase your vocabulary, spell check terms, and write better emails and social media posts.





    Get Started with Grammarly Now


    Notable Features of Grammarly

    • Simple-to-use
    • Provides high polished content from mistake-free and plagiarism.
    • Generate suggestions of advanced vocabulary synonyms.

    Conclusion

    Each platform has its own set of benefits, and your team is likely to use multiple add-ons to harmonize workflow. Furthermore, Gmail add-ons let you get around these issues and improve your Gmail experience. Apart from the rate differences, each application does its best to provide a variety of features that aid in the proper development of the business. These tools allow you to efficiently organize, track, analyze, and progress your business activities.

    FAQ

    What are Gmail add-ons?

    An add-on is a tool that adds extra features to a program that can be integrated directly into the Gmail app.

    What are some of the best Gmail add-ons?

    Trello, Zoom, Grammarly, and Smartsheet are some of the best Gmail add-ons.

    Are Gmail add-ons safe?

    Yes, Gmail Add-ons are safe as using G Suite.

  • Assetmonk: Disrupting & Simplifying Grade-A Real Estate Investments in India Via Fractional Ownership

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Assetmonk.

    Traditionally, real estate investments have always been a part of Indian investing trends. It was a custom to own a house for rental purposes, and pass it on to the next generation or sell it for a profit and continue the loop. But, the thought of investing in commercial real estate rarely occurs. Some prominent reasons for this might be large ticket sizes (commercial real estate assets come with a heavy price burden), lack of awareness about quality real estate assets, and the time-taking process of asset management.

    Being one of the highest yielding asset classes, the core team of Assetmonk had a pressing question – why should everyday investors, who proactively invest in stocks, mutual funds, gold, etc, be denied a chance to invest in commercial real estate?

    As an attempt to offer a solution, Assetmonk, a wealth-tech platform, was founded in 2019 to popularize a new alternative investment class and democratize commercial real estate investing with fractional ownership. A concept that is new to the Indian market and holds immense potential to disrupt the investing habits of Indians. Driven by Surya Pulagam and Prudhvi Chinta, the startup has now become a thought leader in the industry with asset-backed wealth management. They have now made commercial real estate investments possible with a budget of just INR 10 lakhs and upwards, with a promise of higher returns. In this article, you’ll discover how Assetmonk was conceptualized, its growth, future plans, business model, funding, and more.

    Assetmonk – Company Highlights

    Company Name Assetmonk
    Headquarter Hyderabad
    Founder/s Name Surya Pulagam, Prudhvi Chinta
    Industry Fractional ownership / commercial real estate investment
    Founding Year 2019
    Website assetmonk.com
    Registered Entity Name Assetmonk Properties Pvt Ltd

    Assetmonk – About and Vision

    Assetmonk offers carefully vetted assets that are customized to meet the objectives of different investors. Its objective-oriented products are designed to cover a large spectrum of investors with different objectives, may it be value appreciation, regular passive income, or diversification of risk. Assetmonk’s real estate investment plans go through strict due diligence and expert evaluation to make the investment process as secure and safe as possible.

    The vision behind Assetmonk is simple – to transform the largest and the oldest asset class to become more investment-friendly and make real estate investments accessible to more and more investors. Due to the high-ticket sizes, unavailability of reliable instrument vehicles, and enough knowledge, the high-quality assets and deals with higher returns have remained elusive for most regular investors for a very long time. Hence, Assetmonk works to break the stereotype and make real estate investments a smooth and transparent experience for every investor.

    Assetmonk – Industry Details

    The industry will move towards transparency, structured processes, and disruptive regulations like RERA that are boosting investment deals. The fractional real estate market opens doors for small investors and builders to promote growth and unlock value both for the investors and the owners, which worked out in countries like the USA. The Indian market is witnessing similar growth, with the help of REITS, building stability and attractiveness to commercial real estate.

    Assetmonk – Idea & Inspiration

    The real estate sector in India has always been unstructured and unorganized. Yet, it’s one of the largest asset classes that lack educational awareness. With more than a decade of experience in the sector, dealing with large fund houses and the numerous interactions with smaller investors, they now have an understanding that there is a need for a platform to simplify the complex and opaque transactions that dominate the market with a data-driven approach. Assetmonk is determined to streamline the selection process, democratize commercial asset classes and good quality deals for smaller investors.

    The startup simplifies asset acquisition on the basis of a 100 point checklist called AssetScan, ensuring transparency, responsiveness, and eliminating the chaos associated with asset management.

    Assetmonk prides itself on being a thought leader in real estate investment and asset-backed wealth management. This expertise came as a result of thorough market research by interacting with potential investors/NRI, buyers, and commercial builders. The initial response, once Assetmonk went to the market last year, was promising, which pushed it to expand further.

    Assetmonk – Product and USP

    The primary vision behind setting up Assetmonk was making Real Estate Investments enjoyable and easier to understand for investors with smaller ticket sizes but aspire for great quality returns or don’t have the time/ awareness for the same.

    Assetmonk provides a reliable and investor-friendly tech platform that is accessible to all investors and strives to democratize real estate investments. It strives to bring high-end commercial real estate properties on the platform which would be inaccessible to independent investors otherwise. To the team at Assetmonk, every investor’s investment comfort is very important to them. To serve their needs, the startup offers a broad spectrum of investment opportunities to investors. At the end of the day, Assetmonk does all the hard work wherein the investors only reap the rewards of their returns hassle-free while tracking the investment performance through an intuitive dashboard.

    Few of the points that make Assetmonk stand out  –

    • A thorough 100-point due diligence process for asset listing
    • A diverse product portfolio for investors with different risk propensity
    • Robust dashboard for real-time updates and tracking
    • Efficient asset management till the exit/sale for a favorable value
    • All compliances and transactions are managed by the platform
    • Data Analytics led investment decisions

    Assetmonk – Founders and Team

    Assetmonk is the brainchild of Surya Pulagam. After his successful stint as the Managing Director at Electronics Art, he set up the Incor Group along with a partner from the previous stint. After scaling up the real estate entity to a large size, he went on to set up other entities including a health care chain and a coliving firm. Surya felt the need to transform the real estate industry in India by bringing order to the chaos and democratizing it through technology and fractional ownership. Together with Prudhvi Chinta as the COO of Assetmonk, who is passionate about bringing the technology to the idea, the duo aims to make commercial real estate accessible to everyone and optimize asset management.

    Presently, Assetmonk functions as a separate business with 30 employees and a presence in three Indian metropolitan cities, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai.

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    Real estate is driven a lot by the market sentiments and many times does not follow the proven method of due diligence, information assimilation, and an objective decision. Hence, there is a need for someone knowledgeable and objective, like a monk. Thus, the name Assetmonk in real estate resonates with a team of experts working in the background, powering the monk to help people make smart investment decisions.

