Comments on: Fostering Entrepreneurship does not translate to handholding or babysitting

By: Azeez

Azeez — Sun, 11 May 2008 09:08:40 +0000

Ya..I agree that theres lot of information, if U googled to find relevant that.My self landed in this site on that way to find the stuff I need..Actually for a single person or a student to bootstrap everything will take ages to start.Consider my self I think I’ve my idea..I evaluate it and I googled for it is there any thing similar concept is already there and if it is what its drawbacks.Luckily I’ve some competition from others no problem It’s a large Pie So I can have my share..And then I think If I’ve to start single how can I maintain infrastructure so sign up for Google app engine account..but already limited sign ups are reached I’ve to wait for it..(http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/whatisgoogleappengine.html)
Writing lab programs for me a niche ..coming to this I’ve to understand their platform and Python works Oh my god..so I need help because need programming and for infrastructure matters there’s our Big Boss Google is there hoping for any comments(http://code.google.com/appengine/)

By: K. Srikrishna

K. Srikrishna — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:19:39 +0000

Pranav,
Good article – I think you make an important point – every entrepreneur needs hand holding at some point or the other – but it should not be with the basics, especially in this day and age, when a reasonable amount of information is out there including some step-by-step stuff – not just in the blogosphere, but from VCs, angels and other folks motivated to help entrepreneurs.

I have tried to address some of these very questions in a series I am writing for the Hindu Business Line – that would help folks considering starting something. Much like Vijay states, with a few folks I have tried to answer every question they raise, but soon you wonder why some of these folks don’t start with a Google search! As my children are teaching me, sometimes the right answer is a good question or good many questions that teach “how to fish” rather than “feeding fish”

By: pranav

pranav — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:52:54 +0000

Vijay,

thanks for dropping by and sharing your perspective. As a key Proto organizer, your opinion is truly valued.

I have no qualms in helping out..and every chance I get, I do. but time constraints generally weed out answers to such open ended questions.

The guidelines you list out above ..a little internet research and you can uncover most of them. Instead of providing them such basic guidelines, they should be encouraged to research such basic info on their own. Rather than answering all emails for such basic info, we should try to make them more independent.

In the short term, handholding may sound fine..but there’s a possibility that in the long term, the person may become used to such handholding for the most basic steps..and may not be able to efficiently handle a situation singlehandedly, if need be, later down the line.

By: Vijay

Vijay — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:45:02 +0000

Pranav,

I do get quite a few emails as such as well and usually i do end up responding to them – maybe its me who is used to such questions in the incubation centre anyways. Most of them are not looking for a detailed procedure though – just give them a general guideline that they need to have a sample customer base in mind, validate their idea, do a prelim bplan, identify a team etc, and they are quite okay with it.

And I think you missed out a very crucial info resource point – Open Coffee Clubs. They are popping all over the place – Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi(rather Noida) and I hear Kolkatta has started one. They are filled with a lot of patient folks who can even handhold.

They also say, the only uncertain thing is life. For everything else there is a guidebook somewhere

Nice post though otherwise. Agree on most points, but as you rightly said the info on starting up hasnt permeated to the masses yet… until such time, the mails will keep flowing in.