Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

There has been a lot of buzz created around the start-up ecosystem in the country over the past two years. The number of new companies entering the playing field has increased significantly since the year 2013. According to <keyword id="6372077" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nasscom">NASSCOM</keyword>, the Indian technology start-ups landscape has seen a tremendous growth towards creation of innovative start-ups and this country, a home to a new breed of young start-ups, has clearly evolved to become the third largest base of technology start-ups in the world. 
 There has been a strong impetus from the <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian Government</keyword> as well in order to boost the budding entrepreneurship economy in the country. Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s <keyword id="129467" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="start-up">Start up</keyword> India Initiative is a step in this direction. A very important part of a thriving ecosystem is the presence of investors, PE firms, start-up accelerators and incubators. They make for the complete link to the complex chain. Another major reason for the growth of start-ups in India is the presence of more than 80 business incubators and accelerators, which provide seed stage support to start-ups. Major cities such as Bangalore, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai account for 90% of the start-up activity. 
 
It takes more than just an idea for rising entrepreneurs to become a successful start-up. The industry is quick growing and evolving, and hence there is a constant struggle for the survival of the fittest. Even with a lot of excitement observed in the beginning, there has been a dip in the investor interest and a hesitation to continue funding. What can be marked as a start-up winter, is a period of disdain for all budding entrepreneurs. If companies are well funded, there is also immense pressure on them to scale up operations. It is in times like these that it becomes imperative to continue building hope for people with a great product and service to offer. What the Indian start-ups need more than the money is motivation and a nurturing touch in terms of expertise and guidance. The need for the hour is to educate, inspire and support the next generation of entrepreneurs and that’s what they are going to do. 
 
Accelerators and incubators can play a very important role in the current scenario. They will play an important role in reviving the Indian startup ecosystem’s momentum and will also make sure that they do it in a sustainable manner. The reason these are called accelerators are because they provide immersive education, where a period of intense, focused attention provides company founders an opportunity to learn at a rapid pace. Learning-by-doing is vital to the process of scaling ventures and they also focus highly on that. In this way, they ensure that the startups compress years’ worth of learning in a bracket of a few months. When put into the Indian scenario, accelerators will help startups study and adapt to the swiftly changing Indian markets and will have a positive impact on their performance. In a conducive environment, start-ups have more chances to kick-start their projects and flourish. Accelerators have become popular in terms of the growth infrastructure, and play an important role in the scaling-up of entrepreneurial ventures. 
 
In addition to this, a lot of corporate have taken up the role of catalysts for the budding start-ups, wherein, they are working with emerging and mature start-ups to address business challenges, mentoring and guiding them with real life scenarios, scaling their business model, helping them with revenue, expanding their customer base while retaining existing customers etc. They help by developing a complete support system for the start-ups by giving them access to basic infrastructure clubbed with expertise and knowledge and thereby, create a runway for them. In times like these when the general sentiment surrounding start- ups is on a low, catalysts also provide the much required motivation to budding ideas in addition to material help. 
 
The Government of India is also trying to promote the startup culture and is revolutionizing its policies towards startups in order to ensure ease of work and financing by launching initiatives like ‘Startup India’ and ‘Self Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU)’. The right kind of help and support from the government and private sector organizations can really lift up and ensure the development of a healthy and sustainable startup ecosystem. 
Considering the role that startups are set to play in India’s economic growth and the amount of income and jobs they can generate, it is imperative for us to support them while they grow their wings and become self-sufficient in their cocoon. 
 
<a href="https://e27.co/">Image Credit</a> 
 This article is written by <keyword id="1964927" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sumesh-Menon">Sumesh Menon</keyword>, Co-Founder, U2opia Mobile

Time for accelerators to step up to maintain the Start Up momentum in the country

A swipe in the right direction. Yes getting a date is as easy as that in the age of smartphones. Smartphone apps have changed the dating landscape and men are relying on their phones to get a perfect match. Long gone are chat rooms or blind dates where your friends would set you up. Today, it’s all about swiping left or right on your smartphone. It’s easier than booking a cab after a lazy evening at the bar. 
 