    • Tagline – ‘Growing together’ symbolizes fractional ownership.
    • Logo – Sections of a pie also symbolize fractional ownership and the value of sharing.
    Assetmonk Logo
    Assetmonk – Logo and Tagline

    Assetmonk – Startup Launch

    The initial plan was to go about with physical on-ground events, but COVID-19 shifted the team’s focus to digital practices to find interesting investors and help them invest and track their investments. Other sources of business are a strong partner network, re-investments from existing investors, and referrals. The repeat interactions indicate the investor’s satisfaction level and put the team in the confident spot in terms of the business direction taken.

    Assetmonk’s strategy is quite straightforward. No compromise attitude towards selecting the quality assets, relentless focus on investor returns and security, customer service, and transparency (sharing updates about investments via asset tracking dashboard). The team ensures attractive returns and profit margins, seamless investor and post-investment experience, and absolute investor relationship management.

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    Assetmonk – Challenges Faced

    Stepping into an unorganized sector, the startup’s major challenge was establishing trust and bringing awareness about this modern ideology of real estate investment, as opposed to traditional investing models that the public is accustomed to but unhappy with.

    Assetmonk – Business Model & Revenue Model

    To sustain the functions, Assetmonk’s revenue model consists of asset management fees and performance fees on exit. Assetmonk eliminates the hassle of property ownership by being involved from the start to the end, right from discovery to exit. Apart from an asset management fee, a performance fee is levied on the profit earned from the rental proceedings of the property.

    Assetmonk – Funding and Investors

    Assetmonk has raised funds from a strategic investor, who brings in a good amount of domain expertise and access to the assets to the table and fits in well as a long-term partner.

    Assetmonk – Achievements

    The participation of investors from multiple countries, a channel partner network, and a very healthy reinvestment rate stands as a testimony for Aseetmonk’s progress.

    The latest addition is The Landing, India’s first-ever co-living venture at Hyderabad International Airport, where it designed the investment structure, educated the audience, and came on board as asset managers in the long term. It’s an aesthetically designed infrastructure with top-notch amenities like a microbrewery, health clubs, co-working space, F&B, and abundant networking opportunities.

    Assetmonk – FAQs

    What is Assetmonk?

    Assetmonk prides itself on being a thought leader in real estate investment and asset-backed wealth management. It strives to bring high-end commercial real estate properties on the platform which would be inaccessible to independent investors otherwise.

    Who is the founder of Assetmonk?

    Surya Pulagam and Prudhvi Chinta are the founders of Assetmonk.

    How does Assetmonk make money?

    Assetmonk’s revenue model consists of asset management fees and asset performance fees.

    What is the tagline of Assetmonk?

    ‘Growing Together’ is the tagline of Assetmonk. It symbolizes fractional ownership.

  • Evolution of Gaming Industry: History, Present & Future [Case Study]

    Real-life can be boring. If you are someone who is a student, or a working professional, life can be pretty repetitive. Thus, not only students and employees, everyone is looking for a fun way to go through the day. We try to find a good escape from time to time. This is an article about the most famous escape that people follow to get through their hours.

    Moreover, as computers are getting smaller and smaller, almost to the size of our palms. We can see a surge in mobile gamers as well. This slope is likely not to go down with time, it has only risen from the past. Go to YouTube and search any game, you will see a plethora of streamers making their content around games. This is how creators go on about making their brand.

    The Increasing Gaming Fad
    Gaming as a Profitable Business
    The History of the Gaming Industry
    The Present of the Gaming Industry
    Future of the Gaming Industry
    Is Gaming a Viable Career Option?
    FAQ

    The Increasing Gaming Fad

    Young population

    If you Google, what is the average age in India, you will get the result as 28.4 years. This tells us that India is a supremely youthful nation. Youngblood is known to have a new way of looking at things. As they occupy the most population, we can see a large number of people, who are rethinking career options. Traditional careers are a thing of the past now.

    Gaming is Fun

    Come on, I didn’t think much before writing this point. Gaming is fun. How many of us have played Mario, Contra, or Road rash in our childhood. Who does not know about Pacman? even grandmas know about Candy Crush.

    You must be living under a rock in a village if you haven’t heard about these names before. The fact that gaming is fun, makes it accessible to all of the generations. If you are 5 or your age is 55, games will find a soft spot in your heart. They are the perfect water for quenching your adrenaline rush.

    The Required Technological Boost

    India is bullish on the tech revolution. This is actually an understatement, as it is already happening. We all are seeing a boom in the tech sector. As the boom rises on many scales it is seen that tech is becoming more and more accessible. As I say accessible, I also mean that technology is getting economical and cheaper for everyone. This leaves people with more tech in their hands, and with more time comes more games. Thus, more gamers.

    Gaming as a Profitable Business

    Gaming is not just a harmless time pass, it is an extremely profitable business too. It is so profitable that it is regarded as having more dense profits than the global box office and global music business. Let us discuss the past and present of this field. Then we will ascertain if this is a viable career option or not. Read on to know.

    The History of the Gaming Industry

    The history of video games started as early as the 1950s. They were at the very inception were just seen as a recreational activity. Computer engineers made them kill time. One such engineer and inventor thought of lifting the whole game by making these games mainstream. His name was Ralph Baer.

    Ralph Baer
    Ralph Baer

    Baer is considered the inventor of video games, especially the concept of TV consoles. He one day started to think about the possibility of playing games on a television screen. As television sets were becoming more affordable in his home country, Baer saw an opportunity. An opportunity to make games more than just time pass. To give them the honour that they deserve, according to him. He always wanted games to be in the mainstream rather than on the sidelines of everyday life.

    He used to work at an American defence company when he got the idea. It was just another fantasy at that time. Baer was serious and stepped up to invent something for the first time. He made a brown box. Well, not so ordinary brown box but a gaming TV console. Being the first of its kind, people went frenzy over it. Now, the box may seem pretty simple but back then it was the best thing for somebody to own. It launched its first game named “Magnavox Odyssey”. 130,000 units were sold in its very first 12 months.

    Magnavox Odyssey
    Magnavox Odyssey

    From the year 1972 to 1981, more or less about ten different consoles were being traded in the market. Each of them was inspired by the first console ever ‘the brown box’. Famous names popped in the market like – Atari, Farichild channel F, Bally Astrocade, Mattel Intellivision, and the likes.

    This was the time when the gaming market was booming to the brim. This happened also to be the time when Nintendo entered this hot market. Nintendo came and took the market by storm with a legendary game called ‘Mario’. Nintendo before that was purely focused on playing cards but then shifted its main focus to the video gaming industry. Mario was the game that took the whole market by a tornado. It instantly became a fashion among young people, to collect Mario cassettes.

