Tekvocation - Blog #Entrepreneurship

Marketing Lens with Nishanth C P

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:00:21 +0530

The meeting with Energy 24by7 on October 15, led by Mr. Nishanth C P, Chief Growth Officer offered an insightful look into the company’s journey, innovations, and approach to marketing and client engagement. Founded in 2017 as a student project, Energy 24by7 has grown into a recognized player in the renewable energy sector. Their products, including iCON, a smart solar charge controller, and iCUBE, an off-grid solar inverter, have been developed to address real-world energy challenges in both residential and institutional sectors. What makes their work distinctive is the focus on bridging accessibility, sustainability, and quality through technology that simplifies energy management for everyday users.

During the discussion, Mr. Nishanth C P shared how Energy 24by7’s growth was propelled by an unexpected moment, a YouTube video by a small creator showcasing their product, which went viral and brought thousands of inquiries within weeks. While the surge tested their supply chain capacity, it also highlighted the power of authentic storytelling and educational marketing. He explained that complex products demand communication that informs rather than merely advertises, and that genuine demonstrations, explainer videos, and customer education can create deeper trust than traditional marketing. He also emphasized the importance of preparedness and aligning promotional efforts with operational readiness.

Mr. Nishanth C P provided valuable guidance to the young team of new marketing division of Tekvocation Pvt Ltd. on approaching clients for their marketing services and building long-term professional relationships. He encouraged researching a client’s business before meetings, identifying gaps, and presenting tailored solutions rather than generic pitches. His philosophy centered on “under-committing and over-delivering,” stressing that credibility grows through honesty and consistency. He further advised the team to make use of platforms like LinkedIn for outreach, maintain clear communication with decision-makers, and frame proposals around measurable outcomes. Rather than pushing for immediate sales, the focus should be on understanding the client’s needs and offering lasting value

The conversation also touched upon challenges such as rejection, negotiation, and client retention. Mr. Nishanth C P reminded the participants that setbacks are part of the process and that professionalism, empathy, and follow-through can turn criticism into opportunity. His anecdote of converting a dissatisfied customer into a brand advocate through personal attention illustrated the importance of responsiveness. He also noted that understanding market expectations from visual aesthetics to tone of communication plays a crucial role in connecting with diverse industries, whether in technology, education, or energy.

In closing, the Mr. Nishanth C P underscored that modern marketing is less about persuasion and more about trust.

Wisdom from the Frontlines: Lessons from Experience

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:47:57 +0530

Welcome back to Wisdom from the Frontlines, where we explore the journeys of professionals who have made a lasting impact in their fields. Through their experiences, challenges, and reflections, we bring you perspectives that can help navigate your own career path.

This edition features Mahesh Bala, a technology leader with over two decades of experience in AI, robotics, business strategy, and mentorship. From his early days at ISRO to leading AI-driven programs at Zoho Research Labs, Mahesh has played a key role in driving innovation while guiding the next generation of professionals.

In this Q&A, he shares his thoughts on leadership, the future of AI, the balance between technology and business, and what it takes to build a strong career. His experiences offer practical takeaways for entrepreneurs, tech professionals, and anyone looking to grow in an evolving industry.

Read on for a conversation style answers filled with real-world lessons and thought-provoking perspectives.

1. How did your experience at ISRO shape your approach to technology and innovation later in your career?

- I have seen how deep technologies are explored and built with an attitude of selflessness. Senior scientists working hard and taking complete ownership of their work amazed me. I was working in the staging separation division, which was responsible for separating a satellite in orbit from a launch vehicle. Even the senior most scientists were well aware about the torque values of even screws to be tightened.

2. What was the biggest turning point in your career, and how did it influence your professional growth ?

- Loosing a job in 2009 was the biggest turning point in my career. I started my own company.

3. With your experience in AI and robotics, what ethical considerations do you believe should be prioritized in technological advancements?

- Depending blindly on AI tools and techniques like Chat GPT etc. will not help anyone to improve their career. We must have fundamental knowledge and we should be able to know how smartly we are able to use AI techniques.

4. How do you foresee the future of indigenous technologies in India competing on a global scale?

- We need more and more ‘deep technical’ indigenous technologies coming up from India. We should not settle with light weight solutions which have short term business advantageous.

5. What are the core focus areas of Zoho's R&D Centre at Kottarakara? How does it align? with Zoho’s broader vision? How do you foster innovation in a setting that is away from major tech ecosystems?

- Our Founder's vision of R&D and RD (research and development and rural development) emphasize core deep technologies built from rural India. We are in humble effort of empowering the local Indian talent to do hardcore research

6. What kind of research and innovation projects are currently being undertaken at the center?

- AI and Robotics in general. LLMs also.

7. What inspired you to transition into academia and mentorship alongside your corporate career?

- Giving back something back to society

8. If you had to summarize your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be?

- Never waste time, and do the work for self satisfaction. The rest is taken care of by itself.

9. Who has been your biggest inspiration in your professional journey?

- Rahul Dravid and Virat Kholi

The Entrepreneurial Journey of Tony G Thomas

Wed, 22 May 2024 11:10:16 +0530

Tekvocation, though established in 2019, embodies a vision Tony had nurtured long before. His vision went beyond simply hiring young talent. The dream of fostering the young talent from the old city of Mysuru through extended internships, rather than simply hiring them, had been brewing for quite some time

As our founder, and that of numerous other organizations, many of us have always wondered: where did it all begin? To many - Tony, a humble man dedicated to his ideas, is known for his unwavering commitment and punctuality. But if you'd ask us, we would say, what truly sets him apart is the effortless simplicity with which he carries the weight of his achievements. This article seeks to unravel the details of his entrepreneurial spirit, exploring the inspirations that ignited his passion and the strong work ethic that fuels his tireless pursuit of success. Let's delve into the mind of the man behind it all

(i)What initially sparked your interest in technology and entrepreneurship?

