Monthly Archives: August 2014

‘Entrepreneurs should be dreamers, and they should dream big’

Business & Economy, Nri's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion
FOR MEET-- Gurram Srinivas Reddy, TEA founder. .PHOTO: BY ARRANGMENT
FOR MEET– Gurram Srinivas Reddy, TEA founder. .PHOTO: BY ARRANGMENT

Entrepreneurship is the buzzword now and Indians, unfortunately, have not made much impact on this front despite possessing sufficient knowledge and making huge strides in the IT sector across the world.

Gurram Srinivas Reddy, a first generation entrepreneur who formed Telugu Entrepreneurs’ Association (TEA) in the U.S. to promote entrepreneurs among Telugus, recently received Excellence Award at the North America Telugu Association (NATA), 2014 meet. A Hyderabadi by heart, he tells R. Ravikanth Reddy that its time engineering colleges provide platform to encourage entrepreneurs among students than just churning out degree holders.

How should engineering or management students go about developing entrepreneurship skills while in college?

First they should offer more courses in entrepreneurship and then conduct workshops by inviting industry experts in chosen fields. Invite first generation entrepreneurs as a motivational speakers and role models.

No, there has to be a paradigm shift in the approach of the educational institutions. An institution can create such environment just like Telugu Entrepreneurs’ Association (TEA) does by inviting open competition for students to prepare business plans, preparing best business practices, inviting bankers and venture capitalists to institutions as judges of those business plans. This will give an opportunity for students to interact with experts. TEA does all these activities as part of fostering entrepreneurship among Telugus around the world on a regular basis.

Entrepreneurs have to be a dreamers and when they dream, they have to dream big. There a big difference between businessmen and entrepreneurs. A businessman always thinks of profit. Most of them are not dreamers and there won’t be much of innovation in what they do. On the other hand, entrepreneurs always come up with new ideas and their approach always deals with improving peoples’ or end users’ lives.

If you take last 20 years, new innovations in Information Technology have helped in improving productivity and changing the loves of end users or customers. There is so much productivity growth in many industry sectors and all this was possible because of the entrepreneurs.

For example, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Steve Jobs of Apple, Micheal Dell of Dell computers, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook have several things in common, they all are young and they wanted to change the world using technology to help all the human beings. They also started their entrepreneurial activity at a very young age. They had some idea about their products and they worked on it day and night without giving up. Also, they never lost focus or hope and started developing their products from their garages and they did whatever it took. None of these people have rich background.

All the students must do internship in their chosen industry as part of their course. By doing this, students will have firsthand experience out there in the real world and they will know dos and don’ts of the entrepreneurship.

There is no instant success to anything that we do. One should have a complete belief and trust in himself no matter what they go through. They should just move on. One should have the tenacity, perseverance and stubbornness to make it happen.

The mistake is to not dream, to not have self confidence, discipline, self control, developing skills, and to not have proper role models as they do not read bios of some of these successful entrepreneurs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / August 17th, 2014

Saji Thomas named for Arjuna Award

Records, All, Sports
A file Photo of ace rower Saji Thomas in Hyderabad. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf / The Hindu
A file Photo of ace rower Saji Thomas in Hyderabad. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf / The Hindu

For someone who made the Hussainsagar Lake his ‘second home’ for the last 17 years to pursue his passion for rowing, 35-year-old Saji Thomas had reason to sport a big smile on Tuesday as he was named one of the would-be recipients of the prestigious Arjuna Award for his outstanding contribution to the sport.

“It has been a real struggle over the years. And, I could not have achieved whatever little I did, but for the support of my parents, coaches and the Rowing Federation of India’s officials – the most important of all being CPS Deo Singh Sir,” recalled Saji.

“I had a natural inclination towards water sports coming from Kerala, which even now is full of canals and boats. Once I joined Alleppey Centre for Water Sports under my first coach G. S. Nair, the passion for rowing only doubled,” said the Subedar-Major in EME Centre about his formative years.

“Frankly, it was not a surprise at all. I have been hoping to get this award for the last three years. But, I stopped thinking about it since last year. However my Sir was in touch the officials to see that some justice was done to my achievements,” said the delighted Saji Thomas, winner of two silvers in the last Asian Games.