    Super Mario
    Super Mario Bros

    Even to this day, Mario is the best selling franchise in the world, with over 670 million in sales. It is truly fascinating and followed by Tetris with and Pokémon sales as 495 and 368 million of sales revenue. Then came another legendary Road Rash by Electronic Arts, Sonic the hedgehog, Streetfighter, Tetris and the market barometer was knocked out of the park.

    Every company was trying to get a slice of the cake of the video gaming industry. Microsoft added games to its windows, Sony jumped into the scenario too, with PlayStation. PlayStation is the most sold gaming console in the whole world, with over 430 million in sales.

    2020 Global Games Market
    2020 Global Games Market

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    The Present of the Gaming Industry

    In 2019 the gaming industry at the global level was marked at a valuation of 151 billion dollars. That is literally 7 times the GDP of Afghanistan. In the pandemic year 2020, nearly 2.7 billion people were into gaming, that is a good chunk of the whole population.

    Not only that, games are not just personal time-passes now. It is a national time pass now, yes, we do have gaming world cups. First held in 2019, with an audience of 23,000. The prize of that Fortnite World Cup was 3 Million dollars, which in every sense is pretty huge.

    Fortnite World Cup
    Fortnite World Cup

    Gamers are celebrated as celebrities, they have a fan following of thousands and even millions. Moreover, they are just teenagers and young adults. In this age, having a fan following in millions is a huge milestone in itself. Not only people, Brands to are going frenzy over deals. They are tapping into game development companies to make characters that promote brand names.

    Brands like Adidas, Puma, Louis Vuitton have collaborated with game makers to make characters exclusive wearing their signature suits. This proves how rooted and widespread this industry has become.

    Adidas Collaboration with Popular Fortnite Youtuber - Ninja
    Adidas Collaboration with Popular Fortnite Youtuber – Ninja

    Then too, games are not even leaving the movie and film space, they are woven into stories and made into films for fans all over the world. Movies like Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, Need For Speed, Tekken etc. are blockbusters to name a few. Movies like these do very well with gamers and to add to the spice, it increases game sales revenue.

    India has not grown into a hub yet but is showing signs of untapped potential. Despite being a young nation, we have not yet made expected space in this domain. According to a report, there were about 120 million gamers online in 2016 and on average each spent 42 minutes every single day on games. This really proves that India has great potential but is lagging in some sense. Right now this is not a structured industry in India. It can be and surely more or less, it will be in the future.

    In our country, India, gamers mostly are skewed to the content side. They are more like content creators on YouTube. They mix gameplays with their commentary and pop culture references to fetch some subscribers, which in turn make them a little famous and get them brand deals.

    So again, India is not structured as we see with the lens of gaming. It is varied in dimensions and it lacks clarity. However it is always changing and refuses to be constant, it is becoming better and better. With games like Free Fire and top game brands organizing tournaments and championships, gamers are forecasted to grow. It will take some time to actually be in the line with global standards, but it is surely on the right path to it.

    The Expected Future of the Gaming Industry

    What the future of this industry will look like is yet to be seen and only time will tell how many other industries it will affect. It is already so big at the global level that it combines the film and music industry in it totally and completely. Indian gamers have to wait a bit on being professional gamers but if you want to work in-game building, there is enough space for you.

    With tournaments and championships being hosted by brands every other day, like Free Fire, we will see surges in this space. As the Indian gaming industry goes from being unorganized to an organized sector, we will see many gamer professionals. They will be treated like athletes in future global championships and as always hopes remain high with India.

    Is Gaming a Viable Career Option?

    When we talk about gaming, it is not just playing but it also includes much more. Things like game building, game designing, game animation, game programming also come into subsets. All these can be a career choice and you can train in them professionally.

    When it comes to people who want to play games, then the hard truth is that you need to build an audience for yourself. You need to create a name and some sort of fame for yourself. You need to work a lot on your gaming skills, not just that if you are someone who wants to face a competitive gaming field, then you have to train even harder.

    A good thing is that creating an audience is much easier in this world now. You can create a YouTube channel and get going with a nice PC or a console. You can work on your branding with tools available for free online. But the main thing is that you are on your own. You need to do whatever, will enhance you as a gamer or a public figure. This way is uncertain for sure but if you can make it work its a great career option. All you need is a nice beast PC, a console and the undying will to take over the whole world, more or less.

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    Conclusion

    Deriving a conclusion is hard on this topic as it is constantly evolving. Getting better and bigger not only in the world’s top countries but in India too, which is seen as a developing country. One thing can be said with surety that India has potential. With the right direction and a little more added fuel, it can go to the stars.

    Being a gamer can be hard in India but the domain has many edges, you can build games, programme them, make them big and much more. You can get professional training in all these above-mentioned fields.

    FAQ

    What is the gaming industry worth?

    The global gaming market was valued at USD 173.70 billion in 2020.

    The Biggest Video Game Companies in the World are Sony, Tencent, Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts and Epic Games.

    Does gaming have a future in India?

    Yes, the Indian gaming industry is growing at a fast pace and is expected to generate $2 billion by 2023.

  • The Importance of Cyber Security Software for companies

    Cybersecurity is critical because it guards all types of data against theft and loss. Sensitive data, protected health information (PHI), personally identifiable information (PII), personal information, data, intellectual property, and governmental and industry information systems all fall under this category.

    Your company can’t defend itself against data breach operations without a cyber security software, making it an easy target for fraudsters. Keep reading if you want to learn more about the importance of these services!

    What Is Cybersecurity?

    Cybersecurity is the state or process of preventing and recovering from cyber-attacks on computer systems, devices, networks, and applications. Cyber-attackers are becoming more complex and are developing threats to your sensitive data with new techniques to avoid standard data security defenses driven by social engineering and artificial intelligence (AI).

    The truth is that the world is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, and this trend is expected to continue as we introduce the next generation of new technology, which has access to our linked gadgets via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

    Intelligent cloud security solutions should be used in conjunction with strong password restrictions -like multi-factor authentication- to prevent illegal access to client data.

    Why Is Cybersecurity Important?

    Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. Our society is, in essence, more electronically dependent than it has ever been, and this tendency shows no indications of abating. Data breaches that potentially lead to identity theft are now debated on social networking sites. Bank account information, social security numbers, and credit card data are being saved by cloud storage companies like Dropbox and Google Drive.

    Whether you’re a person, a small business, or a major corporation, you rely on computer systems on a daily basis. When you combine this with the advent of cloud services, bad cloud service security, cell phones, and the Internet of Things (IoT), you now have plenty of new security risks that didn’t exist only a few decades ago. Even if the skillsets are getting more similar, we must recognize the difference between cybersecurity and information security.

