Small Enterprise Magazine – June’16 Issue Cover story: “StartUp Essentials”:

There are thousands of businesses one could start, with more emerging daily thanks to new technology and good old-fashioned ingenuity. Yet despite the vast universe of possibilities, there are a few essential steps an entrepreneur need to take before starting any business. 

Every business startup is based on its own special business model and value proposition. At the same time, every startup like any other business, has a range of functions to fulfill—pieces of the puzzle that have to fit together in a meaningful way. For startups and early-stage businesses, the names of those functions are pretty much the same as those in established companies, even if there is no actual department doing the work. Even a one-person startup has to take care of them all. As the business grows, the founder’s job will become split and people will be recruited for each specialist function. 

Read on the June'16 issue to know more about how to succeed in the ecosystem.

Dear Readers,
As we step into the new year, our January 2024 issue is dedicated to empowering small businesses in navigating the dynamic marketing landscape. In a world where technology and social media are indispensable, we bring you insights on cost-effective marketing solutions that can elevate your business to new heights.

Our cover story sheds light on the pivotal role technology and social media play in empowering small businesses. In the pursuit of success, understanding and utilising government initiatives can be a game-changer for MSMEs. In this issue, we provide a sneak peek into the best and worst of 2023 for small businesses, offering valuable lessons on building resilience.

As we celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, we shine a special spotlight on India's street vendors. Their stories of grit and survival encapsulate the essence of small businesses, reminding us of the indomitable human spirit.

Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the bright prospects for the Indian economy in 2024. May this year bring abundant growth to small businesses, fostering an environment where dreams thrive and innovations flourish.

Wishing you an enlightening read and a prosperous year ahead.


Dear Reader,

In today's fast-paced and interconnected business landscape, small businesses are presented with both challenges and opportunities. One remarkable opportunity that has gained significant traction is the adoption of Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. These cloud-based software offerings have revolutionized the way small businesses operate, enabling them to access cutting-edge tools and resources that were once reserved for larger enterprises

Have you ever wondered how SaaS can transform your small business? SaaS stands for Software as a Service, and it is a way of delivering software applications over the internet, without requiring installation or maintenance on your devices. SaaS can offer many advantages for small businesses, such as lower upfront costs, greater flexibility, faster updates, and better security. In this issue of SaaS for Small Business Magazine, we will explore how SaaS can help you grow your business and achieve your goals.

In this edition of Small Business Magazine, we delve into the world of SaaS, uncovering its transformative impact on small businesses. From increasing efficiency and collaboration to enabling cost-effective scalability, SaaS solutions are empowering small businesses to not only survive but thrive in an ever-changing business landscape. Join us as we explore the stories, trends, and strategies that are shaping the SaaS revolution for small businesses.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue on the cover story SaaS for SMEs as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. 

Happy reading!

Within the delicate embrace of our July 2023 issue, we embark on a transformative journey—celebrating the unwavering spirit and resilience of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that illuminate the path toward sustainable development. Special coverage on the ONDC platform explains the onboarding and benefits for MSMEs to join. You will also get a sneak peek into the  International Peace20 Youth Summit 2023 – A Summit to be hosted by the youth, for the youth, and of the youth exhorting G20 leaders, world leaders, and the UN Secretary-General, to be organised in Kochi this August’23.

Small Enterprise India is not just a publication—it is a testament to the remarkable spirit of human endeavor. We express our deepest gratitude to the luminaries who have graced these pages, weaving threads of wisdom and insights that enrich our collective consciousness.

Dear Readers,
Welcome to the exhilarating voyage that awaits you in the latest edition of Small Enterprise Magazine carrying the cover story on Ease of Doing Business in India. Prepare to be captivated as we unravel the extraordinary story behind India's triumphant rise in the global business arena. This edition is not just a mere collection of articles but a transformative experience that will ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and inspire you.
Let’s envision a world where boundaries cease to exist, possibilities are boundless, and dreams turn into reality. India's remarkable ascent in the Ease of Doing Business rankings is a testament to our unwavering spirit, relentless pursuit of excellence, and audacious reforms. From a position of modesty to the resounding roar of triumph, India has defied expectations, leaving a trail of inspiration in its wake.
India should be the hub of entrepreneurs, where starting a business is a voyage of passion, unencumbered by red tape and bureaucracy. We are surmounted by an environment where entrepreneurs can spread their wings and soar to great heights.
Celebrate the remarkable milestones already achieved as you embark on this extraordinary narrative. India's corporate laws and securities regulations have been hailed as ideals of excellence, safeguarding the interests of minority investors. We invite you to be part of this extraordinary narrative, where the words on these pages come alive, inspiring and empowering you to be the change you wish to see. With unyielding determination, we march towards our destiny, fuelled by the dreams and aspirations of a billion souls.

Embrace the possibilities, for India's moment, is now.

Warm regards,

Editor’s Note
I'm excited to bring you the newest and best in technology for small businesses, with a special emphasis on showcasing the tech products and tools you need to stay on top of trends and make wiser decisions when it comes to purchasing and utilizing technology to its fullest potential.