This indefatigable rower has won 13 international medals in all including the Asian championship in a career spanning from 2001 to 2011. “I am at the fag end of my career now and hence this Award could not have come at a more appropriate time,” Saji said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 17th, 2014

AMU Professor Gets SAARC Best Law Teacher Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Eminent academician Faizan Mustafa, who is senior vice-president of city-based NGO Rural Litigation Entitlement Kendra, has been conferred with this year’s prestigious SAARC Best Law Teacher Award.

In a unanimous decision the high-powered jury conferred this award on Mustafa, according to a press statement released by the NGO here today.

The award which carries Rs 1 lakh in cash, a citation and a plaque would be given to Mustafa by the Union Law Minister in Delhi on September 6, in the presence of eminent professors of law, judges and eminent lawyers, it said.

Earlier awardees include leading jurists N R Madhav Menon, Ranbir Singh, G V Ajjappa, V S Mani, Prof. Laxminath and Prof. Mizanur Rehman of Bangladesh’s Dhaka University.

Mustafa is Aligarh Muslim University’s Law Faculty member and is widely respected for his passion for teaching. He introduced several courses such as Intellectual Property Rights, International Human Rights Law and Tourism Laws at AMU.

At NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad where he is presently working as Vice-Chancellor, he designed and taught new courses like Diversity Management Law, Comparative Strict Liability Law, Multiculturalism & Minority Rights.

He is the only academic who has been nominated as member of the National Legal Services Authority, which is headed by the Chief Justice of India.

He is member of several Executive Councils, Academic Councils and General Councils of various universities. He has been member of several search committees for the appointment of Vice-Chancellors.

Noted rights activist Avadhash Kaushal who heads the NGO has suggested that the Uttarakhand government should utilise the services of Mustafa in planning the proposed National Law University of Uttarakhand.

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> News / Dehradun – August 19th, 2014

Former MLC Yusuf Qureshi passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

QureshiMPos19aug2014
Hyderabad :

Former MLC and senior Congress leader Yusuf Qureshi passed away here on Friday. He was 71.

Born on August 23, 1943, in a business family, Yusuf Qureshi joined the Congress the Congress party in 1969. He served as the Chairman of AP State Minorities Commission for three years from March 27, 2006. He was an Executive Member of APCC since 2001 till date. He also served as the General Secretary of APCC during 1982-84.

Yusuf Qureshi was member of AP Legislative Council from 1982-85 and was made the chairman of AP State Wakf Board during 1994-97. He extensive toured different countries including UK, USA, Afghanistan, Russia and Turkey. He was considered to be close to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

His wife Dr Saleha Qureshi is a distinguished Gynacologist and former Commissioner of Medical Services, Govt of AP. His son Imtiaz Qureshi is an entrepreneur and daughter Dr Seema, is a general physician practising in the USA.

Qureshi sahab was chairman minorities commission when Mecca masjid bomb blast took place and he was appointed by the most powerful chief minister Dr Ys Rajeshakar Reddy and he inquired and gave an antiGovt and anti police report which proved the more than 200 Muslims youths were held illegally by police and torcherd .

For the first time in Indian history Muslims youths were given compensation by governement and all this credit goes to Mr Qureshi in fact his report was instrumental in getting and now no Muslim boys are held illegally by police any more .

Prominent personalities visited the house to pay their last respects. (INN)

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Hyderabad / Friday – August 15th, 2014

Deccani Culture Showcased at Fete

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad :

Amidst reverberating beats of traditional ‘Nagara’ and ‘Kommu Buralu’, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao unfurled the national flag from the 800-year-old Golconda fort here on Friday. With this, the first government of the youngest state in the country has created a new identity revisiting its old identity, by putting the spotlight back on the fort which stands as an icon of the true Deccani culture. Aptly, the Chief Minister started his speech eulogizing the fort and its historical, architectural, cultural, and literary significance hailing the same as a symbol of grandeur and prosperity.