    Governments all over the world are paying more attention to cybercrime. A notable example is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It has increased the reputational risk of data breaches by requiring all EU-based companies to:

    • Notify people about data breaches
    • Appoint a data protection officer
    • Request the user’s permission to process data
    • Anonymize your data to protect your privacy

    The trend toward openness isn’t only a European phenomenon. While there are no federal data breach disclosure laws in the United States, each state has its own set of regulations. There are a few things that all of us share:

    • Notifying individuals who are affected as soon as possible
    • Notifying the government as soon as possible
    • Paying a monetary penalty

    In 2003, California became the first state to regulate data breach reports, requiring anyone affected to be notified “within a reasonable time” and “immediately following discovery.” Victims can sue for up to $750 in damages with companies facing fines of up to $7,500 per victim.

    How to Protect Your Business from Cybercrime

    There are a few basic actions you can take to improve security and lower your risk of being a victim of cybercrime:

    Educate Employees

    Human error was responsible for 90% of data breaches in 2019. However, there is a benefit to this alarming figure. Most data breach instances might have been avoided if employees were taught how to recognize and respond to cyber threats. These kinds of teaching activities may also boost the value of all cybersecurity solutions.

    Protect Your Sensitive Data

    Invest in tools that restrict data loss, monitor third-party and fourth-party vendor risk, and scan for leaked credentials and data exposure regularly. If left untreated, data leaks could aid attackers in gaining access to corporate networks and breaching critical information. It’s important to have a data leak detection solution that can also monitor leaks across the third-party network. Comarch.ai is a good example of this.

    Learn How to Recognize Phishing Scams

    Spam emails arrive in every email inbox. Most of us are aware that emails from ‘Nigerian princes’ should not be opened. Every day, though, consumers click on phishing emails that purport to provide prizes or urge customers to “check” their information. These phishing scams entice users to divulge their sensitive information.

    In order to avoid hacks, make sure you recognize common phishing red signs.

    Install an Antivirus Software

    Antivirus software protects your data from malware, viruses, and other intrusions when installed on your devices, including cell phones.

    These tools protect your passwords, stop malware, and keep your financial information safe during online transactions.

    Conclusion

    To summarize, cybersecurity is important for everyone, including those who do not believe they utilize technology directly. Sharing digital information is a part of almost every aspect of modern life.

    As a result, no matter what industry you’re in, cybersecurity is important. Professionals in cybersecurity seek to protect personal and business information from existing and future threats.

  • ZEE-Sony Merger | Why did Zee Entertainment decide to merge with Sony?

    On September 22, the board of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) accepted a non-binding term sheet with Sony Pictures Networks India to consolidate their businesses, with Sony’s promoters investing Rs 11,615 crore ($1.57 billion) in the merged entity as growth capital, making it India’s most extensive entertainment network with approximately $2 billion in revenues and a 26% viewership share. The statement resulted in a 9.99 per cent increase in Zee stock.

    Following the infusion of growth money, ZEEL shareholders own around 47 per cent of the combined company, while Sony India promoters own 53 per cent.

    Zee-Sony Merger – Division of the Shares and Profits
    Previous ZEEL Deals
    Zee-Sony Merger – Challenges Companies may confront
    Zee-Sony Merger – How is it Beneficial for Both Companies?
    Conclusion
    FAQs

    ZEEL-Sony Merger

    Zee-Sony Merger – Division of the Shares and Profits

    Punit Goenka - CEO of ZEE
    Punit Goenka- CEO of ZEE

    Based on the current anticipated equity values of ZEEL and Sony India, the stated merger ratio would have been 61.25 per cent in favour of ZEEL.

    In exchange for current ZEEL backers and their affiliates pledging not to compete with the combined firm, Sony India’s promoters agreed to transfer roughly a 2% interest in the merged entity. The Subhash Chandra family would own 4% of the amalgamated business, which established India’s first private sector entertainment network, with the opportunity to grow their holding to 20%. The family liquidated their ZEEL shareholding to repay Rs 13,000 crore in loans from Indian banks for failed diversifications such as infrastructure projects.

    While Sony’s promoters will have the right to appoint the majority of the board’s directors, Punit Goenka, ZEEL’s CEO and MD will lead the amalgamated firm.

    The nomination compensation committee, the board of directors, and the shareholders of the combined firm must all approve Goenka’s appointment.

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    Previous ZEEL Deals

    Sony Pictures N is attempting a deal with ZEE for the second time. SPN was one of the few shortlisted strategic investors with whom ZEE was negotiating to sell the promoters’ shareholding and infuse funds for development.

    ZEE could not reach an agreement with a strategic investor in 2019 and was obliged to settle for a financial one due to a liquidity shortage. Even though most of the promoters’ debt had been paid off, the firm still needs development capital.

    During the lockdown, ZEE was considering various funding possibilities, including loans, as it is a debt-free firm. However, the board of directors and promoters believe that a strategic investor will be the first choice.

    According to those familiar with the situation, when the transaction with ZEE fell through owing to value issues, SPN attempted to combine with Viacom18. That contract fell through in October of last year, and SPN’s parent business began hunting for new partners, they added.

    Due to the rough treatment of stockholders, the purchase was likely to face legal challenges, with the Subhash Chandra family receiving an extra 2.1 per cent stake from Sony promoters as a non-compete fee.

    Zee-Sony Merger – Challenges Companies may confront

    The merger conditions include a non-compete agreement between the ZEEL promoters and Sony Pictures Networks India, with the ZEEL promoters receiving an additional 2.1 per cent interest in the combined firm.

    Obtaining ZEEL shareholders’ approval for the planned merger and the continuance of ZEEL’s MD and CEO as the head of the merging company for the next five years may also pose hurdles, considering the tense relationship between certain institutional owners of ZEEL and the ZEEL board.

    However, the amalgamated entity’s planned structure’s board of Directors may assuage institutional shareholders’ worries. Because the Sebi Takeover Code exempts the acquisition of interest via a Scheme of Arrangement for amalgamation/merger, there will be no open offer for ZEEL shares.

    The sale was accelerated when Invesco, one of ZEEL’s significant owners, requested an emergency general meeting within three weeks to remove Goenka. After proxy advice companies reported corporate governance issues in the business that ZEEL later funded, two directors, Manish Chokhani and Ashok Kurien resigned from the ZEEL board.

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    Zee-Sony Merger – How is it Beneficial for Both Companies?

    Analysts estimate that the transaction will create a new media and entertainment powerhouse in India, with revenues of Rs 15,000 crore.

