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Dive deep into the world of entrepreneurs at TiECon Bangalore 2004 with Kentaro Toyama of Microsoft Research. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of serial entrepreneurs, their unique pathways to success, and the cautionary tales to be aware of in the rapidly evolving business landscape. Discover the essence of innovation, technology transfer, and the potential for growth in emerging markets like India. Uncover valuable insights and strategies from industry experts to navigate the complex entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss this enriching opportunity to expand your knowledge and entrepreneurial toolkit.
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Interaction with Successful Serial Entrepreneurs ? ? ? Kentaro Toyama Microsoft Research TiECon Bangalore 2004
Caveat From TiECon Bangalore 2004 program: • “Inside India” • Entrepreneurs • Serial entrepreneurs • Successful serial entrepreneur
About me… • Japanese, raised in Japan and U.S. • Research scientist • AB in Physics; PhD in Computer Science • Serial attempts at technology transfer • 6.5 years at Microsoft with no direct impact on product • Face detection, tracking, and recognition • Semi-automatic video editing • Multimedia (Interactive Images, http://wwmx.org) • Successful tech-transfer • 7th year: Digital Image Pro ships with automated image-editing utilities • Now: research in computing technologies for emerging markets
Great Opportunity in India! Source: Clayton Christensen, The Innovator’s Solution, 2003
Beware! Competing with Free Stuff • “Sales of font software [and] the font business have been adversely affected in recent years by a growing supply of free font software via the Internet…” – Precision Type • “[Stiff competition, Tower Records] says, was compounded by the growing problem of digital downloading and file copying which has been plaguing the music industry” – BBC News
Beware! Large-Scale Production • Hard to beat Moore’s Law: “you have to deliver twice as much to the customer every eighteen months in order to just stand still” – James Woodward, MIT Enterprise Forum • “handhelds from major makers such as Palm and HP have gained in features and dropped in price, factors which some have said undermined the reason for the Simputer's existence” – CNET Asia
Beware! Passive + Interactive • “[Interactive TV] has had an unenviable reputation for torching through investors' cash. Some of the biggest names in broadcasting and telecommunications - BSkyB, Granada, Channel 4 and BT among them - have burnt their fingers trying to enhance the power of the handset.” – Financial Times
Opportunities around…? • Mobile phones: • 2.5M new subscribers per month in India • E.g., “Ringtone sales were at $3.5 billion worldwide” • Ultra-cheap computing: • E.g., Fisher Price Power Touch
Serial Entrepreneurs • “…are driven by the need to create something from nothing” – Seattle Business Journal • “…sees success as a reason to launch a new venture” – Stephen Berglas [UCLA] • “…are our economic artists - bringing together economic resources rather than putting paint on canvas"– William Dennis [Nat’l Federation of Independent Business Owners] • “…may be the best bet for job creation” – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Thank you! kentoy@microsoft.com