Editor’s note: John Yates, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP partner and an internationally recognized technology attorney, is in India this week on a “tech trek” looking to generate business opportunities for the Atlanta and southeast technology sector. He is posting blog and video entries at . The law firm has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. Local Tech Wire will be following Yates’ trip and posting Yates’ observations and news.
MUMBAI, India – John Yates provides two video interviews with Indian entrepreneurs as part of his tech trek to India.
An earlier post from Mumbai:
Today was Feb. 13th in Mumbai – it was appropriate that I had 13 meetings scheduled! The last one just ended (dinner with an IT services company with offices in the U.S.) and it’s now midnight India time (just 1:30pm ATL time).
I’ve now met with more than two dozen Indian entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, equity investors, angels, and IT services firms. There are several patterns that are emerging with regard to technology companies in India – and the opportunities for Southeastern tech businesses.
• The Indian technology community is process-oriented and driven by people power (not intended to be a condescending term – just a fact). The Indian service community – IT as well as other services ranging from restaurants to law firms to hospitality – has a surplus of human capital. The resulting supply means lower costs to tech companies in accessing IT resources for years to come.
• Innovation is likely to be slow in coming to the Indian tech community. Why? Consider the limited amount of early stage financing, small size of the venture funds (in comparison with U.S. funds) and less formal ties between the universities and the business community throughout the country. The U.S. and the Southeast (with GA Tech, UNC, Duke, and other Institutions of higher learning) clearly have an advantage in the innovation game.
• Not to overstate the problem, but IT services can become commodity services. As other countries enter the market, India will have to differentiate itself by improving quality control, responsiveness and sensitivity to the customer needs.
• Southeastern technology companies should continue assessing the value of an “India Inside" strategy. This requires an assessment of business processes, determination of those that can be outsourced, and development of a quality control system. A frequent problem appears to be the inability of some IT services companies to appreciate the timely, quality turnaround required by U.S. companies in addressing technology problems.
• India also has an entrepreneurial community – and the following videos provide a flavor of two entrepreneurs who have successfully launched tech businesses to the Indian market.
John from Mumbai