    According to analysts, the deal is a strategic match since Sony is a big player in the Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) market, mainly non-fiction. Zee is strong in movies of all genres and the regional GEC area. Zee has a 17% network viewing share, whereas Sony has a 10-12% share. As a result, it would be a solid strategic match in broadcast, digital, and content.

    In terms of synergies, Sony is performing well in sports and mainstream GEC, but Zee has a high recall on regional genres, which Sony has less of or none of. Sony’s foreign repertoire would be available for ZEE to exploit and monetize.

    With this acquisition, ZEE Entertainment’s corporate governance issues should be resolved, boosting investor trust. Both companies have a robust film library that can be exploited for OTT and TV offerings. The combined firm will be better positioned to compete with Disney on both the distribution and advertising fronts.

    According to Zee’s annual report, its network in India connects over 3,000 brands with their customers.

    According to ZEEL’s aggregated figures, the company made a profit of Rs 800 crore on revenues of Rs 7,730 crore in the fiscal year ending March this year.

    In March 2020, Sony Pictures Network India made a profit of Rs 976 crore on revenues of Rs 5,846 crore, with cash on books of Rs 11,000 crore.

    Following the announcement of the merger, ZEEL’s shares soared 32% to Rs 337 per share, valuing the company at Rs 32,378 crore.

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    Conclusion

    ZEE and SPN are two of India’s most popular media and entertainment companies, having strong consumer appeal across genres, languages, and platforms. The combination of these two companies will bring together the media industry’s most powerful leadership teams, content creators, and high-quality series and film libraries, resulting in a combined content platform that can compete with domestic and global platforms while also accelerating the region’s digital transition.

    FAQs

    Is Sony and ZEE merging?

    Zee had announced merger with Sony on September 22.

    Who is the owner of Zee Entertainment?

    News Corporation is the parent organization of Zee Entertainment and owns it.

    Who is the CEO of ZEE?

    Punit Goenka is the CEO of ZEE since 2008.

  • Are Neobanks Really The Future of Banking?

    In this fast-pacing era where really nobody has the time or the interest to walk over to a bank branch to do banking or business, “Neobanks” are a change and, in a good way, but are they really a promising future? Let’s find out.

    What is Neobank?
    Difference Between Neobanks and Traditional Banks
    What Do The Neobanks Offer That Traditional Banks Don’t?
    How Does Neobanks Work?
    Are Neobanks The Future of Banking?
    Pros and Cons of Neobanks
    FAQs

    What is Neobank?

    Neobank
    Neobank

    Neobanks are financial institutions or digital banks that exclusively operate online and do not have any physical branches. Neobanks provide services and products that are not found in traditional banking systems and are also, very efficient. They work either directly with service providers or with already established banks as they don’t have regulatory licenses, in the Indian context. Neobanks are a wide umbrella of financial services such as faster deposits, transfer of payments, credit cards, etc.

    Neobanks had a customer base of around 7.7 million in 2018 and nearly tripled it to 20 million in 2020. In 2019, in India alone, Neobanks raised a big amount of 90 million dollars. And are expected to raise an amount of 394 billion dollars globally by 2026, according to reports of lead squared. Globally there are more than 200 Neobanks and more than 10 in India and the numbers are rapidly increasing.

    In India, the growth of Neobanks are not that fast compared to the growth around the globe, but looking at how vast the Indian Market it can take over by a storm.

    Difference Between Neobanks and Traditional Banks

    • Neobanks mostly press on solving banking issues faced by customers but lack in better overall customer experience.
    • The onboarding process of Neobanks is very simple, paperless, and less time consuming compared to traditional banks.
    • Neobanks are beneficial for small businesses whereas traditional banks prove to be very useful to millennials.

    What Do The Neobanks Offer That Traditional Banks Don’t?

    In the past few years, there’s a lot of change in the finance industry and with the introduction of UPI in India, which recorded over 4 billion transactions in October 2021, and the mobile wallets in the US and Europe we have seen tremendous amounts of transactions digitally.

    Neobanks use innovative new technologies such as AI, Cloud analytics and for their audiences, they are merely an app, unlike the traditional banks which rely on financial products and expand their large network of branches for the customer base.

    Neobanks mostly come in handy to the people who do not have much time to handle the hassles of visiting physical branches and have a busy living. They are way different than other financial institutions in certain ways such as,

    • Reduced timeline of acquiring customers and provide seamless customer services and paperless operations
    • Removing the challenges that are faced in the traditional banking system and thus, providing a brilliant user experience.
    • They have fewer regulations and are easy for customers to set up their accounts and also ensure advanced security and privacy.
    • They provide accounts and money transfers, seamless international payments. They also provide better interest rates than traditional banks because of their fewer costs and easy processes.

    How Does Neobanks Work?

    Neobanks work on the “Banking as a service” module and fix the gap between traditional banks and customer expectations. Banking as a service is an end-to-end process of operation of financial services on the internet and allows digital banks or third parties to connect with banks for better financial and banking services.

    They are completely digital and online as there are no physical branches. Neobanks have modernized platforms that help them collect data of their target audience and based on the data collected they customize their marketing strategies accordingly as a result successfully creating a cohort of customers.

    Are Neobanks The Future of Banking?

    They are changing the face of the Fintech community and one day maybe replace traditional banks but it’s not easy and one can never be sure. Neobanks are mostly like digital banks but remember “mostly”. They are much recognized as companies than banks.

    In India, the RBI still doesn’t allow banks to be 100% digital and have some physical presence. The defining and most important reason for this is and the difference between Neobanks and traditional banks is funding and not forgetting customers’ trust. Traditional banks may find it hard to compete in this tech-savvy world still the legacy can’t be weighed down so easily.

    Pros and Cons of Neobanks

    Pros of Neobanks

    • Adapting technology and no presence of credit base makes them low cost and convenient for the low-salaried customer base.
    • Neobanks are convenient as allow operations through an app from basic banking to investing and other finances.
    • Better services and benefits. Quick processing for loans and speeding other requests by ditching paperwork.

    Cons of Neobanks

    • Limited services compared to traditional banks and less regulated. No physical presence may hinder customers’ trust.
    • Keeping up with technology and advancements in trends.
    • No physical bank branches and In-person assistance access.

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    Conclusion

    Neobanks have emerged as a buzz wave in the fintech community and have been doing great in maintaining their spotlight on a global level and every day more and more businesses and banks are signing up with them. We see a new player everybody whose intention is to simplify financial services and provide additional benefits with them.

    Though it’s going to be hard to revolutionize the whole industry of banking and finance it’s gonna take time and real hard work for tech geeks. As the saying goes, “it’s the little changes that make the most important changes”.

    FAQs

    Are Neobanks banks?

    Neobanks are not banks and do not have a bank charter. Instead, these institutions generally partner with a bank to ensure their products. Before signing up with a neobank, make sure it’s FDIC insured by a partner bank.

