How not to do an event with Telenor (TP) or, sadly, SI #5?
Startup Insiders # 5, location, Planet X, Islamabad
Five words!
Oops.
A thousand apologies (we %$#*@! up royally)
Never again.
Or as Telenor CTO, Peter, the Desi, said, that is more than five words.
For SI Fans who showed up it was a disaster. An event that was meant to inspire and motivate, turned into a mutual butt kissing contest between the team from Telenor and the National ICT R&D Fund.
Next time, get a room guys.
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February 24, 2008
Posted in: Uncategorized
9 Responses
I was there for the first half, then had to leave.
I was kinda shocked at how Dr Qasim(?), and Hasnat (whose an ex colleague) tried to take over – It was sad, I mean here you are a bunch of really smart guys traveling all the way from khi to talk to us instead of spending a quite, relaxing weekend with your families…
I did not personally agree with how you guys started out with the ads and all but in retrospect I understand now where you were taking it.
For what its worth, Thank you, atleast I didnt go back empty handed.
nEEbz Blog » Blog Archive » Startup Insiders # 5 : My first experience - February 24, 2008
[...] After the apparently utter crappy SI # 4, today’s endeavour was way lotsa fun. I have been following through the blogs since their first venture and I was pretty looking forward to the Lahore versions. I missed out last time but this was great. Especially holding the event in LUMS really paid off as loads of students (who I believe are in the best position to break the cultural/society railway paths and move on to something innovative) took part in it. [...]
Well I’d agree with what everyone has said and would say over the following posts; reason being that everyone attending a brainstorming/idea sharing event is to do exactly that, share the idea.
Now the idea may come in the form of a suggestion, a general concept or a product proposal. The intention may be to get connected, to get a funding, to know whats happening, to promote oneself or to influence others for self gains. The stakeholers may be govt., pvt corporattions, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, funding orgs or the academia. Everyone will come with various approaches, level of understanding and expectation of return from their participation; just like the expectation of the SI penalists; help entrepreneurs!
Read the rest here (http://greenwhite.org/2008/02/24/si5-more-than-110-people-but)
[shehzad]…
Not advocating for anyone, I believe taking names and pulling judgements does not help the case. Whats important here is to find out a way how to still keep the key players in the entrepreneurial eco-system while keeping intact the intended results of the SI sessions. Entrepreneurship is not only about facing hardships but also about dealing in smart ways. This inlcudes knowing the reality of the market mix, their interest (or perception of productivity) and then tackling it to find the best path for oneself; for everyone.
I think Jawwad and the entire SI team did a wonderful job and that they must come back to isloo, still invite the complete market ecosystem (regulatory, policy, funding, corporations, academia, entrepreners) and figure out a way to integrate them all to help the cause of entrepreneurship!
Again Salute to the SI team and looking forward to their return…soon! inshaAllah
Hi Asif,
If you agree that the aspiring entrepreneurs were the key stake holders/main beneficiaries of this event, you have to respect their feedback,
now this was not a forum to discuss structural issues and to bring everyone together etc. etc. that could’ve been done with a select audience and an agenda geared towards achieving that.
The forum had an agenda “help aspiring entrepreneurs sell their stuff” and NOT “about making mobile apps and getting funding from ICT R&D fund.
And to be honest, the organizers – All of them shouldve sorted it out beforehand, and in retrospect taking 2 names was unfair.
[Shehzad]
I agree and have been propagating feedback by all. There were stakeholders other than the SI team that met with the potential entrepreneurs. The feedback has been mixed. Its always like that. Its healthy.
Well making mobile applications is an entrepreneurial interest area and would desire a platform where people can match strengths; that was one of the propagated promo messages of the event in the first place. Thats what an entrepreneur aspires too; identify, mix and deploy resources (that include funds) to get his/her shop running. Nothing evil there. Entrepreneurship is business afterall.
I think you last point hits dot on the spot!
I would however add that this looking-back should not necessarily result in parting of ways but to look at SI format to ensure desired objectivity with channelizing inputs of various “real” stakeholders in a mutually beneficial fashion. Perhaps this was a first and needs to be looked upon as such and not necessarily as a trend.
SI5 - Islamabad | Faisal Qureshi - February 25, 2008
[...] Â An angry Jedi (Jawwad) [...]
Looks like the Lahore session made up for the mess in Islamabad.
I must say, it was a great experience listening to you guys…
Love thy asshole » The Lootmaar Blog - March 5, 2008
[...] Yes, I’m resorting to obnoxious titles and scandalous posts based on the advice of certain unscrupulous individuals. Unfortunately though, the controversy ends with the title, and my life isn’t exciting enough to cover ass kissing contexts set in Islamabad. [...]
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