Short Summary
Two years ago, we started an experimental project. To build a platform where designers, developers and ideasmiths can come together, pitch, form teams, and rapid prototype their ideas to life.
Why does this matter? It does, because a country like India, with a billion in population, has less than 600 startups emerging each year. As long as that number remains that way, technology entrepreneurship and the power of the knowledge economy will always remain a pipe dream. The indian product ecosystem needs a jumpstart, badly!
Your contribution, will help keep this platform going - continue bringing teams together that learn how to pitch, how to build products, launch and build global startups.
Last Year, In50hrs saw more than 1600 participants come together, pitch 400+ ideas, build 283 prototypes, launch 185 products, and 28 startups. Some even raised institutional capital. That's 28 startups, and 185 products that didn't exist before!
This Year, we plan to take In50hrs to nine cities across 16 events. But not without your help and support.
If you are interested in the details of the upcoming events, you can find them here - http://www.in50hrs.com/upcoming
What We Need & What You Get
A Platform like In50hrs, which is spread nationwide, and growing only with the support of communities, costs about 20 - 25L INR (Approx $50,000) a year. We are hoping to raise 10% of that via crowdfunding and via this channel.
Why?
We believe, something that is community driven, has two ways to go about it in order to scale. Either we go raise more corporate sponsorships, or make this the starting point where we ask those who support us, and those who benefitted from this platform and have witnessed it work, to truly make it a community platform.
We have found a few companies that truly believe in what we are doing and support us in the agenda of building great product teams and laying the foundation for the product ecosystem. We are relying on your support for the rest.
The Impact
I (Vijay Anand) have been working with startups in India for the past nine odd years, building Proto.in - one of India's first Product Startup showcase event, running a fairly successful Incubator and now with The Startup Centre (www.thestartupcentre.com)
Our team takes the bus, lugs banners and boxes of tees and goodies for the teams as we travel around doing In50hrs across the southern tip and takes late night flights. But you know what keeps us excited and going? When a team of students studying computer science as their major come in, pitch an idea, "learn" how to code, and show a prototype of their idea within a weekend; We get excited when a idea which was just a thought in the mind of a social worker, finds company and excitement among developers and they build a system that will allow corporates to giveaway food to orphanages and shelters that could make use of it. We are thrilled when we see young students find confidence in building, and launching a product, and going global. People coming in as strangers, having fun, learning a skillset, building awesome prototypes and leaving as friends. All in in50hrs.
More than all of this, In50hrs would be a pipe dream without the amazing mentors who are young entrepreneurs early in the cycle of their startups. They spend a weekend out of their busy schedules, mentoring and aiding these teams and helping them find direction. We believe entrepreneurs that early in their cycle have to find an avenue to give back, and thats what makes ecosystems great. In50hrs, kickstarts that cycle.
Other Ways You Can Help
So you love what we are doing, but aren't in a position to give monetarily; There are a few ways you can help:
- Share this with your friends, family and co-workers and help get the word out.
- If you have never been to an In50hrs, head right to the site, book a ticket to the nearest event, and be there. We dont have swanky marketing budgets and nothing is more powerful than you lending us your voice.
- Support the teams that build awesome prototypes. Try out their products and give feedback.
- Did we tell you you can use the plethora of sharing tools and help spread the word about this campaign?
To all the awesome entrepreneurs out there, the dreamers, and those who toil to make it happen, May the startups win!
Credits:
The Video used in this campaign was shot and produced by Chai With Lakshmi (www.chaiwithlakshmi.in)