With artistes dressed up in the attire of Rajabhadalu, with a few blowing horns and others beating the drums, an artificial courtyard atmosphere was created for welcoming the CM. Artistes performed cultural artforms like Perini Sivatandavam, Chindhu Yakshaganam, Kommukoya nrithyam, Gussadi nrithyam, Banjara nrithyam, Dappu nrithyam, Oggudolla Vinyasam, Mandha Hechhula Katha, Mujra dance, Noubath, Qawwali, Sheri Baaja etc reminding all of the rich Deccani culture.

Drawing comparisons between Indian freedom struggle and Telangana’s struggle for a separate state, while paying rich tributes to the freedom fighters of Independence movement, the CM said it was Gandhi’s preachings of peace and non-violence that lead to the state formation.

Rao, who insisted on shifting the celebrations to Golconda fort, departing from the six-decade long tradition of hoisting the national flag at Parade grounds, said the people of Telangana are filled with joy to celebrate the first independence day in the Golconda Fort that stands as a testimony to the glorious history of Telangana.

Taking the 5000 odd guests and general public gathered back to history, he said the fort has been built in the heydays of Kakatiyas, who ruled the vast swathes of land in Southern India. Praising the advancement of architectural technologies and terming them pioneer in present day technological advancements of Hyderabad, he said, “This fort stands tall for its sophisticated sound technology and ingenious Vaasthu Shastra: If one claps at Fateh Darwaza the echo of this sound can be experienced at Bala Hisar. Lord Srirama and Laxman manifested themselves to the Lord Tanishah at this very fort. The well-known songs of Bhaktha Ramadas too were sung at this very fort.”

Adding more, he said, the customary annual event of carrying sacred Talambralu to Badradiramaiah too was started by these Golconda rulers. The famous ministers Akkana and Madanna in the court of Tanashah showed their political acumen from this very fort. Ponneganti Telaganaaryudu, who penned the first Telugu poem “Yayaathi Charitra”, is a court-poet of this very Golconda dynasty.

“Addhanki Gangadhara Kavi dedicated his widely known work- Tapathi Samvaranopaakhyaanam- to Malik Ibrahim qutub Shah at this very fort. Qutub Shah was honored and given the title of “Malkibaramudu” at this very fort,” he said.

Besides, the Golconda Fort housed world renowned Kohinoor, Darya-i-Nur, Dohop and other diamonds. “Due to its repute for diamonds, many merchants from Rome, England and Turkey had come here to continue their business here. Thus today’s Karwan, a suburb in the city, has come into being,” said the CM.

He went on to say that the idea to build a world class city Hyderabad was conceived at this Golconda Fort. The Bonalu festival was started from Golconda Fort.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 16th, 2014

This win was unexpected: Mithali

Sports
Mithali Raj. PHOTO: V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM / The Hindu
Mithali Raj. PHOTO: V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM / The Hindu

This is the kind of performance which will obviously make us all dream big, she says

For long, Mithali Raj has been a quiet performer, diligently pursuing her passion – cricket. And, on Saturday evening, this 31-year-old led the country to only its fourth-ever Test win when they defeated England by six wickets at Wormsley in the one-off Test.

“This great Test win, which honestly I was not expecting when we left for the England tour, should ensure greater recognition and respect for women cricketers,” says Mithali over the phone from England.

“Being part of two of India’s wins (of the only four India won) is definitely a great feeling. But this one is more special than the Taunton win last time around for the simple reason that we were playing a Test after a gap of eight years,” the happy Indian captain points out.

In a way, Mithali completes the formidable list of outstanding women sportspersons from Hyderabad– Sania Mirza (tennis), Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, P.V. Sindhu (badminton), Nikhat Zareen (boxing) and Mithali (cricket).

Going by the statistics too, Mithali leaves her contemporaries far behind – averaging 52.16 in the nine Tests and 50.43 in the 148 ODIs she played since 2002.

“I am honoured to lead India to this great win and I must thank my parents, coach RSR Murthy (SCR) and John Manoj sir (whenever she is in the city she trains at the St. John’s Foundation) for having so much faith in me,” Mithali remarks.

“This is the kind of performance which will obviously make us all (the entire Indian team which has interestingly eight Test debutants against England in that great win) dream big. It’s a great motivator for every one of us. The winning feeling is something totally different,” she says.