 “People are comfortable in our app even when surrounded by strangers, simply because they trust that there won't be any creeps on the app. This confidence is uniquely empowering and that's what enables high engagement on dating apps these days,” said <keyword id="316899" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Bhatia">Sachin Bhatia</keyword>, CEO and Co-Founder of <keyword id="1745655" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="TrulyMadly">TrulyMadly</keyword>, a <keyword id="1095218" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dating-app">dating app</keyword>. 
 “We aren't like Western dating apps, which are primarily for 'hook-ups'. Nor are we your traditional desi matrimonial sites. We've tried to remove the taboo from the term 'dating' in the Indian world by associating it with safety and compatibility and have seen a great response from users in metros and even small towns,” added <keyword id="4943" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhatia">Bhatia</keyword>. 
 Unlike the West, where one night stands is not seen as a social taboo, in India, people browsing these apps, often look for a long time commitment. “Hook up and casual dating apps are mushrooming but there are millions of singles who crave something more meaningful and long-term. In fact, as we interact with more and more of our users, we realize that men and women equalled crave love and companionship and ‘casual relationships’ don’t fulfill that need. Woo has been conceptualised and created especially for such people,” said <keyword id="1964927" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sumesh-Menon">Sumesh Menon</keyword>, CEO and Co-founder, Woo. 
 
Most apps in India keep safety and security as their primary concerns. 
 
“We have a Trust Score for every user, based on the amount of information a user volunteers to share with the app. This impacts the matches she/he receives. In fact, we also have manual verification systems in place to double check profiles. Users can only engage in conversation or even see each other’s names once both of them have expressed an interest/ liked the other. All information about a user is self-updated and the existing user can anytime update or remove any or all information as per their personal preferences. If they deactivate their account, all their information gets wiped off too,” Bhatia added. 
 
Meanwhile, 9 out of 10 women in the age-group between 18 and 25 prefer keeping a dating app on their phone, while 7 out of 10 in the age group between 26 and 35 prefer the same. 
 
“An app brings the multiplier effect and widens the pool, beyond anything that was possible before. Secondly, because it is on a private smartphone device, it gives users the convenience of having uninterrupted, one-on-one conversations and really getting to know one another. And finally, it has given people complete independence over the kind of person they choose to be with. The decision is now taken by the individual, and not by anyone else,” added Menon. 
 
Dating apps are like a free market economy for relationships in general and sex in particular. You might not find your dream girl among your acquaintances, but these apps ensure more exposure. Also, if we have the freedom to choose everything, then why not have the freedom to choose the right partner.

Here's how Indian dating apps are giving Indians a way to find their right
partners

India is budding with youngsters. 65% of the Indian population is the youth, who are the future and have the right inclination towards technology. They are the real deal when it comes to adapting to a new <keyword id="6354485" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="mobile">mobile</keyword> phone or an <keyword id="6355821" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="application">application</keyword>. Probably the reason why Sumesh Menon, CEO and Co-Founder, <keyword id="650584" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="U2opia">U2opia</keyword> mobile wants to spend his company’s time and energy on applications for the countries youth. 
 Sumesh strongly believes the countries youth is evolving and adapting to the new things including applications rapidly. U2opia is planning to launch two new apps in the coming months. Too much was not revealed about these two new applications but they will have social elements such as <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword>, Twitter and more attached to them. These apps are being built for both <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> and <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> operating systems in U2opia’s research and development labs in Delhi/NCR. 
 
One should be able to see the new apps in the first two quarters of 2014. U2opia has already got some nice apps including fonetwish (a USSD based internet app) that has over 10 million users. Their armada of apps will grow to 6 once the new apps are live and kicking. We for one are waiting in anticipation. Hopefully the curtains will be raised on at least one of them in the first quarter of 2014.

U2opia Mobile Is Working On 2 More Apps For The Youth

In 2015 online dating made many great strides. Memberships continued to grow at a staggering pace, vast amounts of new sites emerged, existing ones made significant improvements for their user-base, and relationships were formed in record numbers. The exponential rise in registered users on these apps is testimony to the fact that this new platform is very well here to stay! Moreover, unlike elsewhere, this new space meant to connect strangers seeking partners is in fact doing much more than it is intended to. While introducing new features to make user experience fun, it is also changing the Indian mindset and the stigma associated with online dating in our country. 
 Dating is not considered a bad thing anymore because we’re going on more and more dates, extending our networks outside our immediate circles in our search for love, and embracing this evolving dating culture. And, this journey has resulted in several interesting trends. For example, 1 in 3 matches start with an interesting question, says <keyword id="37089" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="woo">Woo</keyword>, leading dating app in India which presently boasts of 2 million registered users. 
 
The company has, therefore, been quick to sneak in ‘QuestionCast’, an alternate method of discovering people on its app through interesting Q&amp;A rather than just photos. That means, it becomes a match when two people posed with the same questions end up giving the same response! “There’s also TagSearch which turns the entire user base into the Internet of People, which can be browsed as simply as how we use hyperlinks to browse the Internet. Smarter discovery means more matches, more matches mean more people who actually find love through Woo’’ says Sumesh Menon, Co-Founder and CEO, Woo. 
 
