"The Fear of the Nokia Fate"

Last week, we hosted a Round Table in Pune for CallHippo on “The Future of Business Communication.” The room was packed with folks from big call centers and IT giants, all trying their best to look very futuristic 😁 .

The hot topic? AI. And somewhere between the coffee breaks we collectively coined a term: The Fear of the Nokia Fate.

Here’s the gist: Every organization is throwing money at AI like it's a Black Friday sale. Why? FOMO. Everyone’s terrified of missing out on the next big thing, even though most of them don’t have a clue what they’re actually trying to achieve.

Now, here's the kicker: Every time someone in the organization dares to ask, “Hey, should we maybe figure out our goals before burning more money on AI?” another person stands up and dramatically says, “Remember Nokia?” Cue collective gasps.

The Nokia legend goes like this: Nokia didn’t embrace smartphones fast enough and poof!—they vanished into the corporate Bermuda Triangle. Never mind that the story is oversimplified; it’s the mic-drop moment in every AI debate. Nobody argues after the Nokia card is played.

And that’s how we arrived at The Fear of the Nokia Fate—the corporate boogeyman ensuring that AI budgets stay bloated and slightly aimless. Because nobody wants to be the next Nokia.

Here are the people who were there at the round table and contributed to coining this term:

Kanchan Patwardhan-Deshpande, Rahul Mergu (CISM) (CCISO), Kiran Mirajkar, Sikandar Pathan, Krishna Badwane, Anurag Agrawal, Achal Chhajed DHIRAJ SHISAT, Abdullah Parkar, Parvez Chhapgar, Gaurav Sharma, Chirayu Patel, Komal Chavan

It takes a village to raise a child.
It takes a community to raise a startup.

Grateful to have found eChai Ventures community & Jatin Chaudhary and
an incredible network of people who continually inspire me and
team at Digipple to push boundaries and strive for more.

As we open the doors to our new office,
we’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our Founder Friends & Mentors at an exclusive eChai Marketing Social.

At Digipple, we believe the best is yet to come.

Let's continue to inspire, innovate, and co-rise.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this special evening:

Syed Nadeem Jafri | Kumar Manish | Jaydip Parikh | Tanmay Shanishchara | Jitendraa Lakhwani | Vikas Mundhra | Vikalp Somani | Dipti Parmar | Rohan Ayyar | Niraj Harlalka | Surendra Varma | Roshan Bhansali

Reflecting on the incredible journey of our 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 this past year, I am beyond thrilled to announce that we have achieved a phenomenal 𝟭𝟬𝘅 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. This milestone is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our vision and mission.

At  Univia , we have always aimed for excellence, and this achievement signifies that we are not just on the right path but also moving at top speed. Our team’s relentless dedication, innovative strategies, and customer-centric approach have driven us to this remarkable success.
As we continue to push boundaries and break new ground, I am confident that this is just the beginning. Here’s to achieving greater heights together!

4 Years of Soch, Swad Aur Sehat 🥳🥗

It all started in 2020 with the idea of serving healthy food for the people of Ahmedabad! 🌱☺️

Now after all the struggles we have reached here and are grateful to all of you for supporting us. 🧿🙏🏻

Our mother-son duo founders will keep up their good work, grit & gratitude always along with their hardworking team! 🥹🙌

Stay healthy, happy & hearty. 🤍

Payal Pathak The Simply Salad 

It was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Allan Koltin. I've been following your incredible journey since the start of my career in the US accounting industry, and your insights have always been invaluable to me. Truly humbled by your humility and generosity in taking the time to share your wisdom. Thank you for the great conversation—I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the field!

Entigrity Koltin Consulting Group, Inc.

Got an opportunity to reconnect with old & new US state alumni based in Ahmedabad. Attended the “Alumni Networking Event" hosted by the U.S. Consulate General Mumbai at the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad.

As part of a Legislative Fellow way back in the Year 2016, I spent a month in the USA ( Washington DC & Reno) during the election time of Ex Prez Trump & Hillary Clinton and got first-hand experience of the US election frenzy. During the fellowship, the best part was meeting fellows from other parts of India & Pakistan who were working on sustainability, digital media, storytelling, social mobilisation & the political domain. Also, staying with host US families and getting first-hand experience of American culture.

As part of this meet-up, we exchanged ideas, experiences, and insights to see how each of us can partner in making a positive impact in our chosen area of work.

The breakout sessions on Climate Change, Women’s Economic Empowerment, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility), and Education led to thought-provoking discussions & collaborative opportunities.

A big thank you to Nerissa Castelino and the team for organizing such an enriching experience, and special thanks to Rob Anderson and Tejal Vasavada for hosting the event. Also, met Nayankumar Dave,a media veteran and former TOI colleague, after a long time. 

