New Delhi Times

Gaurav Bhatnagar reporting from New Delhi, India

Pitch your product at Proto.in

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While we in Delhi took the lead in organizing the first Barcamp in India, Chennai has really taken the ball and is running with it. After their own Barcamp, they organized the much publicized BlogCamp. And now Vijay informs me that they will be conducting a unique event (definitely a first in India) similar to the DEMO conference that happens in the US. In Vijay’s words:

Proto is a platform. It is a showcase of the new age india, and the spirit of technological innovation in this country. We are a team of 20-so technological enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs-turning-VCs who are creating a list of the best technological innovations by startups here in India, bringing all the best VCs in and around the country (including from the Silicon Valley) and giving the entrepreneurs a chance to share their vision and dream. If it resonates with the technological community, who in the end of the day will be their end-consumers, the VCs have a better scale to evaluate the degree of pain point they are addressing. The slogan is simple: We are going to make every minute of the VC worthwhile, and hence will be putting the best of the breed companies on stage. The basic criteria is that they have something very innovative. In simple terms patentable technology, which will put the age old question of “Name me a company in India that builds products” to rest, for good, and they need to have a working prototype or version one of their product – as it helps everyone to better understand the idea, and also alleviates the fear of the idea being stolen.
We are looking for companies working on cutting edge products from and around India, to be a part of this. We have tenatively planned for this event three months down the lane, so that companies do get a chance to put together their concept into a working product, and everybody will get a chance to plan their schedules accordingly. This, we believe is going to be the beginning of a new revolution in India, when the youth rise up to define their own future, when India is showcased as more than a services destination.

I think this is a great idea. My only objection is to link innovation with “patentable” technology. Patents are such hairy beasts that if anything they often thwart innovation. Besides getting a patent is a long winded process. It is unlikely that a small little startup would have actually received any patents. But I am sure Proto will feature non-patented but innovative products as well. More information will be soon available at http://www.proto.in
And I think its about we had another event in Delhi! I am really interested in seeing something similar to Startup School Any takers?

Written by gaurav

October 5th, 2006 at 1:30 am

Posted in India,Technology

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  • http://linosx.nyvisitek.com Pankaj

    Gaurav,
    I think Startup School in Delhi would be a great idea. I’d love to discuss this in more detail.
    Pankaj

  • http://linosx.nyvisitek.com Pankaj

    Gaurav,
    I think Startup School in Delhi would be a great idea. I’d love to discuss this in more detail.
    Pankaj

  • http://www.vijayanand.name Vijay

    That’s quite an interesting idea Gaurav. Are there enough folks in and around India to present though? or would you have to bring them from the valley, and if so, the whole context is kinda blurry isnt it? I mean, most of the hassles of a startup in India, seem to be lying in the context..
    What’s your thought?
    And thanks for the post on Proto. It’s going to be a lot of sleepless nights for the next three months :)

  • http://www.vijayanand.name Vijay

    That’s quite an interesting idea Gaurav. Are there enough folks in and around India to present though? or would you have to bring them from the valley, and if so, the whole context is kinda blurry isnt it? I mean, most of the hassles of a startup in India, seem to be lying in the context..
    What’s your thought?
    And thanks for the post on Proto. It’s going to be a lot of sleepless nights for the next three months :)

  • http://www.newdelhitimes.org Gaurav

    Pankaj – sure lets discuss more. I know a few people in Delhi who would want to set this up.
    Vijay – you are underestimating the Indian ecosystem :) I myself know many people who can help educate budding entrepreneurs in all aspects of starting a company! All the best for Proto.in!

  • http://www.newdelhitimes.org Gaurav

    Pankaj – sure lets discuss more. I know a few people in Delhi who would want to set this up.
    Vijay – you are underestimating the Indian ecosystem :) I myself know many people who can help educate budding entrepreneurs in all aspects of starting a company! All the best for Proto.in!

  • http://www.vijayanand.name Vijay

    Gaurav,
    Can you help me identify some of these folks? We are setting up a panel during Proto.in and would very much like for them to be a part of it.
    Let me know.

  • http://www.vijayanand.name Vijay

    Gaurav,
    Can you help me identify some of these folks? We are setting up a panel during Proto.in and would very much like for them to be a part of it.
    Let me know.

  • http://www.apollon.in/?page_id=2 Sunil

    Dear Gaurav,
    Regarding your comment of Innovation leading to patenting…just look into another revolutionary way of sustaining innovations. I some where read about “Community Patenting”. It is a framework where patent is filed to encourage stake holders to invest resources in innovation yet rights to exploit that innovation are not restricted with one or few organizations, but rather with a big chunk of stakeholders. This for ex. in India’s context could have relevance if any one State or District has IPR for very unique tool/process in say Electricity Distribution & Billing, then for other States etc to use it there could be an initial charge yet early adopters can be awarded by being made part of IPR holding team. Eventually a very competitive set of organizations can extend the same concept to global audiences in similar framework. To simply, IPR benefits gets shared NOT only by creators of IPR but also those who participate in various stages to make idea success.
    All the best to you all…..Hope normal citizens like me who may be neither Innovator nor VC can still attend the event, may be if needed at a fee, to observe & then blog on the proceedings…

