Innovators share secret of their success at VIA

Nagpur: For an innovator, it takes more than just a million dollar idea to sustain in the competition, and this was elaborately stressed upon during a symposium ‘Mantras for success’. Four innovators and entrepreneurs from the city shared their struggles and stories with the aspiring entrepreneurs.
The discussion was organized by Vidarbha Industries Association on Monday.

Starting off, young innovator Ritu Malhotra shared her story of inventing an ingenious spittoon ‘Ezy Spit’, a liquid that solidifies within 10 seconds of spitting into it. “Railways spends Rs100 crore to just scrub spit stains off trains. Not just the money, spitting in public is physically hazardous since diseases like TB can spread through it. This concern drove us to make this mobile spittoon,” said Malhotra.

She deemed hard work and finding joy in her struggles as the key to success.

Another innovator Gaurav Sawalakhe, who has created several creative products like an anti-radiation chip for mobiles and a car that crawls on walls, said patience is a virtue to be had in all aspiring entrepreneurs.

“Innovators must first identify their product as an innovation that answers an existing issue and as globally saleable. Your business will not thrive if there is no need for that innovation to exist. Budding start-ups should also modify their product every four-five years to keep it relevant,” he said.

Speaking at the symposium were innovator Leena Dixit who has created an online hub ‘Native Chefs’ that bring together home chefs around the city and Deepak Singh who owns a venture ‘Orange-n-Orange’, a unique dessert outlet that sells all things orange.

“Being a full-time working mother of two, I was constantly on-the-go. But cooking was always something that kept me connected to my roots, with my family, and that is how the idea of connecting people with their native food struck me and I developed this platform,” said Dixit. She said she believes that experience is the best teacher.

“Aspirants must perform an empathy study of market and take criticism positively. Any kind of feedback will only strengthen your business and avoid loopholes,” she said.