Why Start a Company

I recently read a blog post by Amit Agarwal (Digial Inspiration), which mentioned that Google had opened up Orkut so anyone could join.  It's interesting to me how all social networking sites are trying to one up each other.  Orkut seems to have a following in India, but there's been a flurry of activity with new sites popping up, that are bound to challenge it's position with localized marketing.

It brought me back to thinking about why we started techTribe.  techTribe isn't a social networking platform only, but one does see similarities. 

So I started to go down memory lane, and look at old notes on why we started in the first place.  Here's a note from months and months ago - not sure how long that means in Internet time nowadays :).

techTribe

Connect with Smart People
Showcase what You Have Done
Get Recognized for It

Achieve More with People You Meet

why techTribe
techTribe was formed because as professionals in the technology field, the founders felt that there was more to their identities than the company they worked for.  They were tired of introductions that centered around “Hi, I’m Rohit, and I work for Company X”. 

We’ve all felt that way.  There’s more to our identity.  There’s the company we work for, but there’s also what we’ve accomplished in life.  We rarely get a chance to talk about what we’ve done. 

We’ve created software. 
We’ve implemented solutions. 
We’ve designed products. 
We’ve advised companies.

We’ve solved problems in the banking and insurance sectors. 
We’ve consulted for the healthcare industry. 

We’ve done so for large companies. 
We’ve been part of smaller startups. 

We’ve trained people. 
We’ve received training and education.

We’ve mentored people.  We’ve watched them grow.
We’re passionate about a cause outside of work.

and WE CONTINUE TO DO SO.

techTribe is a platform for professionals and students in our industry to showcase what they’ve done, what they continue to do, and be recognized for it.  It’s a place where people can meet others who share accomplishments, goals, or interests, and collaborate in “Tribes”.  On techTribe, “meeting of the minds” fosters innovation. 

why Technology Professionals
The technology professional is an intellectual.  What excites us is the feeling of creating something.  What keeps us going is the thrill in solving problems.  We thrive on doing things others didn’t think could be done.  That’s part of our identity.

The founders of techTribe looked around and there was no place where technology professionals could truly connect with others, showcase their creativity, and get recognized for it.  They found open source communities for showcasing and sharing code, but not much else.  They found social networking sites where they could make “friends”, but that grew old fast; professional networking sites that were meant for sales and business development people to get introduced to others; and job sites to put up a resume.  Nothing that served the need of the technology professionals, not in the innovative sense.

why India
techTribe was launched in India. While India has established itself as a force in the technology industry, it has done so mostly on the basis of a smart, educated labor force that fits well in the flattened technology world.  There’s more to India though.  With the brilliant mind, and a strong work ethic, the Indian professional has the desire and the ability to innovate like never before, and techTribe’s goal is to help provide the innovation eco-system.

An innovation eco-system doesn’t require that every professional form and lead companies.  It demands that every professional be part of the innovation cycle, which requires that each professional contribute.  And we can contribute by sharing our experiences.  We contribute by teaming up with others on an innovative topic. By mentoring someone.  By helping someone with our knowledge.

techTribe is a community of innovators.  It’s the place where Innovators connect, and go on to achieve bigger things in life.