  • http://www.apollon.in/?page_id=2 Sunil

    Dear Gaurav,
    Regarding your comment of Innovation leading to patenting…just look into another revolutionary way of sustaining innovations. I some where read about “Community Patenting”. It is a framework where patent is filed to encourage stake holders to invest resources in innovation yet rights to exploit that innovation are not restricted with one or few organizations, but rather with a big chunk of stakeholders. This for ex. in India’s context could have relevance if any one State or District has IPR for very unique tool/process in say Electricity Distribution & Billing, then for other States etc to use it there could be an initial charge yet early adopters can be awarded by being made part of IPR holding team. Eventually a very competitive set of organizations can extend the same concept to global audiences in similar framework. To simply, IPR benefits gets shared NOT only by creators of IPR but also those who participate in various stages to make idea success.
    All the best to you all…..Hope normal citizens like me who may be neither Innovator nor VC can still attend the event, may be if needed at a fee, to observe & then blog on the proceedings…

  • http://www.vijayanand.name Vijay

    Sunil,
    You are absolutely welcome :)
    Vijay

  • http://www.vijayanand.name Vijay

    Sunil,
    You are absolutely welcome :)
    Vijay

  • http://www.jonathanboutelle.com Jonathan Boutelle

    In a lot of countries (especially in Europe, for example), the second you show something in public it can’t be patented. (In the US, you get a grace period of 1 year). If you haven’t filed the patents yet, showing up at an event like this would seem a suckers move…
    I agree, time for another event. Let’s see if I can make this one. ;->

  • http://www.jonathanboutelle.com Jonathan Boutelle

    In a lot of countries (especially in Europe, for example), the second you show something in public it can’t be patented. (In the US, you get a grace period of 1 year). If you haven’t filed the patents yet, showing up at an event like this would seem a suckers move…
    I agree, time for another event. Let’s see if I can make this one. ;->

  • http://www.newdelhitimes.org Gaurav

    Jon, that is a very valid point. I guess this needs to be highlighted in BOLD letters on the Proto.in website! Public disclosure of unpatented technology can be fatal. Not sure how many people realize that.
    Sunil – community patenting sounds interesting but the whole idea of software patents is pretty murky. Enforceability is a big issue. I think we need a better model for safeguarding software IPR.

  • http://www.newdelhitimes.org Gaurav

    Jon, that is a very valid point. I guess this needs to be highlighted in BOLD letters on the Proto.in website! Public disclosure of unpatented technology can be fatal. Not sure how many people realize that.
    Sunil – community patenting sounds interesting but the whole idea of software patents is pretty murky. Enforceability is a big issue. I think we need a better model for safeguarding software IPR.

  • http://www.zerocaffe.in suman

    Yup its about time something like startupschool happened in india. And it would be aswesome if it was educational rather than a PR platform for vc firms and startups. Hmm its about time i think.

  • http://www.zerocaffe.in suman

    Yup its about time something like startupschool happened in india. And it would be aswesome if it was educational rather than a PR platform for vc firms and startups. Hmm its about time i think.

  • http://www.thestartupblog.blogspot.com Bhasker V Kode

    Excellent point suman . a thinks everyones pointed out a valid argument as far as patents are concerned . But lets hope that ATLEAST this way – startups think about ipr and potential patents early on . Its almost certain though that no patent created by a patent can affordto go sue anyone else or let alone defend itself if a bigger player does copy their plan and drag them to court long enuff to kill them .
    On another note, i still think that startups that are looking for funding will find proto.in a refreshing initiative much to their favour ,apart from being a nice networking event to atleast get visibility .
    I think the even though the event is supposed to invite companies that have not yet being funded,but got their prototypes out – i really think we might find more demo’s of ‘started-up’ companies showcasing themselves .Time will tell…
    If youre some one like me who has an outfit running ( TechEnclave , a tech commuinty i help run in my spare time) and not particularly looking for vc investments right away – then its too big a jump i guess ,when what u really need is the attention of the masses as a whole and not the vc community …not as yet … 8 )
    Keep Clicking,
    Bhasker

  • http://www.thestartupblog.blogspot.com Bhasker V Kode

    Excellent point suman . a thinks everyones pointed out a valid argument as far as patents are concerned . But lets hope that ATLEAST this way – startups think about ipr and potential patents early on . Its almost certain though that no patent created by a patent can affordto go sue anyone else or let alone defend itself if a bigger player does copy their plan and drag them to court long enuff to kill them .
    On another note, i still think that startups that are looking for funding will find proto.in a refreshing initiative much to their favour ,apart from being a nice networking event to atleast get visibility .
    I think the even though the event is supposed to invite companies that have not yet being funded,but got their prototypes out – i really think we might find more demo’s of ‘started-up’ companies showcasing themselves .Time will tell…
    If youre some one like me who has an outfit running ( TechEnclave , a tech commuinty i help run in my spare time) and not particularly looking for vc investments right away – then its too big a jump i guess ,when what u really need is the attention of the masses as a whole and not the vc community …not as yet … 8 )
    Keep Clicking,
    Bhasker

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  • girish

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    http://www.canaravideo.com

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