You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Around 6 pm on June 21, 2016, Ambarish Gupta’s cloud telephony services company, Knowlarity, out of the blue stared at an existential crisis. A staggering 30,000 lines of its customers in Delhi were pulled down by telecom regulatory citing failure in regulatory compliance. Gupta stunned for a while could think of two options – fight the legal battle with the regulator till eternity even as the business crashes faster than stock market or go by the proverb – necessity is the mother of invention. A year later, Knowlarity stands hale and hearty that suggests Gupta chose latter.When he realized that disconnect is much more than just a technical issue, the panic quickly set in at Knowlarity’s head office in Gurugram. And he knew that it won’t be fixed in a day’s time. “We had no idea about how soon regulatory body … [Read more...]

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Reader Resource Tune in June 28 and learn how to unlock the power of customer data in our free webinar. Register Now » Let’s face it - the odds aren’t exactly stacked in your favor and because the success of your start-up hangs by a thread, your focus needs to be on developing the skill that ushers the biggest impact.A skill that doesn’t help grows vanity metrics like Social Media Engagement or Number of Shares. But rather, facilitates the true-north growth of your business is the "Profitable Customer Acquisition".Customers are the lifeline of any business, and why we don’t pause and vigorously discuss this mysterious skill enough, is beyond me. So what’s the #1 skill every entrepreneur needs?The Ability to “Sell”Pause. Let that sink in.Raise your hand if you get … [Read more...]

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Reader Resource Apply now to be an Entrepreneur 360™ company. Let us tell the world your success story. Get Started » In his role to develop disruptive start-ups culture in Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, Minister of State, IT, BT and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, has been much more than an ‘ordinary minister’. Apart from announcing start-up friendly policies, he is directly in contact with all the ventures the government had supported over the years. A people’s person is what Kharge can be called, as he approaches the start-ups by asking for updates just like a regular venture capitalist or fund.Here’s the new-age minister with the attitude of an investor and mindset of a leader.Last year when we had you at our Entrepreneur India event, several initiatives were announced by you, how … [Read more...]

Let’s say you wake up one day and decide the world needs a better mop, and you’re just the person to make it. Before setting out, you interview prospective customers. “Are you looking for a better mop?” you ask someone. The person searches his memory for all the times he’s wrestled with a mop or hated the smell of it, and he ignores the fact that most days he doesn’t care about his mop and can’t even remember the last time he used it. The hits, not the misses, fill his mind. “Yes,” he tells you. “I am looking for a better mop.” You’re thrilled to hear that and go off to design it. Eight months later, with $20,000 of R&D money invested, you come back and ask him to buy it. “Nah,” he says. “I’ve already got a mop.” What happened there? First, something psychologists call “confirmation bias.” It’s the tendency to look for … [Read more...]

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Goods and Services Tax, popularly known as GST is already at the verge of implementation. The tax that is one of the India’s biggest reformative tax legislatures will soon come in implementation from 1 July, 2017. While there are just few days left in this reform, a question that is frequently asked is – Whether the businesses are GST ready?The answer to this question cannot be given in plain “Yes” or “No” as there are many factors worth consideration. Some of the factors that can throw light to this matter are –Survey Results – A survey was carried out by EasemyGST, an ERP portal by Ginesys, which was taken by about 1000 manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. The results are however not favorable to this new tax reform. According to the numbers published after this survey, almost 68% of businesses were … [Read more...]

VITAL STATS Players: Judd and Claudia Sherrin Company: Innovative Marketing Launched: 2015 Visit: innovativemarketing.co.za When husband and wife team Judd and Claudia Sherrin moved from Joburg to the South Coast, their plan was to maintain their full time jobs and work remotely. They were both working for a media house in Joburg, with Claudia involved in the editorial, design and eventing side, and Judd running advertising sales. Instead, the move launched them into entrepreneurship. Here’s how they capitalised on a niche, and what you can learn from their start-up journey. 1. Find a niche The most successful start-ups solve a problem. It’s entrepreneurship 101. If there’s a problem that you need a solution to (and would pay for), chances are there are others like you looking for that same solution. It’s a simple yet elegant way to develop a business idea. For Claudia and Judd, it became apparent that South … [Read more...]

