Daily Archives: November 27, 2017

TASK accomplished: 4 start-ups gain ground

TEP at ISB makes it easy for wannabe entrepreneurs

A programme at the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) here costs no less than ₹16 lakh but Telangana students need just ₹16,000, in addition to possessing a burning desire to give wings to their ideas, thanks to an innovative idea of the Telangana Academy of Skills and Knowledge (TASK).

This path-breaking programme launched two years ago to help engineering students create and launch new business ventures is bearing fruits now with four start-ups gaining ground. And that too from students who seldom heard of entrepreneurship and the path to it.

Thumma Narendra, who never had any exposure to entrepreneurship while studying in his native Warangal district, has now created a platform with an educational website to guide students and schools on various aspects of education. Kausthub Kaundinya of VNR VJIT has designed a safety air-conditioned helmet that can be used in industries including coal mines.

Gurajada Ravitej of Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of Technology and Management (MLRIT) has created a start-up ‘SVS Express Car Sap’ where he provides car and bike washing service using foam wash equipment without the usage of water. His friend Abhiram Itharaju from MLRIT is now the proud owner of Abhi Clicks, a photography company that promises to capture every beautiful moment of life.

All these students are part of the Technology Entrepreneurship Programme (TEP) launched by TASK in association with ISB with a vision to create an entrepreneurial civilisation among engineering students. The programme is rigorous and only 40% crossed the first stage. And even among them only four people could launch their start-ups so far.

The satisfying aspect, however, is that 265 students so far got their TEP degrees from ISB, which was unthinkable for them a couple of years ago. About 100-odd got the participation certificates from ISB, which itself is a major academic achievement.

The final outcome on start-ups is less, as expected in any such ecosystem, but students gained big as 80% of those who enrolled for the programme were placed in top technology companies, says Sujiv Nair, Chief Executive Officer, TASK. The programme starts when they are in the third year of their engineering and is completed as they finish their B.Tech programme simultaneously.

Selection to TEP itself is a rigorous process. But Mr. Nair agrees that it has mainly helped students expand their motivation levels and inculcated the entrepreneurship spirit. But for the programme all these candidates would have earned just a degree rather than emerging as employment creators.

The programme has the support of several blue-chip companies including Google, Microsoft, Tata Motors and Deloitte and senior professionals of these companies mentor the prospective techno-preneurs selected for the programme from various colleges in Telangana.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – November 27th, 2017

Tech-savvy docs strike it rich

Patients from towns, rural areas opt for online consultation

Lured by an assured 20% to 30% increase in their annual income, a band of tech-savvy doctors from the city now offer online medical consultation. And those opting for their services are patients from towns and rural areas in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who have registered online for family healthcare services.

In the last two months, an Internet-based medical platform — DocOnline — which operates out of Hyderabad, registered 30 doctors from here who are willing to consult via chat, phone call or video call with patients. The platform has also registered doctors from Mumbai and Pune. A similar platform e-Vaidya has been registering physicians who have been practising here for the past one year. Doctors told The Hindu that the pay they got for online consultation was higher than that from hospitals. “The salary structure in most hospitals, be it State or corporate-owned, is not updated regularly,” said Sindhura Rao Akkala, who left a private hospital two years ago to work for e-Vaidya first and now for DocOnline.

Uma Yadagiri, who has been practising for 17 years, 15 of which was in the U.S., said online consultation contributes to 50% of her annual income. “Online medicine here is similar to on-call practice in the U.S. With online medicine, a comprehensive health check-up can be done.After the video calls with patients, if I am not satisfied, I ask them to come and consult me or consult a nearby physician,” she said.

Among the doctors who offer the services are orthopaedics, obstetricians and gynaecologists.

‘Time-effective’

Patients said they found it cost and time-effective. “I paid ₹700 for a monthly package for myself and four family members. The consultations are unlimited and doctors are always available. It worked for me because I get constant migraine attacks for which I used to pay consultancy of ₹500 each time,” said Y. Roopa, 25, who lives in Tirupati.

As the services offered are diverse, the patients get consultation for more than one family member.

Most patients find home delivery of medicine very effective as it helps the elderly. A 62-year-old resident of Mahabubnagar town, C. Tayamma, had taken help online after she suffered hot oil burns on her hand in an accident. “When I video-called, the doctor prescribed an ointment and pills. I live with my daughter and the service proved to be effective. Now I want a bed-ridden relative to opt for online service,” said Ms. Tayamma, whose daughter had listed her as a dependent for the online service.

Speaking to The Hindu, Rahul Paith, COO of DocOnline, said online medicine would grow in the coming years. “India’s telemedicine market is expected to grow from $15 million (₹100 crore) to $32 million (₹210 crore) by 2020. There is much scope here,” he pointed out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Nikhila Henry / Hyderabad – November 25th, 2017