Former India batting great V.V.S. Laxman was one of the first to tweet what he felt was a “very significant win” and congratulated Mithali.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 17th, 2014

Indian doctors to open hospital in Guinea

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Uday Rachakonda and A.M.V. Sai Kumar feel that a fool-proof screening programme for Ebola virus is vital at entry points. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu
Uday Rachakonda and A.M.V. Sai Kumar feel that a fool-proof screening programme for Ebola virus is vital at entry points. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu

Owners of Livewell Healthcare struck PPP deal with Conakry to revive govt. medical centre

Even amid the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, two Hyderabad-based doctors plan to open a hospital in the Guinean capital of Conakry, where the first case of the virus was reported in February. In a public-private partnership, A.M.V. Sai Kumar and Uday Rachakonda have entered into an agreement with the Government of Guinea to revive, operate and manage the local government hospital Jean Paul II.

The doctors, who have floated Livewell Healthcare, have obtained Private Equity funding from Exhilway Global Opportunities Private Equity Fund and would be spending close to Rs. 30 crore to set up a 250-bed hospital.

“We are doctors with a dream to have our own hospital. There is a need for quality healthcare in Guinea and we want to provide it. It’s our duty to serve and we are not worried about any outbreak or health emergency. We are in the process of recruiting nurses, paramedics and experienced doctors from India. Healthcare workers in India do not have any reservations to work in West Africa,” says Dr. Sai Kumar. Outpatient services at Livewell Jean Paul Hospitals are slated to be launched by the month-end. “The Government of Guinea has trust in us and gave us this opportunity. We have already shipped close to Rs. 3 crore worth of medical equipment from India. Till July, we were in Conakry and nothing happened to us. In another four to five months, we will offer all multi-specialities in Conakry,” said Dr. Uday Rachakonda.

Conakry receives a lot of visitors from neighbouring countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, the countries identified by WHO as the worst hit by the Ebola outbreak. Doctors pointed out that the reason for so many fatalities is lack of healthcare infrastructure and Ebola awareness among the locals.

“There is only one CT scan machine in Guinea and it costs around $250 for a single scan. There are only two private hospitals with combined bed strength of 35 and only three government hospitals. They are definitely 15 to 20 years behind us in medical infrastructure. We have also taken up the responsibility to train the local population in our hospital,” said the doctors, both of whom will fly to West Africain a week’s time.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – August 15th, 2014

Telangana CM hoists National Flag at Golconda Fort

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana addressing the Independence Day celebrations of the first Telangana Government being held at the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: P. V. Sivakumar / The Hindu
K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana addressing the Independence Day celebrations of the first Telangana Government being held at the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: P. V. Sivakumar / The Hindu

A colourful Independence Day celebrations by Telangana government inside the historic Golconda fort saw the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao launching a tirade against “evil forces” for spreading a disinformation campaign about the intensive household survey in the State on Tuesday.

Mr. Rao was accorded a rousing reception when he arrived at the fort. After the customary guard of honour at the entrance, he was driven in his Toyota Prado by horse borne outriders on the bumpy stretch of stones up to the rostrum.

In his 25 minute speech from a makeshift rostrum after unfurling the national flag, Mr. Rao listed out several achievements of his government in the last two months, including the flagship programme of debt waiver to farmers which cost Rs. 18,000 crore to the exchequer.

The household survey was not intended to cause any inconvenience but a sincere effort to extend the benefits of government to the needy. It was being done in the absence of real statistics, Mr. Rao said.

He criticised the indifference of the previous governments to drought and natural calamities in Telangana in the last five years and announced distribution of input subsidy to farmers in all districts from Friday.

The Independence Day celebrations of the frst Telangana Government being held at the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: P. V. Sivakumar / The Hindu
The Independence Day celebrations of the frst Telangana Government being held at the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: P. V. Sivakumar / The Hindu

He launched the prestigious land distribution programme for poor Scheduled Caste families by distributing pattas to women from all the districts. He also gave away cheques to the two teenaged conquerors of Mount Everest – Malavath Poorna and S. Anand – and medal winners in the recent Commonwealth games. He announced measures to enhance the brand image of Hyderabad and creation of a land bank of 35 lakh acres for industrial development.