Hope to have meaningful collaboration & partnerships on issues which are close to our hearts. 

In case, you are a US state alumni based in Ahmedabad/ Gujarat and still not part of the community, do PM me to join the dedicated WhatsApp community.  :) 

We work with a wide range of event organizers at AllEvents, from local gatherings to global festivals. But seeing a traditional institution like ISKCON Bangalore✔ embrace digital technology for their Janmashtami celebrations is something truly special.

In just 2-3 days, tens of thousands of devotees registered online for the event. It’s inspiring to see how the temple is using technology not just to streamline the festival but to build a stronger, more connected community. Going digital allows them to plan future festivals more effectively, keep their community informed, and ultimately enhance the experience for everyone involved.

This partnership is a beautiful example of how tradition and technology can come together to create something meaningful. We’re proud to support ISKCON Temple Bangalore in their journey towards a more connected and engaged community.

When a popular artist goes live on AllEvents! 

6x spike in North American ticket sales over the last two days, driven by an event featuring a well-known artist who chose AllEvents as their ticketing platform. 

This surge highlights the power of AllEvents as a global event discovery and ticketing platform, trusted by artists and event organizers worldwide. We’re proud to be the platform of choice for major events that connect with audiences across the globe.

As we continue to grow, we’re committed to providing a reliable, credible, and impactful platform for events of all sizes, anywhere in the world.

Looking forward to more exciting milestones ahead!

... and it's a wrap for SGx5 🙌

Couple of months back, we had the graduation for SGx5 cohort in Goa. SGx is a 16 week pay-it-forward program by SaaSBoomi where founders of early stage 

#saas companies go through growth acceleration with mentors and wingmates who have been through the curve.

About a year ago, Anupama and I had the good fortune of being part of the SGx4 cohort for Clientjoy (Acquired by Synup). Our learnings were crisp, clear and actionable.

They helped us with improving our account activations, getting a handle on our ICP and focusing on the right metrics. I also witnessed them helping my batchmates with their US GTM, going about category creation and setting up sales processes.

If you are a SaaS company doing $500K to $1.5M in ARR, link to apply to SGx6 is in the first comment.

Here's what you can expect if you are selected:
- Goal setting and weekly check-ins for your GTM
- Sat morning calls to hold you accountable every week
- Play-books on things you think you already know but you don't - like SEO, outbound, PPC etc
- 2 founders who will work with you and get their hands dirty, and most valuable of all
- Genuine community that also happens to be the world's largest pay-it-forward community for SaaS.

In SGx5, I had the opportunity to work with Saurabh from PMaps along with Abhishek from WeCP | We Create Problems and Mrigank from PeopleStrong. It was extremely meaningful.

A big hug for all SGx5 cohort companies - Parin from Reelo, Akash from Pibit.ai, Priyank from UrSpayce, Paul from Two Minute Reports | GoX.ai, Ayush from Adbrew and Manoj from SOCLY.io.

And ofcourse, can't forget the mentors & wingmates Dhruvil, Pallav, Sachin, Shruti, Vengat, Abhi, Ankit, Kalyan, Sakshi, Deepti, Rahul, Naman, Sudheer, Vaibhav, Utkarsh and Aastha.

Looking forward to learning via teaching in SGx6 👊

With over 20 years of experience in the food and grocery retail business, I’ve realized that the industry can become more viable and popular by focusing on a few key areas. Now is the time to share these insights and offer guidance to a broader audience, particularly by connecting with small retailers beyond our franchise network.

In this series of videos/reels, I’ve discussed these topics in detail, including retail consumer insights, essential dos and don’ts in the food and grocery sector, and the emerging trends and role of technology in making food and grocery retail more effective.

Happy to announce that BabyOrgano Secures Seed Funding with Sauce.vc

My husband, Ripul Sharma, and I started BabyOrgano with just 2 lakhs, and today, securing seed funding from Sauce.vc feels like a dream come true.

As with any entrepreneurial journey, ours was not without its challenges.

When BabyOrgano launched, our mission was to use natural, safe ayurvedic products to redefine child wellbeing.

Bootstrapping our way through the initial years, we faced our fair share of challenges.

Despite the difficulties we encountered, we never wavered from our goal of giving parents reliable natural & ayurevdic wellness solutions for their kids.

In our third year, after countless meetings with potential investors, we found ourselves at a crossroads.

We knew we needed to expand but were unsure where we were going wrong.

That’s when we connected with our first investors Umesh Uttamchandani,& Devansh R. Majithia who believed in us.

All these couldn’t have been possible without the help and support of Ravi Uttamchandani from Faraz Wadhwania & Jeel Doshi. Their support was the first step toward a brighter future.

