Archive for January, 2009

Old friends…

Amir and I grew up together in Bombay. To be accurate the “togetherness” was the alternate summer we used to spend at our grandfather’s apartment on Club Road, right behind the YWCA, opposite Nair hospital. But the intensity of the experience was enough to make it last for the next two years. The summer we [...]

January 31, 2009  Tags: ,   Posted in: Personal shit  3 Comments

Making music the Zakir Hussain way…

When Mama mentioned Friday afternoon that he had two tickets for the Zakir Hussain show the same evening, I was tempted. I am a big tabla fan and I had heard about but never seen Ustaad (Maestro) Zakir Jee in action. I had no idea what I was in for… Zakir Hussain and the Sangam [...]

January 31, 2009   Posted in: music  No Comments

Where art thou, Brother Vickram?

Fellow evil genius, malcontent, subversive influence on unsuspecting minds, and past accomplice in nefarious criminal schemes surrounding Mohtashim’s ipod.

January 25, 2009   Posted in: Alchemy stuff  2 Comments

Sustenance

Two homemade turkey sandwiches with mustard on whole wheat bread and a glass of sugary fruit punch… If that doesn’t get you going to teach a three hour class, nothing will.

January 24, 2009   Posted in: Alchemy stuff  No Comments

The new business class check in at Karachi airport

On my way in through the passenger’s entrance, I saw a brand new CAA sign advertising the KASB business and first class passengers check in. In I went and broke a new all time land speed record: The category: From the entrance to the business class lounge The time: Less than 5 minutes I know [...]

January 24, 2009   Posted in: Alchemy stuff  No Comments

Teaching the dreamer course again

In Dubai, teaching the entrepreneurship course from today till the end of the month. More later

January 24, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Blue Screen, Desi Back to Desh, Desi Startup, Education, Failure, entrepreneurs  No Comments

Rupee dollar parity – two

As per Ansar’s request, here is a breakdown of our imports for December 2008. All figures in ’000 US$. Food Groups    236,176   Machinery   486,280   Mobile phones      10,149 Transport   107,040   Petrochemicals   403,592   Textiles   132,305   All others    761,520             [...]

January 22, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Desi Back to Desh, Desi Startup, PASHA, Pakistan, entrepreneurs  One Comment

The Rupee dollar outlook

The slow down and the correction has finally hit the trade numbers. The bad news is that compared to the previous month, December exports fell by about 14% in dollar terms. The good news is that imports fell by 22% and the balance of trade is now down to only 800 million US dollars. Foreign [...]

January 18, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Desi Back to Desh, Desi Startup, Pakistan, the economy stupid  3 Comments

Funding for dummies…four

And finally no financing deal ever goes through without relationships and credibility. Relationships open the door and get you time; credibility gets you to the term sheet. The sooner you build up your stock of these two elements the faster you can get to capital – debt or equity.

January 18, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Blue Screen, Startup, entrepreneurs, new ventures, small business  No Comments

Funding for dummies…three

We met Wilson Tan on a trade trip across China. In just over a week, thirty technology companies from the Asia Pacific region covered 3 cities and one hundred Chinese partners, trying to understand the opportunity that was China. Wilson was the President of the organizing body, (the outgoing President of Mercury interactive and on [...]

January 18, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Blue Screen, Desi Back to Desh, Desi Startup, Education, Startup, entrepreneurs, new ventures, small business  No Comments

Funding for dummies…two

It’s not that money is not available. Or that you can’t raise it. Or that it’s a fairytale that come true for only a select few. Truth is a lot less absolute; there is no black and white, only shades of grey. Let’s take a look at how and why a 37 year old, father [...]

January 17, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Blue Screen, Desi Back to Desh, Desi Startup, Failure, Startup, entrepreneurs, new ventures, small business  4 Comments

Funding for dummies…one

You dream, you write, you pitch. If you put your heart in it and have an idea with merit you collect, build, sell, retire and live happily ever after. You never have to ask, borrow or steal another dime since the millions of dollars you have put aside as a result of your efforts are [...]

January 16, 2009  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Alchemy stuff, Blue Screen, Desi Back to Desh, Desi Startup, Education, Failure, PASHA, Startup, entrepreneurs, new ventures, small business  2 Comments

Luddite, galore

Three years of computer science education, 16 years of technology experience and I feel fulfilled when I can incorporate a youtube video on my word press blog without causing the end of the world. How the mighty have fallen.

January 16, 2009   Posted in: Alchemy stuff  No Comments

Danny Elfman, Kingdom, Finale

Very few scores have moved me as much as the last minutes of Dany Elfman’s Kingdom’s finale.  It’s even more powerful if you have seen the movie and remember the ending scenes. And if you haven’t, you should. 

January 16, 2009   Posted in: old songs to make you cry  2 Comments

Mr. Shim.

So tonight, at the stroke of the bewitching hour, Mohtashim, Mariam and Anoushe, took a Cathy flight to colder pastures. For the last two years we have shared a room, sales calls, pitches, proposals and dreams. Tomorrow morning when I walk in, I will miss the sms (“be there in ten minutes”), the joint bitching [...]

January 1, 2009   Posted in: Alchemy stuff  6 Comments