Successful business in our industry must understand the Power of positioning, branding and also “ innovation “. Sometimes you don’t need a new idea, sometimes you just need to do old idea in a new way.
1. Tell us more about your company and your journey.
Before becoming Business Men in Creative Industry I spent a number of years in various industry that included activism, print media, television production, digital, advertising and other things that included advisory for creative content in multiple formats including tv, digital, print, books etc ….
I produced and directed a couple of documentary and tv shows as well and conceived created and conceptualized show, I also hosted the show as an anchor.
As on date, I am founder and Director of Chai Kreative & Jengu Care Private Limited. Jengu care is relatively in a new company and it was a product of many years of seeing India and UK from village to a big urban city.
“COVID and lockdown gave it shape, size, form and we incorporated and registered this during lockdown with “ intention to research, create and disseminate content that’ is and will focus on information, education, empowerment and use to tech tool in an area specifically related to animal health, mental health and elder and will focus on affordable health technologies, elder ecosystem and etc.
Our focus is and was to “ how can this 24/7 seamless connectivity from multiple platforms and social media and mobile can be utilized to inform, educate, empower and ensure on-time delivery of product and service that is useful, meaningful and productive.
Chai creative is a branding agency that provides digital ecosystem and advisory for business to advertise, marketise, brand and scale up itself. We are soon going for few launces and you will see a new face of the company.
2. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?
The idea of Jengu Care as explained is “ hopelessness, restlessness and anxiety “ that’s been witnessed by the world during this “ virus “ and also news that came from the western world about elder and their situation, I was impacted, affected and devastated by certain news and felt it is like Kafka world where there seems no end….
Reading poetry and literature during this time ( I do read a lot ) reminded me how human being fought from the advent of civilization, I felt we can't just sit and watch, I also realized however and however much we create boundary world is together, connected and we “ need to fight tighter, cry together, laugh together and win together “
I am very proud to state within 3 months or less than that we are almost at the final stage of launching three different and useful initiative that focuses on content, technology and solution.
3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?
The first challenge that you face is very simple you wish to do something, you have limited resources, you don’t know if it will work or won't work, you don’t have easy access to support, capital and human resources, everything needs planning, idea and money.
And I am sorry but I have not been trained in the culture of “ tie and suits”, I worked with top-notch production houses and agency, we created work and business success but the credit of those successes always gone to them because of the tag.
I have been part and significant part of a very big thing in this country and they were first if it's kind…So I decided “ beg and Borrow “ I not used stealing because I believe in Gandhi.
I created a trust, I can't name the person but one person who stood and believed with all his impatient in me is Practicing Super Court Lawyer ….he has become like Santa of my life for many reasons and second is former cricket captain and currently expert who listened, sometimes gave input and also was a big buddy of lockdown period.
Alonwgtih this the one person who helped me in every manner is Maria Kapoor, She kept talking to me, kept pushing me, kept her devil advocate job, strategized pieces and used her formal and knowledge of good value and life for me, she till date has only given me, I wish to give her back something one day.
She comes from the field of psychology so her insight really helps and what helps me most is her faith and trust and her sharp focus. …And last surprise my nephew Hussain who plunged into it, working hard, with vision at age of 20 he is been there.
So why I said all this….how I have overcome simply I have some beautiful people in my life who believed in me despite knowing they are putting themselves at risk …This is how I overcame challenges of first 2 stages and least but most important team, the people, the freelancer each made me wiser and more human.
4. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
Passion and Patience, Understating challenge and Courage and ability to shoot ego and put himself and herself in fire and sticking to idea against all kind of situation.
5. What are some of the most important factors for running a successful business?
I feel one thing that I learn from my experience is the management of capital and working capital, you need to have this in place and take seriously an issue of compliance….they can ruin your best idea and business.
Successful business in our industry must understand Power of positioning, branding and also “ innovation “Sometimes you don’t need a new idea, sometimes you just need to do old idea in a new way.
I write regularly I remember an article in Deccan Chronicle I said “It requires the entrepreneur to put in place a basic infrastructure, rope in the right people, market the business and ensure that it takes off without glitches.
6. What are your tips for the first time and aspiring entrepreneurs?
Spend more time in planning than running to launch, collaborate, without doubt, do proper documentation, register various paper and all understanding should be defined on a piece of paper and manage your finance well and most importantly allocate budget for branding, advertising and marketing in beginning itself.
Another thing is Hire intelligently Don’t rush into hiring too many people in the initial phase of your business. It is always better initially to look for freelance arrangements or consultants rather than add people on the payroll. Establish viable partnerships with a few associates and freelancers who can work for you on different projects.
7. How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?
I feel initial 3 to 4 year are tough, keep overhead cost at the lowest level, try brief about your business stories to a couple of people who are close to you, keep thinking about raising small chunks but when you get it to give long term commitment of return, not short term.
Interviewed By Soniya Kauthanakar
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