I was an avid reader in school, and particularly in college, was inspired by books I read about inventions and engineering advances. When I started learning engineering I was very motivated by the idea of building new products that are useful to people. I realized then that I would be happiest working on new technology and building products. It was only years later, after learning more and working on many projects, that I would get the opportunity to do that. After working as an engineer for a few years, I found a way to build a new product that was useful to the company I was working at. Later I left to start a new company.

(ii)What were some of the biggest technological challenges you faced in the companies that you've established ? Can you share a story about a time your company overcame a significant challenge?

Technology challenges vary a lot, though the biggest technical challenges tended to be around getting unproven technology to work well enough for customers in a timely way. When doing something new, it is hard to predict how long it will take for a team to get it done. And after showing customers a working prototype or early version, they want a commitment on a fully working product within a reasonable timeframe. That can be challenging for startups, requiring huge effort from a small team. One case I remember is when our delivery was delayed and our customer, a Japanese manufacturer, even threatened to sue us, probably just to increase pressure on us to complete the delivery. Fortunately, meetings to assure them we're doing everything possible, and overcoming the technical challenges soon after, put us back on a good wicket with that customer.

(iii) Can you describe the process any company goes through to develop and launch new technologies?

There are countless ways to develop and launch new products, and each company tends to favor pathways that work for them and their industry. For technology startups, releasing early versions, and finding and satisfying early customers, is a common pathway. Those early customers must be driven by something you can offer that they are not already getting from their existing suppliers. So essential for your offering to have a beneficial technology edge, or cost advantage, or other advantage like saving customers time and effort. So the process for many startups involves understanding a customer need or beneficial technology change, building an early version, and finding early customers for it.

(iv) In the product companies that you have established,How do you gather user feedback to ensure your technology meets evolving needs of the users? Could you share some instances.

Finding early customers to validate your product-market fit, as it is known these days, is an important element for most startups in their journey. That can be a hard challenge in many cases, and there is often no substitute for calling on customers and selling them the benefits of your offering. For online products, digital marketing can bring in early users and customers, and often companies offer free versions or trials to ease that path. Understanding the early customer experience, and making changes to offer the best possible customer experience, is a key factor for success. Getting insights from early users takes more effort with online users, and should go beyond support requests from customers. Speaking to these early users, and finding other ways to understand and observe their use of your products, is the source of these insights that should drive your product evolution. And on an ongoing basis, your product needs to evolve based on the changes in technology, competition, and customer types and use cases. As an example, I have visited elementary school classrooms in the US to see how teachers might use our tools in a room full of noisy children. That visit gave me new appreciation for how ease of use is critical in that busy environment.

(v) How has the competitive landscape changed since your company's inception? What are your thoughts on the potential impact of technological advancements such as AI/ChatGPT on society and the workforce?

There have been tremendous changes since I first started a company, including rapid technological change, a surge in the number of startups in every industry, rise in costs in many areas, along with many conveniences and great tools for entrepreneurs. The wide availability of deep technical knowledge in many areas, along with AI tools to help any motivated entrepreneur more easily get to a first version of their offering, makes this an exciting time for young people to pursue building new technology and products that they are passionate about. I'm hopeful that a number of our young people will be motivated by technology advancements and get deep into building this technology in India, which can benefit tremendously from creating new homegrown products, rather than importing them. If that happens, we can expect a lot of benefits to society, including improved standard of living and conveniences. I'm not concerned about AI impacting jobs, if we're able to create new technologies that improve lives and lower the use and waste of scarce resources. There are risks of imbalances and poor policies that create excess debt burdens and external dependencies. I'm hopeful that smart policies will encourage a balance of production and consumption for a healthy local economy not burdened with excess debt. In such a scenario, we need not fear job losses to AI and automation, as some new industry or technological change opens up new opportunities.

(vi) What book(s) on technology or business would you recommend to our readers?

There are of course many good books to read based on your interests, so I find it hard to recommend one book for readers. When I was studying engineering, I read The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder, which inspired my interest in building technology products. That book is still recommended by many lists on good books for engineers, though I have not read it recently and it may be a little dated. A book with wide interest to engineers or others involved with all kinds of products is The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman. There are excellent books on entrepreneurs like Jobs, Musk, etc. that may be suitable for many readers. I encourage looking at lists of recommended books on technology, and picking based on your specific interests.

(vii) Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently when starting your first started your own firm?

With the benefit of hindsight, there are many things over the years I could have done to improve the future outcomes for my company and everyone involved. It's important to accept there will be flawed decisions and mistakes in your projects and career, and no one gets everything right. What is most important is to continually learn and course correct when you discover something is not working. When something is working okay but needs to be improved, that takes more effort to change, but is often worth that difficult push to change. Looking back at each new product I was closely involved in creating, I see many specific changes that could have made a big difference. One example of a change I would make is to improve communication and feedback between all stakeholders, particularly early customers. Too often engineers are busy building, and don't think as hard about communicating with all other stakeholders. That needs to be made a priority and sufficient time allocated for it.