    What is Neobank?

    Neobanks are digital banks that do not have any physical branches and provide all financial services to their consumers through apps that can be accessed through a smartphone.

    Is Neobanks secure?

    Money deposited in a neo-banking account is as secure as it would be in a regular bank account in India.

    When did Neobanks start?

    The term neobank has been in use since at least 2016 to describe fintech-based financial providers that were challenging traditional banks.

    Talking about the neobanks in the Indian context, neobanks are not directly regulated by the banking regulator. This is mainly due to the fact that RBI does not grant licenses for operating virtual banks in India.

  • Goa Startup Policy: Here’s What You Don’t Know About It

    ‌Goa is considered a very famous tourist attraction. But Goa has been in everyone’s focus recently and that is not because of its tourist point. According to the recent reports and the updated startup policy of Goa, it is looked up to be considered as a top 25 place for startups in Asia by the year 2025. To accomplish these goals, a few guidelines along with a policy was introduced in the year 2017 by the Goa Government.

    Reasons To Select Goa As A Startup Place
    Updated Goa Startup Policy 2021
    Effects Of Goa Startup Policy
    FAQs

    Reasons To Select Goa As A Startup Place

    Before going up to the exact topic, we should first consider our option of selecting Goa as a destination for Startup.

    Goa is considered a beautiful place to spend your vacation over there. But along with that, it is also considered a good option to build up your business in Goa. This place has good Infrastructure to look up as our first option in the favour of selecting Goa as a place of Startup. It has a good setup of water connection and electricity supply.

    Another reason to select Goa as a place for Startup is the reason behind it being less expensive than the cities like Mumbai, Delhi, etc. The accommodation and renting services are less expensive than some other popular places.

    The living standards of Goan people are quite impressive. They are almost perfect to serve or help you in your startup by giving up their precious time in your startup. The lifestyle lived by the people of Goa is considered to be capable of maintaining a proper work-life balance.

    The other reason to consider Goa can be because of its growing technical aspects and many technology hubs taking up their bases in Goa. As it is very much involved with tourists, your startup can have a chance of getting in touch with different people depending upon your business field.

    If you are looking to start a startup in the management field, you can get many opportunities there. Another great point to note is that it is well connected and quite easy to travel up to Goa from anywhere in India.

    With these many reasons to consider, we can say with confidence that Goa is a good place for Startup.

    Updated Goa Startup Policy 2021

    The Vision for the updated Goa Startup Policy is to make it one of the most preferred Startup Destinations in India. And to also make Goa count up in the top 25 Startup destinations of Asia by the year 2025.

    The updated version of the Goa Startup Policy was concerned with adding up a few changes in the old policy all depending upon the required alterations.

    The vision was the same for earlier as well as the updated Startup Policy provided by the government of Goa.

    The objectives of the updated version of Startup Policy with their simple meanings are explained below:

    1. The updated version of the policy is to make Goa a good place for high-value startups by availing the facility of good geographical features as well human resources.
    2. The process of building a robust startup place by inviting the best business-minded people to set up their base in Goa.
    3. To assist and appreciate local businesses that are Goan startups and Goan enterprises.
    4. To provide approx 6000 job opportunities to Goan people. The process is to convert approx 500 innovative and technology-enabled startups and build sustainable startups in Goa by fulfilling their necessary demands and presenting them with the facility of support for the next 3 years.
    5. To provide the essential support to different field firms such as developing technology and innovation hubs, centers of excellence, R&D labs, Incubation centers for the next 3 years.
    6. The involvement of technology-based studies in the curriculum of students. This can be done by including the collaboration of industry and academics and by introducing DIY modules in the curriculum of students in the Goan Education System. Along with these, there can be a few online courses for students that can be included in the University curriculum.
    7. To create a stable environment and prepare Goan students to be able to work for high-level startups while achieving a great result in their professional growth.
    8. To keep a track of the progress related to policy and evaluate its pros and cons. This is to make the best policy that can increase the growth rate of startups and allow frontiers to set up their business over her as for technology enablement as per ongoing situations.
    9. To provide and arrange the funds for their support by different means to motivate the startups:
    • The idea to P-o-C (Proof of Concept) Fund
    • Seed Loan Fund
    • Working Capital Fund
    • Women Entrepreneurs Development Fund.
    • Research & Development Fund
    • Student Innovation Fund
    • Skill Development Fund
    • Incubation Support Fund

    The major difference or adaptation of objectives is done based on two factors only:

    The first is to create an opportunity for at least 6000 employment for this to be achieved, 500 innovative startups were required and the support given to them is for 3 years only. Whereas in the earlier policy, there was just the need of creating 100 successful startups to provide 5000 job employment with the support being given up for 5 years.

    Another major difference is in the funds provided to startups. The updated startup policy has also given special attention to women, as it has provided the facility of funds for women entrepreneurs. This facility was missing in the earlier policy.

    We can say after the updated policy came, it is easier for women also to start their startups in Goa.

    This term of policy will be active for three years from the date of notification.

    Effects Of Goa Startup Policy

    From the time it was implemented in the year 2017, it has been proved to be a success for some people. According to the current status, there are approx. 111 startups being successfully introduced and are seen stepping the ladder of success.

    The funds given to those startups have a total count of approx. 1.1 crores. And they are provided with the facilities promised by the goa government.

    In the year 2021, there has been a new policy, or can be said as the updated version of the old policy was introduced. The main aim was to employ approx. 6000 people. The other thing that it focuses on is local firms. The updated policy is to provide them with funds for their development. It also focuses on the promotion of employing local people for their benefit. And the most important focus is to educate their students with some particular knowledge right from the start of their education system.

    Earlier, when this policy was introduced, there was the main focus of only one field and that is the IT sector. However, this time it has been kept open for all sectors.

    When there are innovations taking place in a world, women are also a strong part of them. Similarly, in the earlier policy, there were no specific funds kept for women which sometimes used to make them hesitate. However, the updated policy will allow them to start their startup with proper funds being provided to them through the government of Goa and funds collected for them.

    The earlier policy had a great effect on Goa and was proved to be successful till the termination. But the proper result for the new policy is still awaited and can be fully appreciated only after it starts showing its effects.

    The overall condition of goa startups is quite good and is attracting the attention of many big companies.

    Conclusion

    Startups are considered as the revolutionary practices of the market. The destination of startups is one of the most important factors to worry about.

    Goa is considered within the best destination places for startups. With its updated version of startups terms and policy, it is a much better option to build up the base of your startup in Goa.

    FAQs

    Is Goa good for startups?

    Yes, with the new Goa Startup Policy. Goa is good for startups. Because of its great infrastructure and affordable real estate. It becomes a feasible environment for a startup.