Qatar Airways wants to buy 10% of American Airlines American Airlines is not thrilled about Qatar Airways' desire to acquire a 10% stake in the U.S. airline. CEO Doug Parker sent a letter to American Airlines employees after news hit Thursday that Qatar Airways wants to buy at least $808 million worth of stock in American (AAL), the world's largest airline. In the letter, Parker said American executives "aren't particularly excited" about Qatar's interest in acquiring a big stake in the company, but admitted that there's nothing they can do about it. "We cannot control who sells or purchases" our stock, Parker said. American and other airlines, including Delta (DAL) and United (UAL), have accused state-run Qatar Airways -- along with United Arab Emirates airlines Emirates and Etihad -- of getting unfair financial backing from their respective governments. They claim that violates existing aviation agreements with the U.S. known as Open Skies. The U.S. carriers say … [Read more...]

Venture Capitalist: We need more women founders Silicon Valley investor Justin Caldbeck said Friday he is taking an indefinite leave of absence from his venture capital fund after he was accused of sexually harassing women who work in tech. "The gap of influence between male venture capitalists and female entrepreneurs is frightening and I hate that my behavior played a role in perpetrating a gender-hostile environment," Caldbeck wrote in a statement released by Binary Capital, the firm he cofounded in 2014. On Thursday, Reed Albergotti of tech news site The Information reported that six female founders had come forward with stories about unwanted advances by Caldbeck. Their claims included groping and late-night texts. Caldbeck was quoted in the story strongly denying the claims, calling them "attacks on my character." Binary Capital was also quoted in The Information story saying the allegations were false. "There is no evidence that Justin did anything illegal," the … [Read more...]

Reader Resource Apply now to be an Entrepreneur 360™ company. Let us tell the world your success story. Get Started » It took me quite a long time to figure out one profound truth: Multi-tasking won’t always help your business grow. So, for the entrepreneurs who are just starting: Start small. Don't try to do everything at once. Instead, focus on developing good habits you can fall back on later. Here are some great habits to develop that can help you and your business make and keep more money.1. Learn to be frugal.Funny as it might sound, being frugal is actually a habit, and it's one every startup entrepreneur should inculcate into their overall strategy.Having a big budget doesn’t cut it. If you see a way to reduce cost as an startup entreperneur, dive into it. The more money you can save, the more money you can keep -- it’s that’s simple.Ask yourself each time you want to … [Read more...]

5 stunning stats about Google A major change is coming to Gmail. Google will no longer scan the contents of your emails to serve up personalized ads. Privacy advocates have long criticized Google's practice of using email data to tailor advertising, but now the company is putting an end to the method. Google (GOOG) announced the change in a blog post on Friday. It will go into effect later this year. The move is in line with Google's existing G Suite Gmail service for businesses, which doesn't scan email data for personalized ads. Now its free Gmail service will have the same rules. But this doesn't mean you won't see targeted ads in Gmail. Instead, they'll be personalized with information gleaned from other sources. For example, Google collects data about you based on the YouTube videos you watch or the searches you make. Related: Major phishing attack targeted Google Docs users Google did not respond to a request for comment. It's possible to find out what kind … [Read more...]

The internet is responsible for trillions of dollars in annual retail sales, and a study by Statista reveals that in 2016, an estimated 1.61 billion people worldwide purchase goods online.This data shows how the market has changed. Every business aspires to produce goods or render services for maximum profits. However, it is not enough to produce goods or render services -- you need a market share comprised of loyal customers and clients. Clients and customers are going digital, and conventional sales methods are phasing out.This explains why millions of businesses are embracing e-commerce. However the issue is not with launching your online business -- it's about securing it against cyber attack, hackers and unscrupulous competitors. Here are several ways you can protect your business online.1. Use anti-virus software.Anti-virus software is very easy to access and use, but it can prevent computer programs designed to infiltrate and damage computers … [Read more...]

