{"id":281,"date":"2021-05-10T12:00:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T06:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smevalueadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=281"},"modified":"2021-05-24T13:32:50","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T08:02:50","slug":"creating-a-digital-first-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smevalueadvisors.com\/blog\/index.php\/creating-a-digital-first-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a digital-first business: What entrepreneurs must do to fully utilise digital technologies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can not time success, and you can not time failure\u201d<\/em>
Ronnie Screwvala<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Riding on the shoulders of passionate and unconventional entrepreneurs, advanced digital technologies are becoming increasingly pervasive. India is witnessing the most remarkable transformation backed by innovative startups and their visionary founders. In a recent masterclass for the University of Maryland \u2013 Robert H. School of Business, Mr Ronnie Screwvala, the founder of UTV and UpGrad, shared his valuable mantra on creating a digital-first business.

When Mr Ronnie Screwvala joined the signature masterclass, his education technology startup UpGrad raised over $160 million at a valuation of $875 million. And this is not the first time he created a business empire. Building UTV from the ground up, he sold the company to Walt Disney Corporation in 2012 for an enterprise value of US$1.4 billion. 

Being a sought-after entrepreneur, he shares his experience in the masterclass on the disruptive power of digital technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mantra on Investing Time, Energy and Resources in Digital Business<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Empathy is Key<\/strong>
Starting his entrepreneurship journey from Cable TV, Mr Ronnie Screwvala became successful when there were no Venture Capitalists and funding rounds. Now that his newest venture is nearing the unicorn tag, he still feels that his fundamental mantra of \u2018Understanding the customers in the most Empathetic way\u2019 hasn\u2019t changed. If the business doesn\u2019t cater to what the customers want, it would fail to succeed.

Non-Linear Thinking<\/strong>
Digital technologies and their resulting platforms are just starting out and still evolving. As there is no tried and true process for a digital business to compare and improve, \u2018Non-Linear Thinking\u2019 can drive your thought process. According to him, the best way to fully utilise the potential of digital technologies is by fusing them with creative, out-of-the-box thinking to learn about the next business step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potential and growth opportunities in the online education world<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Non-Selective Education<\/strong>
<\/strong>Digital ed-tech startups have transformed the education sector, creating a vital shift from selective education (colleges, universities etc.) to non-selective education. The world, especially India, has just started to see the immense growth opportunities resting with online education to provide a diverse pool of knowledge to anyone, anywhere. Furthermore, the bet is on the constantly evolving digital technologies and the fact that India will see more interactive and competent ed-tech platforms in the near future.

Make a Market, within a Market<\/strong>
<\/strong>UpGrad is one of the numerous ed-tech platforms that is witnessing an increased interest from the students and investors. But, when asked why the investors are funding multiple ed-tech platforms simultaneously, Mr Ronnie Screwvala replies: \u201cBecause every single one of them, including UpGrad, has created a niche market within the ed-tech market.\u201d He explains it with the example of UpGrad. As the startup focuses intensely on higher education, they have captured a segment of the education market, thus, distinguishing their business and leaving room for scalability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The future of digital technologies, and the role of organisations in digital reinvention<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Disruptive Habits<\/strong>
The current pandemic has tremendously accelerated the dependence on digital technologies, disrupted everyone\u2019s daily habits and it is here to stay. He believes it is inevitable that India sees that a lot more interactive digital platforms will solve problems that no one believes are problems just yet. And when they do, they will further add value to the ever-evolving digital sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting aside Precedence<\/strong>
As a first-generation entrepreneur, he accepts that precedence is the ultimate killer of businesses and should be put aside to make way for positive adaptation. As customers crave effectiveness, companies must adapt to newer technologies by reviewing their current business model and automating certain services. The mindset of the entrepreneurs should always be opportunistic to change their policies to serve customers in the most effective way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lessons from Mr Ronnie Screwvala\u2019s entrepreneurial journey for your next venture <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Do it only if you really want to do it
<\/strong>As long as entrepreneurs remain passionate about executing their idea and achieving their goals, they would find unprecedented success. Entrepreneurs should not focus on the serendipity of things and should only start a venture if they know that it is the one thing they want to do in life. As a result, they will not hesitate to take bold steps and create positive disruption along the way.

Finding the Balance<\/strong>
Witnessing it first hand, he says that every day is a new battle for an entrepreneur. As a business is a slow process and requires cautious decision making, finding the right balance between personal and professional life holds the key to success. He advocates that the personal life and what one does in their own time hugely shapes the outcome of their professional life. Hence, he advises present or budding entrepreneurs to find the right work-life balance and give utmost importance to their mental health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can not implement someone else\u2019s vision and call it your own success.\u201d<\/em>
Ronnie Screwvala<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Mr Ronnie Screwvala\u2019s life as an entrepreneur is the perfect knowledge bank for current and aspiring entrepreneurs. The decisions he has taken, the difficulties he has tackled, and the disruptive way he has utilised digital technologies make him a force to reckon with in the business world. His mantras are derived from years of experience and customer research and should be considered a worthy path to lead a successful business<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou can not time success, and you can not time failure\u201dRonnie Screwvala Riding on the shoulders of passionate and unconventional entrepreneurs, advanced digital technologies are becoming increasingly pervasive. India is witnessing the most remarkable transformation backed by innovative startups and their visionary founders. In a recent masterclass for the University of Maryland \u2013 Robert H. 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