    What is the main business in Goa?

    The main business of goa includes Tourism, Agriculture, and Mining. But with the need of other businesses. A startup idea that can work well can be also a business in Goa.

    How can I start a business in Goa?

    You can start with Photography, Fish Farming, Travel agencies, Rental agency, Guesthouses, Spa and wellness, Commercial transportation, Restaurants/beach shack, etc.

  • Success Story of Rolls-Royce: Innovating Prudent Ways to Power the World

    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by Rolls-Royce.

    Rolls-Royce is a name that has always gone with luxury. In fact, Rolls-Royce can be used as a term to define luxury. Rolls-Royce refers to Cars, this is what we’ve known so far. But they are more than what we know.

    Rolls-Royce is an engineering company that manufactures Aero-engines and power systems for civil, defence and various other industries. It aims at creating power systems for the future that prove to be the safest and cleanest. On the other hand, Rolls-Royce cars are manufactured independently by the company called Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, which is now a subsidiary of BMW.

    The company has more than a century-long history dating back to 1904. Started as a car manufacturer, then was forced into the defence industry during the world war for making aero-engines, facing a financial collapse in the 1970s thus resulting in government take-over, various mergers, demergers and acquisitions which led them through a lot of ups and downs. Their journey is nothing short of excitement.

    Rolls-Royce – Company Highlights

    Company Name Rolls-Royce
    Headquarters London, England, United Kingdom
    Industry Airspace, Defense, Automotive
    Founders Charles Rolls, Henry Royce
    Founded 1904 (Partnership), 1906 (Company)
    CEO Warren East (Rolls-Royce), Torsten Müller-Ötvös (Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)
    Parent Organisation Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (Rolls-Royce), BMW (Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)
    Website rolls-royce.com

    Rolls-Royce – About
    Rolls-Royce – Latest News
    Rolls-Royce – Founders and Team
    Rolls-Royce – Startup Story
    Rolls-Royce – Mission and Vision
    Rolls-Royce – Name and Logo
    Rolls-Royce – Business and Revenue Model
    Rolls-Royce – Challenges Faced
    Rolls-Royce – Funding and Investors
    Rolls-Royce – Mergers and Acquisitions
    Rolls-Royce – Growth
    Rolls-Royce – Competitors
    Rolls-Royce – Future Plans
    Rolls-Royce – FAQs

    Rolls-Royce Success Story

    Rolls-Royce – About

    Rolls-Royce formally referred to as Rolls-Royce plc, is a company involved in manufacturing propulsion engines for civil and defence services and power systems for oil/gas and other marine industries. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce initially established the company for making cars. But during the First World War in 1914, the government forced them to manufacture Aero-engines for military activities.

    They kept manufacturing cars between 1906 and 1973 but concentrated more on expanding their aerospace sector. Rolls-Royce builds engines for civil and defence aircraft, power systems for land and naval military vehicles including submarines. They also provide power solutions to the oil/gas industry and marine activities. In simple terms, Rolls-Royce is into innovating advanced solutions for meeting our planet’s power needs. Rolls-Royce is technically a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc since 2011.

    Since 1973, after its demerger from the core company, the Rolls-Royce automotive sector went through a number of changes in ownership. Currently, Rolls-Royce cars are manufactured exclusively by the company Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, which is a subsidiary of BMW.

    Rolls-Royce – Latest News

    November 8, 2021 – The United Kingdom Space Agency has joined hands with Rolls-Royce to explore the use of nuclear power in space travel. This may help them cut the space journey time and cost.

    May 28, 2021 – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has launched a new luxury model ‘Boat Tail’ priced around $28 million. It allows you to customize not only the interiors but also the body shape of the car.

    Rolls-Royce – Founders and Team

    Rolls-Royce Founder - Charles Rolls
    Rolls-Royce Founder – Charles Rolls

    Charles Stewart Rolls and Sir Frederick Henry Royce are the co-founders of Rolls-Royce. Charles Rolls (1877 – 1910) was a motoring and aviation pioneer who graduated from Cambridge in 1898. Henry Royce (1863 – 1933) was a popular design engineer for car and aeroplane engines.

    Henry Royce - Rolls-Royce Founder
    Henry Royce – Rolls-Royce Founder

    In 1904, they both co-founded Rolls-Royce along with Claude Goodman Johnson, who was the founding Managing Director of the company after its incorporation in 1906. Their passion for cars and engineering expertise fuelled the company’s growth all through the years.

    Rolls-Royce – Startup Story

    The seed for Rolls-Royce was planted in 1884 when Henry Royce started a mechanical and electrical business in Manchester. In the beginning, he was making dynamos and cranes. Later, he acknowledged the market potential of the car industry in the future and started working on it.

    On the other hand, Charles Rolls graduated from Cambridge and got himself employed in various companies. But he was keen on marketing and motoring, thus started importing and selling cars.

    In 1904, Royce was designing and manufacturing a car of his own and that is when Rolls happened to meet him at an Automobile Club. He was impressed by Royce’s design and agreed to sell all the cars that Royce would make. Thus on 23rd December 1904, at the Paris Motor Show, the brand Rolls-Royce was introduced by displaying their first car Rolls-Royce 10 hp.

    It was initially started as a partnership in 1904. Then in 1906, Rolls-Royce was converted into a Private Limited Company and was further transformed into a Public Listed Company the subsequent year. After the death of Charles Rolls in 1910, Henry Royce and Claude Johnson took the company forward. They kept introducing new car models and by 1914, Rolls-Royce started manufacturing civil and defence aircraft engines too and made it a huge success.

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    Rolls-Royce – Mission and Vision

    Rolls-Royce’s mission is to provide “Better Power for a Changing World”. They aim at improving their standards and performances to provide competitive and clean energy for the future. Rolls-Royce also marches with a vision of Net Zero Carbon in all their endeavours to meet the present and future power needs, while also protecting our society.

    Rolls-Royce Logo
    Rolls-Royce Logo

    The brand name Rolls-Royce was derived after the founders Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The company’s name is always used with a hyphen in between, which emphasizes the friendly association between founders.

    The logo of Rolls-Royce plc comes in the blue background where two ‘R’s are embedded closely to each other in the middle with Rolls on the top and Royce below. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd has a similar logo with a white background.

    Rolls-Royce’s “Spirit of Ecstacy” emblem is highly admired by many. It resembles a woman leaning forward, with her hands stretched back. Her clothes billow from the back of her neck to her hands which look like wings. The Spirit of Ecstasy, also known as Eleanor or Flying Lady, was designed by Charles Robinson Sykes.

