Books for Entrepreneurs Feed
All organisations aspire for customer-centricity as a culture but Amazon embraces it in everything that they do from A to Z.
Recently finished reading "Working Backwards" - a book written by former Amazon executives Colin Bryar and Bill Carr that offers insights, stories and secrets from inside Amazon. One of the frameworks that I got quite intrigued by was Amazon's unique approach to product development and innovation, known as "working backwards."
At its core, "working backwards" involves starting with the customer and working backwards to create the product. Instead of beginning with an idea and hoping customers will like it, Amazon reverses the process:
1. They imagine the finished product from the customer's perspective
2. Draft an internal press release announcing the product
3. Rigorously scrutinize and refine the concept
4. Only then begin development
This approach ensures that every product or service is truly customer-centric from inception. Sure, Amazon has had product failures but this forces teams to clearly articulate the customer benefit before investing significant resources and thus, saving time and money.
What impresses me most about this method is how it aligns entire organizations around customer needs rather than internal goals or competitor actions. It's a powerful reminder that in business, starting with the end user in mind can lead to breakthrough innovations.
Recently finished reading "Working Backwards" - a book written by former Amazon executives Colin Bryar and Bill Carr that offers insights, stories and secrets from inside Amazon. One of the frameworks that I got quite intrigued by was Amazon's unique approach to product development and innovation, known as "working backwards."
At its core, "working backwards" involves starting with the customer and working backwards to create the product. Instead of beginning with an idea and hoping customers will like it, Amazon reverses the process:
1. They imagine the finished product from the customer's perspective
2. Draft an internal press release announcing the product
3. Rigorously scrutinize and refine the concept
4. Only then begin development
This approach ensures that every product or service is truly customer-centric from inception. Sure, Amazon has had product failures but this forces teams to clearly articulate the customer benefit before investing significant resources and thus, saving time and money.
What impresses me most about this method is how it aligns entire organizations around customer needs rather than internal goals or competitor actions. It's a powerful reminder that in business, starting with the end user in mind can lead to breakthrough innovations.
According to a research study, our brain makes upward of 35,000 decisions each day. That adds up to millions of decisions in our lifetime - some decisions are big and some small. Some will shape and change our future forever such as which college to go, or which job to take. While some will be insignificant like what to eat for lunch today or what to wear to the office.
There are only two things that will determine how our life turns out:
1. Luck
2. Quality of our decisions
Fortunately or unfortunately, we only have control over one of these two. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a high-quality decision process.
Recently I started reading "How to Decide" by Annie Duke, an American former professional poker player and I've been hooked from the first few pages. The book provides you with invaluable insights and frameworks to make thoughtful and strategic decisions that can set you apart personally and professionally. Whether it is navigating your career moves, business strategies, or personal choices, the book offers practical tools, like decision trees and backcasting, to systematically analyze options and potential outcomes.
If you are looking to improve your decision-making process, then do give this a read.
There are only two things that will determine how our life turns out:
1. Luck
2. Quality of our decisions
Fortunately or unfortunately, we only have control over one of these two. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a high-quality decision process.
Recently I started reading "How to Decide" by Annie Duke, an American former professional poker player and I've been hooked from the first few pages. The book provides you with invaluable insights and frameworks to make thoughtful and strategic decisions that can set you apart personally and professionally. Whether it is navigating your career moves, business strategies, or personal choices, the book offers practical tools, like decision trees and backcasting, to systematically analyze options and potential outcomes.
If you are looking to improve your decision-making process, then do give this a read.
The current controversial job quota bill in Karnataka and the rising hate for migrants in Bangalore remind me of this book that I read last year.
"We are all descended from migrants."
We humans have been a migratory species fundamentally. Most people move in search of work or economic opportunity, to join family, or to study. Others move out of necessity to escape conflict, persecution, etc.
Curiosity has been central to the human species and it continues to remain rightfully so with the global migration that happens to date. Overall, the estimated number of international migrants has increased over the past five decades. As per a UN migration report, a total of 281 million people live in a country other than their country of birth.