Such and more innovations are on the way, however, as this space continues to evolve, here’s Woo giving out trends you should watch out for to get the dating basics right, so that these matchmaking apps do not end up being a minefield of regret and missed opportunities for you in 2016. 
 
1) Love food? Say it!: If you’ve always harboured a secret love for food, show off your gourmand side – a shared love for food, cooking or unusual cuisines are great ways to form connection. 
 
2) Playful profiles: Add character to your profile with interesting photos and things you enjoy, but keep it original and avoid cliche. Don’t be the guy/girl who ‘lives life to the fullest’. 
 
3) To start with: Start the conversation with an interesting question – it immediately dispels the awkwardness of the small talk routine.4) 
 
4) Play it cool: Let people gradually reveal their personality through conversation – don’t start a conversation with a set agenda 
 
5) Don't procrastinate: Messages sent within the first 24 hours are twice as likely to receive a response. So don’t just collect matches – initiate a conversation. 
 
6) Be genuine: Look at the person's profile and write to them about something specific, so they know that you're not just randomly throwing out opening lines to every single person that is on the app. Spend time in reading their profile and ask questions which are relevant. 
 
7) Do not use too many Emojis : Emojis are fun but not everybody appreciates that, so try to be real and kick-start your conversation with real words. 
 
8) Momentum is important: Momentum is the key for every conversation to keep the interest going. Be responsive and involved and when the timing is right, make plans to connect on the phone or in person.

7 basic dating tips that will help you get a match for sure

Indians might have a firm grasp over the idea of online matrimonial websites, but matchmaking and <keyword id="1557997" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="dating-apps">dating apps</keyword> on the other hand is something that people are now adapting to. The Indian way of life has come a long way and more and more people are moving away from homes in search of better job and lifestyle. This has led to singles looking for partners outside the prescribed norms and traditions. Earlier it was only arranged marriage, which was part of the Indian culture in which parents were the main decision makers. They would fix the marriage based on caste, gothra, religion, family background, etc. But now the scenario has changed and it is the youngsters who are taking this decision for themselves. 
 
“Today, as the young people take control of their careers and attain their financial independence, their confidence in their judgment and their worldview has also strengthened. They, now, better understand the levers that determine their happiness. One of those levers, naturally, is who they marry” said Mr Sumesh Menon, CEO and Co-founder, Woo, India’s leading matchmaking app for urban singles seeking a life partner. 
 
Slowly, the traditional construct of the ‘partner’ too, has started to change form. Increasingly, young singles are no longer incomplete halves moving through the world, forlorn and constantly searching, but rather confident young individuals who are quite aware of who they are and what makes them happy. The ask from a partner therefore, has also shifted from being the ‘revered other’ to being the ‘partner in crime’, someone who will aid and abet your individual quest for happiness and also introduce happy moments for two. 
 <keyword id="74566" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="matrimonial-sites">Matrimonial sites</keyword> targets the parents who are looking for a suitable match for their children. 
They make something as important as finding a life partner a very transactional process, where you are assessing someone not based on who they are but filters like weight, complexion, nationality, age, gender, availability of photograph and often religion, geographic location and caste. It reduces human beings and a human process to ‘specifications’, like you would do, say if you were purchasing a new laptop, rather than looking to meet someone you would potentially marry. 
 <keyword id="28618" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-dating">Online dating</keyword> on the other hand is a personal introductory system whereby individuals can find and contact each other over the Internet to arrange a date, usually with the objective of developing a personal, romantic, or sexual relationship. Dating apps can be very frivolous ‘hot or not’ type experiences, which hardly lend themselves well to sincere intent or commitment. 
 Whereas, <keyword id="1868037" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="matchmaking-apps">Matchmaking apps</keyword> match users based on common interests, profession, lifestyle, interests etc. Matchmaking app fills the gap between casual dating apps and the old-fashioned matrimonial portals. There is a huge under-served section of users, who are looking at taking the next big step in their lives and would like to meet someone special for that. But the road to meeting that special someone, especially in a culturally complex landscape like India, is quite tricky. Matchmaking apps like Woo, provide these users with a sophisticated, secure and private platform to help them find their life partners. In our increasingly isolated lives, finding a life partner is becoming one of life’s biggest challenges and Woo is committed to solving that human problem. 
 