The unwavering support by my family, loyal customers, investors and my whole team laid the foundation for this latest milestone—our successful seed funding round led by Sauce.VC.

What does this mean for BabyOrgano?

This funding is a major step forward, enabling us to:

→ Expand Our Product Line: Introduce innovative, natural wellness products to more families.

→ Enhance Our R&D: Invest in developing new and improved solutions

→ Grow Our Market Presence: Reach more parents and children across the country.

This isn’t just a financial boost; it’s the icing on the cake and a reflection of our hard work and perseverance.

Thanks to the fantastic support of Manu Chandra, Yash Dholakia & Padma Milhotra for believing in our dream. 

We’re more determined than ever to make a positive impact on children’s health. A big thank you to our loyal customers and dedicated team for helping us achieve this! 

Here’s to the exciting future ahead!

Today, I interviewed a student from one of the top engineering colleges. As I reviewed the projects he had worked on during his studies, I was thrilled to see that, instead of doing the usual projects found on most engineering resumes, he took a different approach. He identified a problem within his institute and developed a SaaS tool to address it, which is now actively used by his college. Even more impressive, he is continuously gathering feedback and refining the tool.

Curiously, I asked him why he chose to apply to AllEvents rather than going through the traditional campus placement process. His response was insightful: He heard from a friend who works at AllEvents about our dynamic culture and the exciting growth opportunities we offer, and that made all the difference.

At AllEvents, we take great pride in our culture. We believe in creating an environment where every team member can thrive, learn, and grow. It’s not just about filling roles; it’s about building careers and futures.

This story is a testament to the power of culture in hiring. It’s not just about what we do, but how we do it that attracts talented individuals. And it’s moments like these that remind us why investing in our people and our culture is so important.

We’re excited about the future and are always looking to welcome passionate, talented individuals to our team. If you're looking for a place where you can grow, be inspired, and contribute to something bigger, let's connect! 🚀

Great news for us at Cibos Techno Solutions Pvt Ltd!

I am excited to share with all that we have been selected as one of the Top 30 startups in SolarX India Startup Challenge by International Solar Alliance and Invest India.

We pitched to the honorable jury consisting of Shri. Bhupinder Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance.

For last few years, we have been working hard at Cibos Techno Solutions Pvt Ltd and LAARI for micro-entrepreneurs across India providing them access to Modular Infrastructure, and Solar compatible DC Heating and Cooling technology and helping them with financial inclusion so that they have access to sustainable and affordable business technologies and solutions. 

Looking upwards and onwards with Cibos!

It is always Givers Gain!

But I really didn't expect Harshil Karia to share everything he shared.

He candidly talked about the business challenges, collaboration possibilities and his views on the future trends...(things that you don't hear in podcasts)

And why I was so apprehensive...may be because I have not seen agency owners in Ahmedabad collaborate the way Harshil managed to get us to talk to each other in a 2 hour meet up.

Thank you Harshil Karia for your openness and sharing things candidly 💛💙

Revamped, Redesigned, Reborn! 🚀

We're thrilled to unveil the new version of @allevents_in Event Discovery App during #AEFest.

Check out our video to see the exciting changes and get ready to experience events like never before! 📲✨

#StayHappening

 

I am excited to launch my very first "ReSchool Podcast" episode with Abhishek Desai, founder of CricHeroes, and Jatin Chaudhary, co-founder of eChai Ventures. 

Together, we explore innovative pathways for transforming schooling in our digital era as we dive deep into education, entrepreneurship, innovation, and reschooling. Stay tuned for real insights and inspiring stories!

Embracing the power of #SaaSBoomi in Chennai!

Attending events like this fuels our journey at AllEvents, propelling us to dream bigger and set new milestones.

Don't miss out on the chance to learn, connect, and supercharge your entrepreneurial spirit. Every event is a catalyst for growth, inspiration, and lifelong connections.

Seize the opportunity to elevate your journey—because a happening life is a life well-lived!

#StayHappening

Grateful for the opportunity to participate in the three-day event hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering London, for the LIF fellows at Taj West End at Bangalore.

The program, featuring training, networking, and pitching sessions, was truly enriching and insightful. It was a pleasure connecting with fellow entrepreneurs and exchanging ideas.

Looking forward to applying the knowledge gained to drive innovation and growth.
 
Aditya Shukla ♻️🌏 Himmat Singh

Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship Progam: Link

This is what we live for @cricheroes #Cricket

Thank you GUSEC for this felicitation and recognition. I cherish my association with your esteemed incubation centre since the time of its inception.

These years have helped me groom myself as a mentor and I am pretty sure I could contribute a little in the growth and success of those early stage #startups that approached me for mentorship and guidance. 