Migrants have been central to building and scaling economies across the globe. Be it the Silicon Valley of the USA or the Silicon Valley of India, migrants have played a crucial role in both. Tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook were all founded by first or second-generation immigrants. According to a report, migrants contributed roughly 10% percent to global GDP.
This book is a history of us all - after all, we have all descended from our migrant ancestors. And the book continues to be ever more relevant in the current geo-political scenario associated with migrants.
"We are all descended from migrants."
We humans have been a migratory species fundamentally. Most people move in search of work or economic opportunity, to join family, or to study. Others move out of necessity to escape conflict, persecution, etc.
Curiosity has been central to the human species and it continues to remain rightfully so with the global migration that happens to date. Overall, the estimated number of international migrants has increased over the past five decades. As per a UN migration report, a total of 281 million people live in a country other than their country of birth.
Migrants have been central to building and scaling economies across the globe. Be it the Silicon Valley of the USA or the Silicon Valley of India, migrants have played a crucial role in both. Tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook were all founded by first or second-generation immigrants. According to a report, migrants contributed roughly 10% percent to global GDP.
This book is a history of us all - after all, we have all descended from our migrant ancestors. And the book continues to be ever more relevant in the current geo-political scenario associated with migrants.
eChai Partner Brands
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner, helping them expand market reach, drive revenue growth, amplify brand visibility, and strengthen hiring efforts.
Healthcare
Brands Partnerships
FMCG Food and Retail
Coworking Spaces
Customer Engagement Platform
Marketing Automation
Event Marketing
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USP: AllEvents' event ticketing software helps you reach 20M+ event tickets seekers to sell tickets online & boost your event ticket sales.Ideal for: Event Organizers, Concert OrganizersClients: Bhutan Tourism, Odisha Tourism
Legal
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USP: Empowering 8000+ startups & MSMEs with hassle-free legal, tax, and compliance services. ·Ideal for: Early Stage Founders, SMEsClients: Cricheroes, DevX, Clientjoy, Saarthi Pedagogy
Branding and Marketing
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USP: We simplify the workflow of creators and teams.
HR Tech and Agencies
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USP: We specialize in quickly connecting you with the best mid- to senior-level talent, ensuring quality candidates every time.Ideal for: High Growth Startups, SMEsClients: Allevents, DevX, IndiaBiz, WebOsmotic, Welness Forever
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USP: Our speciality is that we don’t spam candidates. We also filter our candidates twice – once by our team member, once by team leader. We hire across industries and across experience levels.
Developer Tools
Investment Banking
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USP: Our USP is our tailored approach to investment banking, combining in-depth market research, personalized advisory, and strategic financial modeling to turn our clients' ambitions into measurable success.
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USP: At IBGrid, we evaluate both tangible and intangible value factors to deliver a fair valuation reportIdeal for: IPO-bound SMEs, Series A StartupsClients: Peer Capital, DevIT, Allevents, Unicorn India Ventures
Merchandise
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USP: The multi function of a backpack for various application for example, a camera backpack can be transformed in to a normal backpack, or gym backpack or sports backpack.
eChai's Dubai Startup Meetup coming up this Friday evening
eChai Ventures partners with Accel for their Accel Atoms program for AI and Bharat Startups
eChai Ventures and LegalWiz.in launch The Startup Code, an open accelerator program for early stage founders
Interakt by Jio Haptik joins eChai's Preferred Partner Brands Program
eChai Ventures partners with Delhivery's Growth Summit for D2C Founders
Founders from 20+ Countries Participate in eChai's San Francisco Meetup at Draper University
eChai Ventures and LegalWiz.in Host 'The Startup Code' Conference at DevX GIFT City with Mentors and Startups from the Community
eChai Ventures collaborates with AIEMED for Tech Expo Gujarat 2024
About eChai Ventures
eChai Ventures is a global startup network connecting entrepreneurs through local meetups in 20+ cities worldwide, enabling cross-border collaborations via startup panels, demo days, cricket, and pickleball leagues.
Make the most of eChai Ventures network:
- Complete Your eChai Profile It's key for others to discover you.
- Join eChai's Startup Meetups: Register for relevant eChai events happening across cities. Each event will have specific instructions on how to join.
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Join the meetups that interest you and start making the most of the community.
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