| Greycaps India | 2005 |
|
|
|
Giri 'Pickbrain' Balasubramaniam | Bangalore | Knowledge Transfer & Education Tools
Nominated on Oct 23 2008 2:06AM | by
Sowmya BK
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Greycaps India - Snapshot |
| Have fun while you learn!
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
| Business Basics |
 |
|
| Company Name |
Greycaps India |
| Founded in |
2005 |
| Headquartered in |
Bangalore |
| Company website/URL |
www.greycaps.com |
| Industry |
Knowledge Transfer & Education Tools |
| Stage of the company |
Scaling up |
| Source of idea |
|
| Awards & honors |
Previous Nominations:
- Global Innovator Award 06-07 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA for successful implementation of program...> Read more.. |
| Awards & honors |
Previous Nominations:
- Global Innovator Award 06-07 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA for successful implementation of programs to improve the knowledge and confidence of people.
- Devang Mehta Award by Ministry of Information Tech , Govt of India for Rural Initiatives for enhance IT Awareness.
- Invited to the Bangalore round of LEAD INDIA, TOI initiative.
- Internet Oscar at Global Internet Awards Singapore for Innovation in Education and usage of alternative education tools.
- Featured by The British Broadcasting Corporation in a documentary on the Rural IT initiative started by us with the Karnataka Government.
- Dr. Edward DE BONO witnessed our innovative quiz format.
Received appreciation and personal audience from thought leaders like Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam, Prof.C.K.Prahalad, Mr.Narayana Murthy and Dr.Vinton Cerf on our visionary work.
Hold 7 entries in the Limca Book of Records for pioneering initiatives in the field of quizzing and knowledge tools.
< Back
|
| Partnerships & Tie-ups |
We are proud to have a partnership for the last four years with over 25,000 school children across India, (12 cities), who are part of our unique G...> Read more.. |
| Partnerships & Tie-ups |
We are proud to have a partnership for the last four years with over 25,000 school children across India, (12 cities), who are part of our unique Global Awareness Program. We also have over 1000 Management Students enrolled to our "on campus" Global Business Review Program.
INDIA SPECIFIC:
Since 2004: With Tata Sons, to create and implement 'Tata Crucible'. This property has grown to become India's most credible business quiz and the biggest reaching across 16 cities of India.
Since 2007: With Infosys Technologies as part of 'Campus Connect' initiative to develop confidence and enhance empoyability in Engineering graduates in B & C cities of India. Implemented in 18 locations across Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Since 2005: With Aditya Birla Group (Grasim) to build confidence and market awareness amongst Civil Engineering students.
Since 2007: With Cognizant Technology Solutions for campus engagement across metro cities of India.
Since 1999: Partnered with The Economic Times to build business awareness in B-schools with the ET in Classroom initiative. The same is held annually across 10 locations of India.
Since 2000: With the Government of Karnataka, Dept of IT to enhance IT awareness in rural areas across the state, since 2000. This event attracts over 12 lakh participants each year.
Since 1999: With Tata Consultancy Services to create comfort levels to IT amongst urban school children across 12 cities.
Note: * The above three tie-ups were part of the previous startup and the same continues to this day and moved with us when we started Greycaps.
OVERSEAS: Since 2005: With The Times of Oman, the leading daily of Oman to create properties for entertainment based education through quizzes for general and IT awareness.
Since 2007: The success of Tata Crucible in India, promoted the Tata's to take this property overseas, starting with Singapore in 2007. This year (2008) the same would be held at Singapore again and will be extended to London.
< Back
|
|
|
|
|
| Business description |
We are in the business of empowering close to 2 million people each year with knowledge transfers, be it in the form of books, CD's, in school and college programs, web based games, training and quiz shows.
The core strength of our business lies in the fact that we have achieved this growth and deployed our concepts built on the Gandhian philos...> Read more.. |
We are in the business of empowering close to 2 million people each year with knowledge transfers, be it in the form of books, CD's, in school and college programs, web based games, training and quiz shows.
The core strength of our business lies in the fact that we have achieved this growth and deployed our concepts built on the Gandhian philosophy of "self sustained business enterprise model", wherein we have generated revenues out of the business to foster growth.
< Back
|
|
| How does the business make money? |
The school and on campus programs are subscription based paid by the individuals as an annual fee.
The corporate programs and solutions are contractual with defined annual growth in revenue.
The properties and solutions we create specifically for client needs (eg: Infosys) are based on the reach and manpower allocated and billed accordingly.
Our products and research publications including quiz books are sold on a retail model or on royalty model.
|
|
| Team information |
S. Nagarajan - Director - Former Quality Consultant and ISO expert from MICO Bosch.
Sourish Ghosh - a post graduate in HR and Marketing ,he quit Accenture to join Greycaps to head Business Strategy as AGM . A former journalist who loves to counsell students and conduct Corporate Training,he brings to the company his experience in Training, Media and Marketing ,especially in the Education and Knowledge Services sector.