Looking forward to further this relationship and nurture more entrepreneurs in the times to come!

Welcome to “Kal Ke Krorepati” chhote sheher, Bade sapnein - Bharat ka Apna show.

Yesterday, Team Iroller achieved a “milestone” in the startup ecospace by bringing this show to fruition.

Last year we felt the need to explore this space. The show wouldnt have been possible without the unconditional support of GVFL Limited Saswat Sundar Sushil Sharma Sushanto Mitra Pranav Chaturvedi Marmik Shah Gautam Pai Kamal Bansal i-Hub Gujarat Neha Sharma Lead Angels Network Naveena Reddy Favcy Venture Builders Iroller Capital Pvt Ltd Jadeblue Lifestyle India Limited Karnavati University (KU) RITESH HADA Abhinav Kapadia PDEU Innovation and Incubation Centre Viral Shah M Nagarajan DevX Umesh Uttamchandani Jaimin Shah Jignesh Patel

27 startups, 9 funds, 1 show - Kal Ke Krorepati, Chhote sheher, bade sapnein.

This show is focussed on the innovators and entrepreneurs from Tier2 and Tier3 cities. Its not just another funding show. The objective of this show is to create more awareness and strengthen our startup ecosystem and provide the startup founders, not only with investments, but also venture building, scaling, cross border incubation and mentoring support.

As we embark on our journey to showcase this show on the national platform very soon, we sincerely thank Mr Suniel Shetty Sir who blessed us with his gracious presence and gave us immense strength to keep going. This not only validates our efforts but also strengthens our will and intent to mobilise the startup ecosystem.

Presenting our first chapter - Gujarat

Thank you Team iroller Jignesh Vasavada Hemendra Jadeja Shivani Thakkar CA Pratik Shah Prakash Chandwani Shoeb Bhojani Sidharth Doshi Arpita Chalishazar.

News coverage:

 

We are proud to serve schools across the nation. 

Today, with a wide network of 5,000 schools spread across 27 states and 250 cities, every member of Saarthi Pedagogy is committed to helping schools and students improve their learning outcomes.

 

One image, answering many questions 🙂

1. Because mein aap karte kya ho?

2. What does a day at Because look like?

3. What does outsourced CMO look like?

I believe Valentine's Day holds special significance for every individual, as it's a day dedicated to love and spreading affection. Everyone assigns different values to Valentine's Day. Here's why it's meaningful to me: I found my calling on February 14th, 2022.

It was the day when I took the first step toward Hummingbird. I had been associated with Cadila, and on that day, I resigned from the company. After resigning, as I made my way home, I passed numerous flower shops and realized that after making that decision, it was fitting to treat myself to a bouquet on Valentine's Day. I love roses like crazy, so I asked the cab driver to wait for five minutes while I gifted myself a bouquet :D

Journey from the office to my flat was very difficult and I was feeling “ Aaj ghar kyun nahi aa raha hai” . I questioned myself, wondering if I had made the right decision or not but Abhi to decision le liya tha. I was feeling quite emotional that day as I went to meet everyone. Some of my colleagues seriously started crying and were saying, 'What is this nonsense? Why are you making such a stupid decision but boss samjh to aaya us din ki insaan to apan ache hai Harsha Bhurani :D

I decided to spend quality time with myself when I reached home. The first person I called was Sumita Sharma and I shared the entire scenario with her. It was challenging for her to accept, as she, along with my colleagues, knew I was expecting a significant appraisal after months of hard work. However, she supported me nonetheless.

That day was simply amazing, still, I can recall spending a peaceful evening, enjoying the sunset with a cup of tea, and dinner at my favorite Pav Bhaji place near IIM, Vastrapur.
Eventually, till that time, I gathered the courage to inform my parents about this news. My father was initially shocked but he asked if I was okay, which meant the world to me. I reassured him, saying I was celebrating my day with Pav Bhaji. And then, I concluded my day with a brownie, and you can see the sheer joy reflected in this picture:D

After a brainstorming session with myself, writing three different Harsha on sticky notes and pasted them on my wall. I decided to go with 'Harsha Pro', who wanted to start her own business.

Feeling unsure of my next steps, I called Jatin Chaudhary for guidance and asked if I could meet him, and he suggested meeting half an hour before eChai event at IIM later that evening. I was extremely excited to meet him because I never thought that day would come that soon. So when I met Jatin I said , “Abhi resign to daal diya hai immediate basis par, entrepreneur hi banna hai but pata nahi iske baad kya karna hota hai?

He explained various aspects of HR, training, and development, providing valuable insights and references.

And so began my rollercoaster journey with Hummingbird, which continues to this day. It's been a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and failures, and I'm ready to build HummingBird whatever it takes.