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Ambition to bring more people online as goodwill to the society drove <keyword id="2949574" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shailesh-Nalawadi">Shailesh Nalawadi</keyword> to quit his <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> career and materialise a solution from white paper to reality. While working closely with <keyword id="97416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google-maps">Google Maps</keyword>, he spent a lot of time in the emerging markets. It is then that he realised though more people are using smartphones as its price was dropping tremendously, but looking at data consumption and statistics from the operator, one can see that the cost of access was really high. “When we started off thinking about mobile Internet, we noticed that especially in India and across emerging markets, there were lot of users who used smartphones but did not have the data on their phones; mostly because they were confused about the charges or worried about high data charges. Because of this their smartphone was not really very smart as it was an unconnected device,” Shailesh Nalawadi, co-founder of Mavin (<keyword id="6357722" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</keyword> based mobile startup), told BI. 

	Though it is an academic problem, there are actually people in the mobile app economy for whom it is a serious business problem. Hence the journey of Mavin began. A concept similar to cashback in retail, Mavin gives a platform to the operators to allow mobile apps to reward their users by giving them mobile data when they use these applications. By offering low cost mobile data, it aims to make smartphones “really smart”.
 

	“We are unique in the sense that we have a very specific solution with respect to data,” he said.
 

	India being a country with a bullish mobile app economy, Shailesh has rightly targeted the Indian market.
 

	“Our target audience is all prepaid smartphone users in India because we think that this is where the consumers are value conscious. Also they are making these data rationing choices throughout the day because they are trying to stretch their monthly data budget for as far as possible,” observed Shailesh.
 

	Challenges
 

	“Convincing people that this is a real problem and solving this is in their best interest is the most important challenge. When there is a new concept in the market, even if something very similar to cashback, people always doubt whether it will work for them or will it incentivise the right behaviour for them? They doubt what if there are features they don’t want?” said the Silicon Valley expert.
 

	But having worked as a product manager with top companies in the same genre, he has the solution and it is quite simple; to engage them to small mobile app trials. 
 

	“Convincing them to try a small portion and then opening out in full version is how we plan to overcome the challenges. We could also advice them on what kinds of incentives would work best for the users,” he added.
 

	Talking about life at Google, Shailesh is confident that quitting his job was the right decision.
 

	“Every now and then you get convinced that there is a problem and you need to solve it. I realised that I can solve or at least attempt to solve this problem much more effectively outside Google than inside of Google. Actually nothing from Google in the last few years has done anything to solve the problem, at least for India... I believe the mission of our company (Mavin) is helping consumers come online with low cost mobile data,” told Shailesh.
 He added that they have been able to change the experience of the consumers online through Mavin. Here, they support <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword> through unrestricted data for the unrestricted internet as they truly believe that universal internet access is a force for good in society. Shailesh is currently responsible for product direction in <keyword id="2949575" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mavin-Inc-">Mavin Inc.</keyword> Previously he worked in Product Management at Google, helping launch features in Google Maps, Google Glass, and Gmail.

This Silicon Valley based entrepreneur quit Google to solve a noble problem: Know all

Just when you thought the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=net+neutrality&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">net neutrality</a> debate was settling down, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=TRAI&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">TRAI</a> has re-opened that chapter. After it banned differential pricing, its latest paper has mentions of TSP-agnostic zero-rating platforms. 
 This critical paper has raised some valid questions on what violates the ethics of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">Net Neutrality</keyword>, and what doesn’t, and more importantly whether zero-platforms can be built within the principles of Net Neutrality. One of the apps that have been mentioned in <keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="TRAI">TRAI</keyword>’s proposal is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Gigato&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Gigato</a>. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Gigato&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Gigato</a> is an app that offers free data to its users. It has partnerships with the likes of Faasos, Jabong and Saavn and run promotions on their behalf, and give out free data in return. 
 <keyword id="3191695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Gigato">Gigato</keyword> is a subsidiary of <keyword id="3514100" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="us-based-mavin-co">US-based Mavin Co</keyword>. The company’s official website says that it supports Net Neutrality and believes in ‘unrestricted data for unrestricted Internet’ for all users. 
 How this works is that the company has tied up with brand partners to run promotions, and offer free data in exchange. Built on Mavin’s technology, Gigato is currently limited to <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> in India. 
 
Sample these deals - Use 20MB data for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=WhatsApp&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">WhatsApp</a> and get 10 MB data free, use 5MB for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Uber&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Uber</a> and get 10 MB data free and so on. Basically, the more data you use, the more you’re paid back. The app currently has over 100,000 downloads and claims to have returned over 150GB of data on peak days. 
 