Shravan Shetty - Asst General Manager - MBA - joined Greycaps in its year of inception, moved on to become a noted trainer before rejoining Greycaps.
Sowmya BK - Sr.Manager Brand & Head Solutions - MBA - Took the call to not take the offer of a leading FMCG & join this start up and be part of the knowledge revolution.
|
|
|
| Competition |
 |
|
| Competitors |
Times of India (NIE - Program) and Derek O Brien & Associates |
| How different is your product or service? It has... |
Substitutes that differ in function |
| In what way is your product or service different? |
The company works on multiple verticals from publishing books to quiz shows, on-campus programs to web based tools - while each of these verticals ...> Read more.. |
|
|
|
|
| By The Numbers |
 |
|
| |
2006 |
2007 |
| No. of employees |
6-15 |
16-25 |
| No. of locations |
2-5 |
6-15 |
| No. of customers |
6-15 |
16-50 |
| Turnover |
51 lacs- 1 crore |
1-5 crore |
|
| Primary source of initial funding |
Personal savings |
| Primary source of additional funding |
Family & friends |
| Raised institutional capital? |
No |
|
|
|
|
| Why is this startup hot? |
The surging demand for knowledge transfer, knowledge tools, knowledge games and research based services as a business model in India, Asia and other parts of the world, makes it hot. This demand is also transmedia - from publications to on-stage programs to television, internet and hand held devices.
What gives us strength is the fact that as a...> Read more.. |
The surging demand for knowledge transfer, knowledge tools, knowledge games and research based services as a business model in India, Asia and other parts of the world, makes it hot. This demand is also transmedia - from publications to on-stage programs to television, internet and hand held devices.
What gives us strength is the fact that as a young company we have annual partnerships and contracts with the best Indian business groups namely - the Tatas, Infosys, AV Birla Group, Cognizant, ET, Anand Bazar Partika to name a few. Our tie up with the Government of Karnataka, demonstrates how knowledge tools can be successfully implemented with a public-private partnership.
What sets us apart is that we are the first in this space to venture beyond English and successfully implement our programs and publications in Indian languages (Kannada, Hindi) and physical presence in the small towns of India (Dehradun, Jamshedpur, Cochin, Baroda etc).
< Back
|
|
| What keeps the team awake at night? |
Greycaps believes in 'Innovation' as a Team. The future of India lies in the ability of its youth to apply a clear thought process. What truly keeps us motivated is our being able to develop this trait in youngsters across India. The challenge of building this new India excites us.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
| Voting Closed |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| “The concept is like "knowledge transistors & transmitters". ...” > Read more.. |
|
| “Good company with a strong potential to create a difference and a sustainable business....” > Read more.. |
|
|
|
|
| Entrepreneur's Details |
| Name |
|
Giri 'Pickbrain' Balasubramaniam |
| Age |
|
37 |
| Hometown |
|
Bangalore |
| Family background |
|
First gen entrepreneur |
| More than 1 company? |
|
Yes (1) |
| Education |
|
Masters |
| Graduated from |
|
Times School of Marketing |
| Former employer |
|
Indiainfo.com |
| Former designation |
|
Vice President |
| Area of responsibility |
|
Strategy |
| Favorite book/movie |
|
The New Age of Innovation (CK Prahalad, MS Krishnan) |
|
|
| More Shortlisted Startups |
|
 Rasilant Technolog Mumbai | 2005 |
|
 Greycaps India Bangalore | 2005 |
|
 Evam Entertainment Chennai | 2003 |
|
 activecubes soluti Bangalore | 2007 |
|
 Vayavya Labs Belgaum | 2006 |
|
 Star AgriWareHousi Jaipur | 2006 |
|
 ValueMinds Hyderabad | 2006 |
|
 SammaaN Foundation Patna | 2007 |
|
 |
|
 Wyn Brands Bangalore | 2003 |
|
 Librarywala.com Mumbai | 2007 |
|
 Inasra Technologie Chennai | 2005 |
|
 Munificient Ventur Mumbai | 2008 |
|
 |
|
 takeovercode.com New Delhi | 2003 |
|
 Anantara Solutions Chennai | 2006 |
|
 |
|
 FieldTurf Tarkett Hyderabad | 2004 |
|
 Medsphere Bangalore | 2007 |
|
 Ecomove Solutions Mumbai | 2008 |
|
 a2zapps.com New Delhi | 2006 |
|
 Mantis Technologie Ahmedabad | 2007 |
|
 ITCONS e-Solutions Noida | 2007 |
|
 Elements Akademia Gurgaon | 2007 |
|
 Sacred Moments Mumbai | 2006 |
|
 Cafegadgets Gurgaon | 2006 |
|
 GoSports India Bangalore | 2006 |
|
 |
|
 Daily Dump Bangalore | 2006 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| View All Shortlisted Startups » |
|