iBlog: Nishit Shah

Proto.in was one event that I was looking forward to attend for a long time. Infact, I was so enthusiastic about it that I was the first one to register for it, even before the organizers had officially opened up the registration. My name tag also had #1 I had reached a day b4 event started to volunteer for getting things ready for the event. It was gr8 fun interacting with the organizers and other volunteers. We all were there @ the Seminar Hall @ IIT-D working hard to make sure everything was ready for the next day. I have taken some candid shots of ppl working behind the scenes. I was taken aback after entering the Dogra Hall @ IITD where the Startups were gonna demo their products on the second day. It is HUGE. I bet, I have never stood on any stage bigger than this. This was the best "platform" the guys @ proto.in could give the startups to showcase their products.

Day1. Fastrack Sessions.

Keynote - Kiran Karnik, the former president of NASSCOM.

Building Services for India: The Art of Pricing - Murugavel Jankiram, Bharat Matrimony.com

At helm of a fast growing Business - Bhavin Turakhia, Directi.

This session was real good. Bhavin brings so much passion and enthusiasm in his talks that one is always impressed by his talks and I am sure that I will remember this session for a long time to come. In his session, Bhavin gave an analogy that running a business was like playing a game. Check the slideshow below. Check out Siddharth’s Blog he has written a very nice article on this session.

I wasn’t there in the seminar hall for most of the sessions after that as I was busy networking. I met some really interesting people, one is bound to as the event attracted a lot of startup enthusiasts, investors, techies, technocrats et al

Day2. Startup Showcase.

The 2nd day was the d day for the startups short-listed for this year’s proto. Each of the startups were given 6 minutes to demo their products in front of an audience followed by a Q n A session after each category got over. Since pictures speak louder than words, I have found a couple of slides which sums up the entire 2nd day.

This slide shows the startups that showed their demo @ Proto4

Missed this year’s Proto? Keep checking Proto.in for the next one coming up in December @ Bangalore.

I just love traveling and have never said NO to anyone who has asked for company while traveling. These days have got interested in Backpacking and traveling alone. I have put up a map of states that I have visited in India and also a world map. The world map only has a couple of entries but will fill it up soon I haven’t traveled much to the east and north-east and would love to take this journey soon.I have seen only in pics n vids that North-East is very beautiful.

visited 14 states (40%)

On the world map, I have just been to one country outside India, Thailand. This is one post that I will keep updating as I travel more. Keep geo-taggin

visited 2 states (0.88%)

Have fallen in love instantly ever since I have heard this song of Nickelback. Even the video is damn cool. Lyrics r just too good….pretty much sums up everythin I want in life …. the PB Bunnies are an added bonus

I’m through with standing in line
to clubs we’ll never get in
It’s like the bottom of the ninth
and I’m never gonna win
This life hasn’t turned out
quite the way I want it to be

I want a brand new house
on an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
for ten plus me

I’ll need a credit card that’s got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me

I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair and change my name

‘Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We’ll all stay skinny ’cause we just won’t eat
And we’ll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger’s
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free

I think I’m gonna dress my ass
with the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
blow my money for me

I’m gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I’d even cut my hair
And change my name

Am leaving for Delhi day after tomo to attend Proto.in For those who are not aware it is an event for startups where get a platform to showcase their products / services in front of an audience which consists of top technocrats, VCs, angel investors, entrepreneurs, et al. Check the who’s coming to Proto July Edition here. The event is on 18th and 19th @ IIT Delhi. I’ll be staying @ IIt Delhi.. its always good to have friends everywhere!

The 2008 Second Edition is a 2 day event. The first day consists of Fast Track Sessions where the Indian Entrepreneurs will talk about their experiences. I am really looking forward for this day which also includes the Keynote session by Mr. Kiran Karnik, ex-President NASSCOM and yeah Directi’s CEO Bhavin Turakhia is gonna be talking on Building a Fast Growing Business, Recounting Experience.

The agenda for the 2nd day consists of the startups who have made it to showcase their products / services.

I am gonna be there in Delhi for around little over 5 days (including 2days for event). Have kept enough time to roam around the capital. Have plans to go to Chandni Chowk for chats.. I just love them, Karol Bagh for shopping and of course will take a ride in thw Delhi’s Metro. Haven’t been there yet, coz the last time I had been to Delhi, it was far from completion ! I just loved Bangkok’s Metro and Skytrain. Hope the ones here are as good as them

I’ll be traveling by Mumbai Rajdhani train, after the recent fare hike and my lavish Bangkok trip, the fligts are a bit too expensive for the timebeing ~8k for return Thanks to the flexi-hours @ Directi, only 2 days will be taken away from my leave bank ! for the 5 day trip. I’ll be back on 21st July.  Plan to go to River Rafting @ Kolad near Pune on 26th .. hope my hand gets better by then

I am back from my vacation but a freak accident happened. I slipped last week while diving in my swiming pool and dislocated my shoulder. Damn. It does pain if I move my hand. Hence docs have adviced to wear a sling around my arm for the next 3 weeks My right hand is gonna be completely immovable.  I knew everyone is gonna ask me wot happened, so I acted smart and stuck a paper on my sling with the FAQ as shown

The FAQ written on this page are as follows:

What?? Dislocated Shoulder.

How?? Slipped while diving in a swimming pool.

How Long ?? 2-3 Weeks.

Does it Hurt ?? YES!!

How do you ……… ?? Plan B

This saved me from answering everyone in office. It was fun to watch ppl come near me read this, smile n go.  I won’t be blogging much till my hand is fine. Will write in detail about my Thai trip soon.