The Startup Centre

We are a Global Startup Hub + Accelerator, based out of India. We help founders #getstarted and craft remarkable startups.

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

Over the years I've been jotting down ideas in a #BlackBook, hoping that someday someone would build a startup around that space. As a way of accelerating that serendipity, I'm putting out those ideas - one, every week.

Here is the thread of them. 🧵

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

You've read the story of the Ugly Duckling right? Most of us entrepreneurs feel that way for a really long time, till this happens.

Read on.

https://t.co/FPZ6URbYuj

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

Testimonials and ratings are a vital asset to building the credibility of your business - especially online. But anyone who has done this will tell you, getting reviews from your customers takes effort.

Tip: Don't blindly incentivize.

https://t.co/u4VpVuMvbU

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

All free and open communities are a pipeline for a paid service - either for the admins themselves or for the sponsors.

Sooner or later, that intent reveals itself.

We are at that inflection point towards closed, paid communities, where the members are served first.

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

Book your spot here : https://t.co/vywMiATT2I

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

Einstein famously said, "Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler".

I've mulled over it from time to time, but never realized how profound it was.

Here's how it profoundly impacts how we build #remarkable startups.

https://t.co/UeiUBw1Jst

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

It was Benjamin Franklin who inspired the famous 9 to 5 Schedule.

Folks who are creative, rarely work well within that structure - in fact, Picasso had his own schedule.

There is good news though.

https://t.co/EsEBGgektM

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

A brand is not just the logo or the name (or part of it), but the values that it stands for and the experience that it uniquely delivers.

Also is Bigbasket trademarked? They dont seem to carry the TM on their logo. 🤷

https://t.co/6vwYu7OR7X - brilliant move @rameshvel

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

If you are building an e-commerce company in 2021, you are doing it wrong.

Startups are evolving and are getting more layered.

Wave #1: Enable transactions
↳ eCommerce

Wave #2: Building 2 Sided Networks
↳ Platforms

Wave #3: Building Layered Experiences.

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

Elements and traits that make a successful startup.

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

@rikuroxs @YourStoryCo @nextbigwhat What could change that trend:
1. Seeing more entrepreneurs from tier 2/tier 3 colleges succeed at scale
2. Distinguishing a specific skillset that is more common than for IIT/IIM alumni.
3. Showcasing and building a case, say, Non-IIT /IIM entrepreneurs understand bharat better.

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

@rikuroxs @YourStoryCo @nextbigwhat Whenever we are unhappy about a metric being used, a constructive question to ask is, "what could be a better metric".

As long as the top minds in the country, are entering IITs and IIMs, logic dictates that alumni will also attract the highest % of risk capital.

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

Entrepreneurs now have a new benchmark.

1. Build a unicorn, the bootstrapped way.
2. Build a company with long term vision.
3. Build in India, for the world.
4. Do social good. Think differently.
5. Win a Padma Shri.

Congratulations to Mr. Sridhar Vembu (@svembu).

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

In a world where there is no such thing as work-life balance, phone calls are getting intrusive. We no longer have "work hours" and work gets interrupted by calls that have no context.

This week in #BlackBook Ideas, we talk about that opportunity.

https://t.co/SQFqzbHprE

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

Innovation vs Invention, as described by Matt Ridley.

https://t.co/Kf70PNLSID

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

Anything that takes time to be made more aesthetically pleasing is considered art. As we move from bare necessities to aesthetics and luxury, here is a venture idea that is bound to become lucrative - and it is alive.

This week in #BlackBook Ideas.

https://t.co/MIoHXDRoh2

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

The first voice devices emerged in 2014. Though there are a 100mn of those devices - between Alexa, Google Home and Homepods, we haven't seen a killer app yet.

Here are three potential ideas that could possibly change that.

#blackbook

https://t.co/2qB4J4J4Xw

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

It takes about 20,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton. Which is then sold for roughly 2$ / kg.

That makes no sense whatsoever. India is one of the largest producers and exporters of cotton.

But there are alternatives!

This week in #BlackBook

https://t.co/BH7umdomsM

[Vijay Anand @vijayanands]

It takes about 20,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton. Which is then sold for roughly 2$ / kg.

That makes no sense whatsoever. And India is one of the largest producers and exporters of cotton.

But there are alternative materials.

#BlackBook

https://t.co/t38W0BRbZ8

[The Startup Centre @startupcentre]

As of 2019, We have 21mn dogs (as pets) in India, which is expected to grow to 31mn by 2023. Pets (apart from food) spawns a whole lot of opportunities - quite a few that are social, and not explored yet.

This week in #Blackbook.

https://t.co/PvfpLemiR7