After his speech, cultural artistes in their colourful attire blew conches and beat drums standing on the ruins of the fort. The students of National Green Corps who were dressed in national colours released balloons into the air. The lawns opposite Rani Mahal where the function was held bustled with the crowd. Mr. Rao’s car was mobbed by people when he left.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by N. Rahul / Hyderabad – August 15th, 2014

Telangana: KCR launches land distribution scheme for Dalits on I-Day

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Golconda Fort was the highlight of Independence Day celebrations in Telangana as it was a departure from the tradition I-Day event at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad (Photo: AP)
Golconda Fort was the highlight of Independence Day celebrations in Telangana as it was a departure from the tradition I-Day event at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad (Photo: AP)

Hyderabad:

Chief Minister of the newly formed state, K Chandrasekhar Rao, launched the distribution of three acres of land to Dalits after hoisting the National Flag at Golconda Fort in Hyderabad.

Under the ‘Dalitulaku Bhupampini’ (land distribution to Dalits) scheme, he gave away land titles to 48 women beneficiaries from all districts in Telangana.

The venue, the historic Golconda Fort, itself was the highlight of the Independence Day celebrations in Telangana as it was a departure from the tradition of organizing the I-Day event at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.

After paying tributes to martyrs at a memorial at Parade Grounds, the Chief Minister drove to the Golconda Fort on the outskirts of the city.

With the majestic fort forming the backdrop, he unfurled the National Flag on a pole, over 60 feet tall, from a makeshift platform as the national anthem was played.

Before unfurling the National flag, Rao received salute from the men in uniform.

Due to lack of adequate space, the traditional parade and display of tableaux of different government departments was done away with.

Rao recalled the historic significance and cultural heritage associated with the Golconda Fort, originally built by the Kakatiya kings during 10th century and the seat of power of the Qutub Shahi kingdom subsequently.

The cultural heritage of Telangana was showcased with traditional art forms and performance of Perini Sivatandavam, Gussadi, Manda Hechulu, Naubat, and Mujra dance.

Rao highlighted the number of welfare and development programmes of his government like land distribution for Dalits, farm loan waiver, provision of Rs 482 crores input subsidy to farmers, special Telangana increment for state government employees who played a key role in the separate statehood agitation, enhancing the brand image of Hyderabad by strengthening police, making the city a ‘wifi’ city among others.

The programme was inaugurated in the districts by the ministers.

Sportspersons including shuttlers Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu, P Kashyap, RMV Gurusaidutt, Jwala Gutta, chief national coach P Gopichand, shooter Gagan Narang, all Commonwealth Games medalists, were given away cash awards on the occasion.

As per a policy decision, he gave away Rs 50 lakh for gold medalists, Rs 25 lakh for silver medalists, Rs 15 lakh for bronze medalists and also badminton coaches Gopichand and SM Arif.

Telangana youth, M Purna and Anand Kumar, who created a record by climbing Mount Everest, were also given cash awards.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / PTI / August 15th, 2015

2 Indians quit high-paying jobs in the US to tackle India’s mounting garbage crisis

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Banyan is an informal sector inclusive high technology social venture which aims to solve the problems in the Indian recycling value chain through technology innovations that encourage source segregation and maximize landfill diversion.

The startup aspires to root out inefficiencies in the recycling value chain by innovating across all aspects of the recycling process from pre-sorting and collection to post-sorting and processing of recyclates.

BanyanTELAN13aug2014

“Our mission is to identify and nurture progressive recyclers within the informal sector, improving their quality of life through technology solutions that give them ample opportunities to maximize their growth and earning potential,” says Mani Vajipey, Co-founder & CEO, Banyan.

The Beginning

Banyan was born during one of Mani’s travels in India where the general filth and squalor across the nation deeply disturbed him and inspired him to build an organization that will transform the solid waste management landscape in India through technological innovations, better practices and grassroots activism.

Mani developed Banyan’s business model at Steve Blank’s Lean Launch Pad Program and Columbia Business School’s Greenhouse Incubator. Raj Madangopal, a technologist, with a passion for applying technology to solve socially relevant problems plaguing India, came aboard 6 months later.