The Senate GOP health care bill explained If Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare are successful, one of the biggest winners would be the wealthy. The Senate's bill -- released this week -- differs in key ways from the House-passed version. But proposals eliminate the taxes imposed on high-income Americans to help pay for an expansion of health benefits under the Affordable Care Act. The legislation also would let people contribute more to certain tax-advantaged accounts. At the same time, both bills are expected to disproportionately hurt lower income households by reducing funding for Medicaid and offering less generous subsidies to buy health insurance. Here are the key provisions under the Senate and House health bills that would benefit the highest-income households. Eliminate Medicare surtax on wages High-income earners currently pay the 1.45% Medicare payroll tax on wages up to $200,000 ($250,000 if married). But then they pay an additional 0.9 … [Read more...]

SpaceX successfully launches a used rocket Grab your popcorn. Coming up this weekend: A rocket launch double feature. If all goes as planned, SpaceX -- the private space exploration company headed by Tesla (TSLA) chief Elon Musk -- will launch two rockets in just two days. First up is a Friday afternoon launch from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, which is scheduled for a 3:10 pm ET takeoff. That launch was supposed to occur last Monday, but it was delayed due to an issue with the rocket's fairing -- the very top portion of the rocket that houses the payload. In this case, the payload will be the telecommunications satellite BulgariaSat -1, the first geostationary communications satellite in Bulgaria's history, according to SpaceX. Friday's launch will mark only the second time SpaceX has attempted to put a used, first-stage rocket booster back into space. The booster was previously used in a January mission. SpaceX wants to reuse its rockets in order … [Read more...]

Reader Resource Apply now to be an Entrepreneur 360™ company. Let us tell the world your success story. Get Started » Recently, I watched An American Ascent, a documentary chronicling the first African American expedition to tackle Denali, North America's highest peak. I found the film compelling. Why? Because I love things that people say "you can't do" and because mountains absolutely fascinate me. They represent challenges, aspirations and the spiritual draw of nature.Related: Climbing a Mountain, Whether Real or Figurative, Requires Calculated RisksThat's why, following the screening, I was delighted to be introduced as a "real mountaineer." My heart leaped -- no, it soared -- because I'd never expected to hear that description of me. But the descrption was accurate: I'd personally experienced the same as those Denali adventurers when I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania -- Africa's highest peak -- with GAdventures. Yep, the girl … [Read more...]

Reader Resource Entrepreneur Network provides you with expertise and opportunities to accelerate your brand's growth. Learn More » Every year, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center, and gives consumers a sneak peek at some of the most impressive video games (and related tech, accessories, and industry developments) coming down the pike over the next year (and sometimes several years).Related: Everything You Need to Know About Breaking Into the Video Game IndustryI've personally had the honor of attending the past few years, both as a gamer and a marketer fascinated by the tactics publishers are using to cultivate their hype and rise above their army competitors.From this year's line-up, I'd like to point out some of the best and brightest marketers I saw at E3 -- and identify some key lessons they demonstrasted that that marketers in any industry could use to improve their … [Read more...]

Ghostface Killah to Martin Shkreli: 'Who's washed up now?' Martin Shkreli, the former pharmaceutical executive who gained notoriety for hiking up the price of a life-saving drug, will finally go on trial next week on charges of ripping off investors. Shkreli sparked outrage in 2015 for increasing the price of Daraprim, a drug used by AIDS patients, by more than 5,000% from $13.50 to $750 a pill while he was CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. But that controversy has nothing to do with his criminal trial, set to begin on June 26 in federal court in New York. Shkreli faces charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy for allegedly cheating investors out of more than $11 million between 2009 and 2014 in what federal prosecutors called a "Ponzi scheme." Shkreli is accused of mismanaging money at his investment funds Elea Capital, MSMB Capital, MSMB Healthcare, as well as while CEO of Retrophin (RTRX), the pharmaceutical company he founded in 2011. Prosecutors say … [Read more...]

