Just 3 weeks ago, when I was finding my way to the SocialCops office in Malviya Nagar, I remember how inhibited I was with petty worries. Will I be able to contribute? I’m still a university student from a pure commerce background. I’m not a tech genius. Will they let…
From Idea To Funding: What Not To Do After You’re Struck With Your Billion-Dollar Startup Idea
I recently had someone message me and ask me to connect them to “VCs” to fund their “idea”. About a year and half since I started conceptualizing my startup, I was struck by the naïveté of such a question – almost beginning to laugh. Then a visit up memory lane…
Livemint: India Needs Technology and Not “Durbars”
“Last year a group of engineers from Singapore, with the aim of using technology to create change, set up Socialcops.com, a citizen platform that sources reports regarding civic issues. There are several, isolated initiatives like these dotting the country. But lacking in support and funding, they run out of steam…
Dedicating Thanksgiving to Some Awesome People
December 2013 is here. It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and the SocialCops team is in Delhi. Sitting in our cozy, small office, I can’t help marvel over the fact that we’re really here. About 16 months ago, we decided to stop thinking and start doing. We released a Facebook campaign and crowdfunding campaign to…
Why We Do What We Do
Doing startups for the money is not a great idea. Perhaps doing startups to be remembered or become famous is a better motive. Perhaps not. A better motive still would be a desire to change the world. We believe that the only good reason to do a startup is because…
Our First Pilot: From an Idea to a Startup
On September 11th, 2012, we launched a crowdfunding campaign asking for your support to make our dream of empowering citizens to change the country bit by bit come true. The support that we received from you was the biggest motivating factor in giving us the strength to persevere through this journey. SocialCops as…
What You Should Know Before You Pitch Your Company at a Global Level
SocialCops was a finalist at the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (2013) held by the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. We came out as winners for the Information and Communications Technology prize and in the process we’ve learnt a LOT. I’m trying to summarize my learnings with what we…
What You Should Know Before You Give Your Startup Pitch at a Global Level
SocialCops was a finalist at the Global Social Entrepreneurship Competition (2013) held by the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. We came out as the winner of the Information and Communications Technology prize. It was one of my initial successes as an entrepreneur and, in the process, SocialCops has learned a LOT.…
Voices in the Head of a Middle-Class Aspiring Startup Founder
I am an average 20-something university student from a middle-class Indian family. In my final year of university, I was bitten by what they call the “startup bug” and I dreamt of being an entrepreneur. Around me, my batchmates were applying for jobs feverishly. On the other hand, my co-founders…