“We run lots of different pilots: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Saavn&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Saavn</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jabong&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Jabong</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=TrulyMadly&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">TrulyMadly</a>. In some cases data is given out for using the app for a certain amount of time, like say 20 minutes of usage will get you some data. We have 20 plus partners for promotions and the data is credited in MBs,” Shailesh Nalawadi, CEO and co-founder of Gigato explained in a <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/trai-net-neutrality-paper-gigato-app-2892559/">recent interview</a>. 
 
He argues the app helps users in economizing data choices and is encouraging the usage of 3G networks. 
 
When asked if this model might run into the same risk as the current net neutrality debate where a handful of biggies can squash startups in the ‘free data’ promotions race, Nalawadi argues the app has no operator restrictions and thus in a way is not violating Net neutrality in India. 
 
This startup believes zero-rating apps on a TSP agnostic platform is what India needs. There will always be ones who disagree. 
 
<a href="http://www.gigato.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/My-Apps_GigatoHeader_021116.png">Image Source</a>

This app gives you free data every time you use it!

An urge to make a difference in the world through his work prompted Alfian Tan to quit <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Microsoft-is-betting-big-on-4G-phones-and-Windows-10-OS/articleshow/48858177.cms">Microsoft</a> and join <keyword id="6357722" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</keyword> based <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/New-born-startups-want-parenting-from-investors-for-right-grooming/articleshow/48667123.cms">start-up</a> <keyword id="3099058" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mavin">Mavin</keyword> as its CTO, after serving the Internet giant for 13 years. The ex <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> Principal Development Manager would not go back there, willingly, even though a start-up life is insecure and scary, he said to Business Insider India. 

	Why did you quit Microsoft?
 

	In <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Know-what-Microsoft-is-planning-for-India/articleshow/47454465.cms">Microsoft you are basically working for a big organisation</a>. You are basically working for someone else’s vision. I wanted to do something different and make a difference.
 

	And, hence he jumped at the first opportunity he got from his primary school friend, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/This-Silicon-Valley-based-entrepreneur-quit-Google-to-solve-a-noble-problem-Know-all/articleshow/48070868.cms">Shailesh Nalawadi, co-founder of Mavin</a>.
 

	Would you ever go back to Microsoft?
 

	I wouldn’t go back willingly. If Microsoft bought our company, maybe then I would go back.
 

	What disturbed you the most at Microsoft and no matter how hard you tried, you could not change it?
 Bureaucracy! When you are working for a big product like Office and <keyword id="44127" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bing">Bing</keyword>, there are only so many new things that you can attempt to do. It is like trying to steer big ships and may be once a year you can throw all your political capital behind a feature you like and try to get it ship but it is quite exhausting. 

	You are also working for a sea of user base and the minute you have to deal with it, that just limits how much you can innovate.
 

	In Bing, we tried to show the actual lyrics in the search results page. We built the feature and we were about to ship it and then the legal department came down on us and said you can’t.
 

	How is working in a start-up better than working at Microsoft?
 

	First, when you work in a big company, there are multiple layers of approval that you have to pass. If you want to ship something, the next thing you know you are in a room of 40 people, trying to get approval. In a small start-up, you move very quickly. This week I and my team shipped two features and that was really nice and empowering.
 

	Secondly, you move faster as there is less bureaucracy.
 

	Next is you are working for something you truly believe in. You are not working because your manager says it is the most important feature. You are working on a product that you create from your own thoughts.
 

	The downside of working in a start-up is security. In a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/You-cant-beat-someone-who-doesnt-quit-Meet-the-FearlessFarah-of-e-commerce-who-plays-golf-and-loves-wine/articleshow/48956911.cms">start-up</a> you are building a feature but you are spending half of your time ensuring that you get the correct funding. 
 

	Would you ever quit a start-up for a big organisation after this?
 

	It is going to be hard, to be absolutely honest. 
 

	What do you miss about Microsoft?
 

	What I miss about Microsoft was it hires great people. When I was working in Microsoft’s search engine Bing, I was leading a team of 30 people in Redmond USA and also a team of 20 people in Hyderabad, India. In a start-up there is a much smaller team so there are limits to the amount of work you can do. Like, it is very difficult for a start-up to build a search engine but Microsoft has the resources to solve this problem. The scale is a big thing for a feature and Microsoft has it.
 

	The second thing I miss, which we don’t normally realise, is that no matter how small a feature we build in Microsoft, it would go to millions of users. So your impact is immediate. Even if you make a small change to the small widgets at Bing homepage, you know you are going to impact hundreds of billions of users right away. That makes it much easy to go to work. The smallest thing you do will impact lot more people. This is very difficult for a start-up to achieve.
 

	Do you see yourself making a difference in the world after 3 years in Mavin?
 

	Our product is trying to lower the cost of mobile data. It is slowly making an impact. Our user base has grown we are getting positive feedback from them. This is something I could not have achieved in Microsoft.

	 
	 
	(Image credits: boringbrands)

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