Vikrama Dhiman’s Blog

Thanks to the @jaaogre group for the opportunity to be a part of the Tweetup at Zenzi Mills, Lower Parel last Saturday.

This article, by the Jaagore team, on the Jaagore Tweetup pretty much captures the schedule and minutes well. The article by @arcoploc was also nicely written. Here is the link: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_get-set-tweet-for-a-social-cause_1430178

The dead tree format coverage is always special, especially if you are covered. So, here it is me, DNA, Sunday, August 28, 2010:

If you are looking to start something, you don't actually need a million plus users (who pay you nothing) but a few hundred paying customers. Here is why:

• If you had 400 paying customers, paying you $10 a month, you would make $48,000 a year. In market terms, this could get you a valuation of a million easily. Isn't that just great for a startup?
• Sooner or later, you will need to demonstrate value to people who will be paying you. Why not do it sooner than later?
• If you are only focused on getting paid customers [and not the free ones], you'd be focused on one thing and your chances of doing it correctly increase significantly. Won't you want the lesser risk strategy?
• If you are making money, you won't probably need VC funding. How cool is that?
• Focusing on getting paying customers, helps you focus on entire value chain -> marketing, branding, sales, strategy, development and not just development. Why would you want local optimization when you can optimize for the whole from the start?

While this approach may not work in all scenarios, it is definitely an approach you want to consider while deciding your product strategy. It is not really revolutionary, per se - just ignored and not considered often enough, in this age of The Free Plan. Why?

• Perhaps, it is a bit too upfront about putting the money at the center of it.
• Perhaps, it is not as sexy as "we are building a platform for the future".
• Perhaps, it is the harder problem to solve and the human brain delays solving this problem for later.

Friends becoming enemies or enemies becoming friends. People falling in love overcoming barriers of culture, tradition, prejudice or social norms. Youngsters starting their own company. Handicapped overcoming their handicap to succeed. Migrants trying to find their voice in a city. New ideas clashing with established conventions.

Stories that leave a mark are about The Change.

If you want a story about you, embrace The Change.