“Our association dates back to the year 2002 in the university town of Newark, Delaware, where we bunked classes together, and becoming thick friends,” says Mani. Mani was then pursuing a PhD in electrical engineering (wireless communications) and Raj a masters in mechanical engineering (robotics) at the University of Delaware.

Post college, their paths diverged — Mani ended up at Qualcomm in San Diego while Raj joined a mobile startup in Seattle. Ten years later over a casual phone conversation, Mani shared his vision for solving India’s waste management issues and the business model that he was developing at Berkeley and Columbia Business Schools.

As part of Columbia’s Greenhouse Incubator, Mani and Raj travelled to Hyderabad and Bangalore on customer discovery and activation. “We spoke to dozens of facilities managers at large MNCs, visited several townships in Hyderabad, and met with city municipal commissioners, private waste management contractors, rag pickers, raddiwalas and kabadiwalas in the city,” adds Mani.

Over the course of three months of thorough market research and talking to people, the duo realized that the country desperately needed an integrated solid waste management company that could innovate across the entire value chain — right from collection and transportation to landfill management, recycling and generating energy from waste.

After returning to the US, the duo spent three months to understand waste management processes in there, visiting landfills, waste to energy plants and recycling centers across the Bay Area and New York City.

The founders quit their jobs, returned to India and launched Banyan in July 2013 – primarily focusing on handling municipal solid waste. “We reviewed tenders across the country and participated in a waste to energy contract with Rourkela Steel Plant forging a partnership with a leading Biogas to Energy Company in San Francisco,” points out Raj.

Red tape and lack of autonomy make things difficult for Indian startups

India’s red tape combined with the lack of autonomy on part of the officials involved caused the tender process and negotiations to drag on for over five months. The tender that was floated around June 2013 by Rourkela Steel Plant remains open to date. “This episode taught us a valuable lesson – although there was a grave need for an integrated solid waste management company, urban local bodies had a limited appetite for innovation and risk,” says Mani.

Why Indian startups stay away from government?

This led to the next pivot — entering the solid waste management space via a model that did not depend on the government or urban local bodies for its top line revenues. “Recycling was a natural fit for us. Each year, the nation dumps 6.7 million tons of recyclable material (worth $3.1billion i.e. Rs. 19000 crores) in its unsanitary landfills causing serious environmental degradation,” adds Mani.

The informal sector forms the backbone of the recycling value chain and is responsible for achieving recycling rates of 70%, one of the highest in the world. Ironically, rag pickers are treated as social outcasts, and itinerant waste collectors and neighborhood kabariwalas (small scale stationary aggregators) — who are at the bottom of the chain — depend on middlemen (large traders) for their livelihood and working capital requirements.

These middlemen trap the rag pickers, itinerant waste collectors and kabariwalas by extending informal loans and pressurizing them to sell exclusively to them well below fair market rates.

These factors led Mani and Raj to develop a business model to disrupt the recycling value chain in India. Once Mani and Raj were clear on the recycling business model for India – friends and family pledged $100K within one week of their fundraising efforts.

Technology is genesis of Banyan

Banyan’s proprietary software platform consists of several pieces such as the Android based informal sector lead generator app and an SMS based trading platform to identify and nurture progressive recyclers from the informal sector, data analytics engine that gives the company complete control over operations to optimize, iterate and improve performance on a daily basis. It also has a GPS based routing and tracking engine for reduced collection and transportation costs.

Banyan uses the data it collects at every touch point in the value chain to periodically generate waste analytics reports to build awareness among citizens and businesses and to also provide urban local bodies with valuable insights that can power policy changes and spur sustainability initiatives in the region.

Revenue model

It generates revenue primarily through the sale of processed recyclates in the form of bales, pellets and chips to reprocessors and producers in the local, national and international commodities markets.

Differentiators and USPs

The company differentiates itself from competition by providing an end-to-end professional service right from collection and transportation to processing and sales giving it tight control over the entire supply chain and empowering the informal sector by including it in its network of suppliers.

The startup plans to integrate 1500 plus kabariwalas in the area into the company’s supplier network by the end of this month. By October, Banyan will expand simultaneously into other major cities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

source: http://www.social.yourstory.com / YourStory.com / Home> Social Story / by Jai Vardhan / June 29th, 2014