Domain names have been at the forefront of the digital experience for 20 years. They provide the real estate for businesses to build their online presence and provide doorways for their customers to find them.Now more than ever, choosing which domain names to own is a complicated and critical task for startups and seasoned businesses alike. This complexity can be attributed to the fact that most dictionary words in .com have been taken: According to the latest figures from Verisign, close to 130 million .com domain names are already registered.To add to the confusion, the internet space now has hundreds of new generic top-level domains, also called gTLDs. As we broaden from .com, .org, .net and .co.uk to .art, .blog, .google and .walmart, we open the doors to many new opportunities.Related: 9 Essential Elements of Choosing a Domain Name (Infographic)Transforming cyberspaceNew gTLDs are in their infancy, and we’re just starting to see their adoption take hold. … [Read more...]

June 23 is Take Your Dog to Work Day. Sadly, Entrepreneur's New York office did not have a visit from a furry friend. Our special projects editor, Andrea Huspeni, has two pooches, but they're too heavy to bring on the subway. Just look how sad Milo was that he couldn't come.Andrea HuspeniHowever, we're still celebrating Take Your Dog to Work Day by living vicariously through our readers. Here are some pictures from them we pulled from our Twitter and Facebook accounts.This is our pooch, Molly. She's the resident pup at @TankPR. Dogs at work FTW ? pic.twitter.com/8Czz42HoJ2— Nik Hewitt (@nikhewitt) June 22, 2017Marley is always at work with us! pic.twitter.com/qko2JWTClo— Justin Stamper (@justinstamper) June 22, 2017Here's my 12-year old shih tzu, Riley. He's greeting you from our office where all of the magical writing happens! #TakeYourDogToWorkDay pic.twitter.com/rvohxzDnez— Wendi Weiner (@writing_guru) June 22, 2017"Ma'am, I'm doing … [Read more...]

Reader Resource Apply now to be an Entrepreneur 360™ company. Let us tell the world your success story. Get Started » How do you define success? Running your own business is an all-consuming task, and it’s important to maintain well-being by achieving a work-life balance. David Meltzer, founder and CEO of Sports 1 Marketing and author of Connected to Goodness, offers tips to navigate and maintain a healthy, work-focused life. In addition to finding balance, a meaningful life entails operating from a truthful and authentic place. Sean Whalen explains how his retail company, Lions Not Sheep, is inspiring a courageous movement evolved from a singular design concept. Discover ways to shift your focus and lead an intention-based life today.[00:00:00] Entrepreneur vs. Innovator[00:05:41] Stay “Connected to Goodness”[00:11:30] Keep Your Values Balanced[00:18:20] Sean Whalen’s Lions Not Sheep[00:26:35] Lion-like Search … [Read more...]

Reader Resource Apply now to be an Entrepreneur 360™ company. Let us tell the world your success story. Get Started » A significant majority of women -- 63 percent -- have never had a formal mentor in their career. It goes (almost) without saying that everyone in the global-business community can contribute to decreasing that number.I was lucky enough to enter a mentorship program early in my professional life. I sought a mentor because I needed someone to help me figure out the best way to make my voice heard. As a woman working in the technology industry, I needed guidance on how to best contribute at a strategic level.Related: Looking for a Mentor? The 7 Best Places to Start.Mentorship is critical because it brings an inherent ability to drive growth and success in colleagues and leaders alike. Mentoring frequently improves employee performance. Meanwhile, mentors are rewarded by the fulfilling experience of seeing … [Read more...]