“On one end of the line we have stuffy matrimonial sites, tailor-made for the parents, and on the other extreme, western imports of online dating platforms that quickly devolve into a mosh pit of men in an ‘anything goes’ frame of mind. We introduced Woo with the single mission of finding a middle ground - A healthy environment where young urban professionals connect and interact. Woo is committed to a deeper search for a meaningful relationship, one that is rooted in joyous, real conversations and connection, than arbitrary social variables” added Mr. Menon. 
While the space is nascent, it is fast getting crowded with players old and new. This eventually means more choice for user and hence more chances of meeting people they can connect with. In a few years from now, mobile apps like Woo will be the first port of call for young Indians looking for commitment. 
 
(The article has been contributed by Pavit Nanda Anand, Manager – Corporate Communications, <a href="http://www.getwoo.at/">Woo</a>)

Matrimonial sites Vs Dating App Vs Matchmaking Apps

The good thing about information is that you can never have enough of it. Especially if it comes in the form of crisp infographics that give you a snapshot of how variables perform over time or in comparison to one another. 
 
So far, we have used this to analyse, measure and understand our environment. But there is a new, more fascinating and more complex subject that is now the target of a bounding wave in tech. It’s YOU. 
 
Welcome to the Quantified Self. Pogue calls it self-improvement; others think it is narcissistic fodder for the ego and yet others think it is a great motivational tool to achieve fulfilment. 
 Powered by some <keyword id="6354813" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="nifty">nifty</keyword>, easy-to-use wearable gear, people are now measuring physical activities like how many steps they take, sleep patterns, calorie intake, <keyword id="23666" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="stress">stress</keyword> level and even how many times they slouch in a day! Everything that helps you keep the metaphorical finger on the pulse of your own life. 
 This movement is taking off from a fundamentally sound launch pad created through a <keyword id="168301" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="convergence">convergence</keyword> of new technology - big advancements in human bio-metric sensors driving down both, their cost and size; exponential cloud-based data processing capability and, of course, the proliferation of smartphones and their thriving app ecosystems. 
 The fitness industry, for obvious reasons, has the lead in commercial success with this trend. The popular <keyword id="6486191" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Fitbit">Fitbit</keyword>, <keyword id="69300" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="nike">Nike</keyword> Fuelband and the Jawbone Up strap all analyse your daily exercise, sleep patterns and weight. What works well for them is that they are easy to wear, tastefully designed and most importantly, something you wear around the clock, even when you sleep! 
 
The fact that you can monitor and then visually interpret, analyse and share every event may have immense implications on how this phenomenon will alter, if not influence, the way we behave. Because almost all of these devices have the ability for you to set goals. 
 
When you record and compare a set of variables about your life routine, you tend to start seeing patterns. Once you are aware of the causes and behaviours that take you away from your goals, you are better armed with information and wisdom that will get you to your destination – be it a specific weight target or a more healthy state of mind and body. 
 
It could mean that you opt to take the stairs instead of the escalator to get closer to your daily exercise target. Or you could plan for a power nap to get the adequate amount of sleep to beat the deficit. 
 
What’s more, thanks to the social nature of a seamlessly connected platform, it brings in the added element of ‘healthy’ competition among peers. Nothing motivates like some friendly jostling with data points. And to ensure fair play, these wearable devices are built to discount false positives – so that you can’t cheat your way to a healthy score. 
 
Estimated to rake in $4.8 billion, the still-nascent wearable tech industry is poised to spring a lot of surprises. Take, for example, the recently announced STIR Kinetic Desk that re-imagines your workstations with height-adjustable tables that track how much time you spent sitting down versus standing, at work. Another crowd-funded start-up BabyWatch is working to help pregnant mothers monitor and track their babies’ progress and focus on pre-natal health. 
 
It’s evident that entrepreneur and venture interest in the space is picking up pace and a lot is being invested in amalgamating hardware and software to help people become more self-aware. As these devices get cheaper, they have real potential for mass adoption, adding a whole new spin to the classic business mantra ‘what gets measured, gets done.’ 
 
Sumesh Menon is the CEO and co-founder of <keyword id="650505" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="U2opia-Mobile">U2opia Mobile</keyword>, a Singapore-based mobile technology start-up that builds mobile applications catering across the spectrum of handsets.

You Searched For "Sumesh Menon" and got 6 results

Time for accelerators to step up to maintain the Start Up momentum in the country

Guest Author

Here's how Indian dating apps are giving Indians a way to find their right partners

Suchayan Mandal

U2opia Mobile Is Working On 2 More Apps For The Youth

Sulabh Puri

7 basic dating tips that will help you get a match for sure

Anushree Singh

Matrimonial sites Vs Dating App Vs Matchmaking Apps

Guest Author

The Quantified Self – Your Life In Numbers

Sumesh Menon

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides