Wednesday 16 May 2018

Crypto–DRM: Blockchain for Digital Rights Management

Crypto-DRM
Crypto-DRM


Crypto–DRM: Blockchain for Digital Rights Management


Kodak is launching Kodakcoin, said to be a photocentric cryptocurrency to allow photographers to have better control of their image rights management.

Using blockchain technology for digital rights management (DRM) may be a way forward for owners to track their intellectual property rights (IPR) and licence their works.

Mining this blockchain would presumably produce a ‘cryptocurrency’ or a crypto-token’.



Sunday 13 May 2018

Startup Investment Trends: Countering the Effects of Social Media

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Startup Investment Trends: Countering the Effects of Social Media 


Startup Investment Trends: Countering the Effects of Social Media

With a number of prominent VCs speaking out about social media and its impact, are VCs going to invest in startups that deal with the effects of social media and tech addiction.

Arianna Huffington has launched Thrive Global, a well-being and productivity firm that uses online and offline measures to help people avoid burnouts. Thrive Global is now partnering with Times Bridge to expand in India. Thrive Global is aimed at countering the negative impact of social media and tech addiction.

Startups countering the impact of social media - will this be a new trend in investments by VCs in the startup ecosystem?

Friday 11 May 2018

Starting Your Own VC Fund

Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash
Starting Your Own VC Fund 


Starting Your Own VC Fund

What value do you add to startups?


Recent news that VT Bharadwaj, a managing director at the India branch of Sequoia Capital, has quit the firm. This is about a year after Gautam Mago left Sequoia. Bharadwaj is likely to launch an independent VC fund.

VC fund executives are setting up their own funds for Indian startups which is great for the startup ecosystem. But are VC funds getting more specialised in the sectors they invest in or is it just that the VCs want more freedom to be able to take their own call on what startups they invest in? Also, with the proliferation of funds, the VC’s hunt for Limited Partners is getting harder.

With big funds like Sequoia and Softbank creating funds in the US$Billions and disruption from Crowdsourcing and ICOs, VCs are having to try harder to prove what value they can add to their potential investees, and to their Limited Partners also.

Some commentators are saying that with the proliferation of ICOs, VCs could become extinct. I think VCs still have a role to play in the startup ecosystem and can add value to their investees and are not going away anytime soon. VCs don’t only provide the money, they also come with their contacts and this can be more valuable to the startup than just the funds. VCs sometimes act as middlemen for startups to get the money and team together to scale up.

More VC funds in India’s startup ecosystem is always welcome but which way is the VC industry headed?


Thursday 10 May 2018

Sharing Economy: Life without Ownership

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Sharing Economy: Life without Ownership 


Sharing Economy: Life without Ownership


Disruptive tech has changed the way we use assets and the concept of sharing, renting and ownership. Netflix, Uber and Airbnb have shown the way.

A large sharing economy has grown on apps and mobile sites that allow users to rent/share a whole range of goods and services, e.g. designer wear, furniture, TVs and more. The sharing economy is expected grow multiple times in the future.

Millennials are driving the sharing economy. Sharing for them makes more sense than owning. Compared to China, India has a long way to go yet.

The market for growth is drawing entrepreneurs to India. Sharing startups work on the basis that an asset can be used many times. In clothes, for instance, consumers naturally prefer to own their daily wear. They may prefer renting party wear as they would not like to repeat party wear, which makes renting a better idea.

Startups have to ensure quality of product and reverse logistics as well. Startups need partnerships with logistics and other service firms and those that succeed will have the backend such as service and maintenance sorted out.


Wednesday 9 May 2018

Securitization thru Tokenization: Trading Digital Assets

Currency DNA
Securitization thru Tokenization: Trading Digital Assets 


Securitization thru Tokenization


Trading Digital Assets



Blockchain is a new technology by which financial instruments can be securitized. Blockchain can allow assets such as equities, commodities (e.g. gold), bonds, mortgages other financial instruments and real estate to be securitized via tokenization.

Crypto-tokens, backed by such assets, can be created and traded on exchanges. Tokens could be backed by asset classes such as equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities, real estate, and derivatives.

Cryptocurrencies are already traded on crypto-exchanges. Other types of digital assets are also appearing in the market. ICO (Initial Coin Offerings) have proven popular as a means of crowdfunding for startups. Similar offerings backed by assets can be issued, listed and traded

Digital asset exchanges where financial instruments can be tokenized and then traded will become more common. Is blockchain going to disrupt the capital markets?



Tuesday 8 May 2018

Let the Games Begin

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
Let the Games Begin 


Let the Games Begin


It is only a matter of time before India has an eSports league like cricket’s IPL. There have even been attempts to give eSports a place in the Olympic Games. Gaming and eSports has a cult following of gamers.

Why has gaming and game development gained such interest? Gaming or eSports has gained a lot of interest from content platforms as it can provide alternate revenue streams. Brand marketing through eSports/games will continue to grow. Startups in gaming and eSports are slowly growing in India.

But gaming and eSports requires lots of data consumption and this will require greater internet connectivity and lower data costs in India if it is to grow outside the main cities, especially mobile gaming. Digital infrastructure is a crucial element of eSports growth.

Gaming, Bollywood and Cricket would make a great mix of entertainment, marketing and revenue!


Saturday 5 May 2018

Idea Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
Idea Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization 


Idea Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization



The proliferation of VC funds in India is an indication that investors, both large and small are hunting for the next killer idea.

Corporates from age-old industries are setting up funds to invest in startup ideas to try to avoid being disrupted and also the fear of missing out (FOMO).

Almost every week you read about a new VC fund or incubator or accelerator being setup to focus on India. Even Indian states are setting up incubators, tech parks etc., to create an environment for idea creation.

It is not just startup founders who are looking for VCs or Angel Investors but Angels and VCs themselves are on the lookout for good ideas and entrepreneurs to invest in.

Angel Investors and VCs organise events to attract founders to pitch their ideas. But Angel Investors and VCs need startup founders just as much as startup founders need Angel Investors and VCs. To many startup founders, the startup ecosystem can seem like it favours investors. Isn’t it also necessary for investors to pitch themselves and their credentials to startup founders? A reverse pitch.

Creating a platform for startup founders, VCs and Angel Investors where they are all on equal terms is new idea. 


Friday 4 May 2018

Finding Synergy: How to Spot the Right Synergy between Startups

DigitalAsian
Finding Synergy: How to Spot the Right Synergy between Startups


Finding Synergy: How to Spot the Right Synergy between Startups


Finding synergy between 2 startups such that the whole partnership becomes worth more than the sum of its parts requires having both insight and foresight.

When a larger startup or corporate acquires a smaller startup, what factors come into play to judge the suitability of the acquisition?

Obviously, the teams and the skills of the 2 startups have to be able to complement each other.

Finding the right synergy is particular important for startups wanting to scale up. Finding the right partner that will help you scale and grow is important. How can your startup can leverage the strengths of the partner for mutual benefit?

Doing a SWOT analysis of each startup looking at a possible partnership will be a start. Seeing where the 2 business models overlap and also complement each other can be used to see the possible future opportunities in a partnership.

Even if a possible partnership looks good on paper, the teams have to be able to work together on a personal level also.

Is finding the partner who has the right synergy for your startup an art or a science? Probably a bit of both.


Thursday 3 May 2018

Events and Activities Create Content: Stories for Events, Groups and Brands

Events and Activities Create Content 

Stories for Events, Groups and Brands


 
Make an Event of it!

 

When you go out with your team colleagues for a night out, you take selfies or video of yourselves which are then uploaded onto social media. Even a family get-together results in visual content which later goes online.

 

If you attend an event, the organisers and participants with create visual and written content around the event which is then uploaded for promotion and marketing purposes.

 

A lot of what we do nowadays results in content being created and uploaded. When you get-together with others, most will have smartphones with them and this device now means content going online.

 

Marketers can make use of this in allowing groups to create content around events and create stories around events which help in brand marketing.

 

If a group goes to a restaurant/cinema/event, the restaurant, for example, can utilise the smartphone culture to allow people to create their stories around their meal at the restaurant to help the restaurant’s brand. Allowing groups to create your brand story.

 

Brand Marketing: Make an Event of it!

 

 

DigitalAsian

Wednesday 2 May 2018

Digital Content and Services Platforms



Online content streaming platforms such as Saavn (which streams music) and Netflix (which streams films and web series) are now producing their own original, branded content. These platforms which obtain IP rights to content from others are now themselves entering into production, distribution and artist management through tie-ups with independent content creators.

By creating their own original content and getting into production and distribution, content streaming platforms are competing with film studios and music labels.

Even platforms like Uber are buying 1000s of vehicles from the likes of Volvo and developing their AI technology. Or, on a slightly different business model, food delivery platforms, like Deliveroo, are setting up their own kitchens for what they call 'delivery-only' services where restaurants can use part of the kitchen to get its own food delivered. This is a bit like YouTube setting up its production centres when YouTubers can use these centres to create their content. These platforms are also providing the means for users to create their content or produce their services.

These marketplaces/platforms/aggregators, that provide an opportunity for distributing content and services provided by others, are now themselves producing and providing their own branded content and services.

While these platforms provide niche or independent content creators a way to distribute their content, they are now beginning to disrupt the content/service providers that have gone onto their platforms. Independent service/content providers will be competing against similar content/services produced by the platform itself.

Tuesday 1 May 2018

Cryptocurrency Conundrum: An Economic Evolution?

Cryptocurrency Conundrum - DigitalAsian
Cryptocurrency Conundrum


Cryptocurrency Conundrum: An Economic Evolution?




CryptoInvesting, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Bitcoin have entered our vocabulary in recent times.

The crypto conundrum: is Bitcoin a currency or an asset?

If Bitcoin becomes more widely accepted as payment then it may become a currency. If it is not widely accepted then it may remain an asset. If it is an asset (CryptoAsset?), is it a bubble right now? Will cryptocurrencies replace fiat currencies or will governments regulate and create their own cryptocurrencies?

The technology behind Bitcoin, blockchain, has caught on for other uses such as supply chain management and smart contracts.

Bitcoin has its fiercely loyal supporters and detractors. Some don’t like Bitcoin’s anonymity and yet it’s technology, blockchain, is supposed to be a public distributed ledger of sorts. All very confusing.

Blockchain has started a new form of (crowdfunding) fund-raising – the ICO, Initial Coin Offering – which is not very well regulated as yet. Also, a possible futures market may open up for Bitcoin.

Banks are now getting interested in Bitcoin and Blockchain, and FinTech in general. Some countries have banned Bitcoin exchanges while some others are regulating it – this has resulting in an increase in the private, over-the-counter (OTC) market for Bitcoin. Is Bitcoin part of the digital disruption / economic evolution we are going through right now?

Which way this could go is anyone’s guess.