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    Rolls-Royce – Business and Revenue Model

    Rolls-Royce’s business model focuses on reducing the costs of its power systems. This helps them utilize funds to invent and innovate techniques that help them move closer to achieving their mission and vision. They generate revenue by selling engines and other power systems to various industries. Also, a part of the income flows through service contracts from airlines for maintaining the aircraft engines.

    Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd sells premium luxury cars with high standard and customized features to its customers. Their cars are priced ranging from ₹5 crores to ₹10 crores with Rolls-Royce Phantom topping the price table. Rolls-Royce recently introduced a model named ‘Boat Tail’ for its highly exclusive customers, which is priced at a whopping ₹202 crores.

    Rolls-Royce – Challenges Faced

    In 1971, Rolls-Royce declared Bankruptcy due to the losses suffered by mismanagement. Their fixed-price contract for manufacturing airlines engines with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation became the reason for their fall. This long-term contract made their losses unbearable. Rolls-Royce’s fall impacted various other industries, and as a result, the government stepped over the issue and nationalized the company. The government’s hold continued till 1987, after which it was again converted into a Private Limited Company.

    The next big challenge faced by Rolls-Royce was during the Covid-19 pandemic. The reason stated was, 50% of their revenue comes from aerospace activities which were completely halted due to the crisis. The company reported a loss of around £4 Billion in 2020 which was the biggest loss reported in Rolls-Royce’s history.

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    Rolls-Royce – Funding and Investors

    Rolls-Royce has so far raised around $266 Million in 2 rounds. Their latest funding was through the Post-IPO Equity round for developing Small Modular Reactors (SMR).

    Date Round Amount Investor Name
    November 9, 2021 Post-IPO Equity £195 Million BNF Resources, Exelon Generation Company
    January 21, 2021 Convertible Note $1 Million United States Navy

    Rolls-Royce – Mergers and Acquisitions

    Rolls-Royce Motors demerged from Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd., in 1973. It operated independently of its parent company along with Bentley Motors until 1980, when Vickers plc acquired this car business. Later in 1998, the Rolls-Royce motors were sold to Volkswagen Group by Vickers but the rights for using the name “Rolls-Royce” and the logo were purchased by BMW for £40 Million. From 2003, BMW got the sole right to name, manufacture and sell Rolls-Royce cars.

    Roll-Royce plc was brought under Rolls-Royce Holdings plc as a subsidiary after the latter was incorporated in 2011. But all the major and principal operations are carried out by Rolls-Royce plc. The following are some of the top acquisitions and subsidiaries of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc:

    Name of the Company Year of Acquisition/Incorporation
    January 14, 2020 QINOUS
    March 30, 2015 R.O.V. Technologies
    2014 Rolls-Royce Controls and Data Services
    2014 Rolls-Royce Power Systems
    July 2, 2013 SmartMotor
    May 1, 2013 Hyper-Therm High-Temperature Composites
    January 8, 2013 PKMJ Technical Services
    May 23, 2011 Rolls- Royce plc
    September 2, 2011 R. Brooks Associates
    January 28, 2010 Europea Microfusioni Aerospaziali
    January 6, 2010 ODIM
    July 8, 2008 Scandinavian Electric Holding
    1995 Rolls-Royce North America (earlier Allison Engine Company)
    1998 Rolls-Royce AB (as a part of Vickers acquisition)
    1999 Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations
    1998 Vinters Limited (as a part of Vickers acquisition)

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    Rolls-Royce – Growth

    Since the car division was demerged in 1973 and later acquired by BMW, it has seen significant growth in its sales over the years. They’ve even made a record sale in their history by selling more than 5000 cars in 2019. Here is the growth record of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since 2007, according to Statista:

    Year Sales in Units
    2007 1010
    2008 1212
    2009 1002
    2010 2711
    2011 3538
    2012 3575
    2013 3630
    2014 4063
    2015 3785
    2016 4037
    2017 3438
    2018 4194
    2019 5100
    2020 3756

    On the other hand, Rolls-Royce plc maintained their revenue with little ups and downs from 2016-19 but faced a pitfall of 28% due to pandemic in 2020. Here is their revenue chart for the past five years:

    Year Revenue
    2016 £14.96 Billion
    2017 £14.75 Billion
    2018 £15.73 Billion
    2019 £16.59 Billion
    2020 £11.82 Billion

    Rolls-Royce – Competitors

    Though Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a powerful brand identity, they have tough competitors in the market. Here is a couple of them:

    General Electric – General Electric along with its partners leads the aero-engine market occupying 55% of the market share and holds the 1st position. GE is also involved in various high-tech industrial activities like power systems, aviation, renewable energy, and the digital industry.

    Pratt & Whitney – Pratt & Whitney is another major competitor for Rolls-Royce in the aero-engine market. They also compete with Rolls-Royce in the manufacture of power turbines for marine and other industrial services.

    When it comes to cars, Some of the top competitors for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. are:

    Rolls-Royce – Future Plans

    Rolls-Royce invests huge money in inventing technologies for efficiently meeting our world’s power needs. Their innovations are awe-inspiring which reduces cost for the customers as well as protects our environment.

    Electic Planes – Rolls-Royce aims at electrifying the aviation sector. Their first all-electric plane made its maiden flight on 18th September 2021. This aircraft is further being enhanced to achieve a speed of 300 mph. In the view of combating climate change, Rolls-Royce is into developing zero-emission aircraft for the future.

    Small Modular Reactors (SMR) – Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd was created to build power plants that generate electricity using SMR to meet the future power needs of the UK. This technology is expected to be available by 2030.

    Space Exploration – Rolls-Royce is innovating nuclear technologies to develop power systems for space launch. Net Zero Carbon – Rolls-Royce put forth Net Zero Carbon as their major goal in all their present and futuristic development. They target to bring the carbon level to zero in  their operations by 2030.

    Rolls-Royce – FAQs

    What does Rolls-Royce do?

    Rolls-Royce is an engineering company that manufactures Aero-engines and power systems for civil, defence, and various other industries.

    Is Rolls-Royce owned by BMW?

    Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd alone is owned by BMW since 2003. It is a separate entity from that of Rolls-Royce plc which is involved in the manufacture of aero-engines and power systems.

    Who are the founders of Rolls-Royce?

    Charles Rolls and Henry Royce started Rolls-Royce in 1904 as a partnership and incorporated as a Private Ltd Company in 1906.

    Which is the costliest Rolls-Royce car?

    The company’s latest introduction of ‘Boat Tail’ is the costliest Rolls-Royce model. Its price is estimated at around ₹202 crores and is made only for a few exclusive customers.

    Who are the top Rolls-Royce competitors?

    Some of the top competitors for Rolls-Royce are:

    • Williams International
    • GE Aviation
    • Safran Aircraft Engines
    • Honeywell
    • General Electric
    • Pratt & Whitney