This issue's cover story delves deeply into the dynamic nature of the commercial technology ecosystem. When it comes to influencing shifts in consumer behaviour and the marketplace, we think adopting digital technology is vital. We explore digital evolution, AI, automation, mobile devices, servers, routers, laptops, email clients, and cloud storage and management systems. A close look at big data and virtualization, explaining their value and how you can put it to use for your own small business.

Cloud computing has revolutionized the tech world, and we examine why your organization should adopt it. By embracing cloud computing, your small business can become more scalable and agile without spending a lot of money. However, with the adoption of cloud computing, data security has become increasingly important. In this issue, we discuss the significance of data security and provide guidance on how your small business can implement simple yet effective technological features to ensure its invincibility in the online world.

Finally, we talk about the newest forms of payment – FINTECH, and look at why consumers still avoid online transactions. Despite enormous technological progress, we have yet to develop a completely secure, safe payment process. In order to give your consumers a better payment experience, we examine the most recent payment options and present solutions that your small business can use.


Warm regards,

Dojo Jose
Editor-in-Chief

Dear Readers,

It is ever-evident that small and medium-sized enterprises have unique needs and challenges. A comprehensive strategy for SME credit lending requires a unique value proposition and a tailored approach to the client. Banks that are successful in this arena invest in technology and digital engagement. In addition, they focus on defining a sweet spot and integrating these investments into their existing systems. Digital engagement is now mandatory for SME lending, as it cuts down on manual processes for approval.

SMEs should make sure they present a clear succession plan for their company. Most SMEs are family businesses, and the owners often fail to implement a solid succession plan. This creates a risk for lenders who worry about the risk of the owner/promoter leaving the business in a vulnerable position. However, with a succession plan in place, SMEs can demonstrate their ability to grow and expand without risking the future of the business.

SME customers want to work with a bank that understands their needs. They want to work with a bank that provides the support they need to grow. Banks should provide more than just a product; they should become trusted business partners. Banks should also act as trusted advisors and develop a customized strategy for each SME client.

A bank that targets the SME market should tailor its approach to the local circumstances. Rather than investing in a wide range of products and methods, the financial institution should target a specific market and determine its objectives and resources. By working with the SME sector, a bank or NBFC can create a more profitable business.

With the hope that you have already taken a quick dip into the sea of information that we are about to propose to you, we invite you to indulge in this descriptive saga that we have carefully crafted while keeping the complete SME scenario in mind.

Let’s get going!  Happy reading

Dear Readers,

In this highly driven and ever-evolving era, it is crucial to understand the future possibilities of not only the giant business but also micro, small, and medium enterprises. In the current phase of possibilities, all the businesses come up with their best plans, ideations, and intentions, but it is necessary to know why only some of them succeed. In this edition of the magazine, we are focusing on the growth potential and possibilities of MSMEs, along with describing varied aspects where MSMEs are left with scope for improvement. In addition to less-promoted government support, these businesses face numerous challenges and issues. However, you'll be glad to learn that we have enlisted some extensive solutions and many ways to help these companies grow. Although the Government of India has taken steps to keep MSMEs afloat during the current economic crisis, the Government can't ensure their survival and growth. To remain viable, MSMEs must diversify their supply chains, occupy vacant space in the value chain and take advantage of the disruptions to their competitors. This is particularly important because these companies are vital to the livelihood of millions of people. Apart from being the backbone of the Indian economy, MSMEs are also strategic players in the overall industrialization process.

The lack of standardization has been seen as a major hindrance to the growth of MSMEs. But our focus for MSMEs is to adopt new technology to help them get their products and services to the right customers.

The series of articles that we are introducing will work as a potboiler for all the MSMEs, revealing to them the varied future chances and ways to keep up with the market, enhancing their visibility and accepting technological advancements. We look forward to you enjoying it and finding it useful to your venture for life.

To new beginnings. Upwards and onwards!!

Happy Reading,

Technology has transformed our lives during the past many years. It has eliminated thousands of jobs in many large enterprises, where rows and rows of clerical workers once manually entered millions of transactions. And it has enabled a new generation of entrepreneurs, who take full advantage of such basic tools like word processors, spreadsheets and the World Wide Web, to launch new, trailblazing businesses.

This month’s issue focuses on Digital Transformation, a definitive guide for small businesses to understand how the process paves the way to a brighter future. Whether a small business or an enterprise, digital transformation is imperative for all. Furthermore, we will also see the role of digital transformation and its framework in shaping up businesses.
 
It’s clear that increasing digital transformation globally will be a helping hand for businesses to evolve remain competitive and relevant. However, business leaders may often get confused about what digital transformation is and how it works. Is it just a catchy way to move to the cloud? Or it’s something much more than that. If it’s beneficial, then how can businesses implement it? Furthermore, does it require a whole new framework and more innovative minds to create the same? This month’s edition covers it all.
 
This year’s International Women’s Day happens to coincide with the 2nd anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been a tough year, to say the least, yet women have continued to persevere, fight back and overcome the odds stacked against them. 

We want to recognise these larger achievements. We hope our content inspires you to think a little bit deeper about what it means to you, personally, to be a woman and to stand up to anything and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. Whatever that definition may be, it deserves to be celebrated, not just today but every day of the year!

Have a great reading experience.

This month, we shall see how 2022 will be one of the most significant years for business transitions. This issue will cover the latest trends, challenges, and upcoming business trends. For the first time in history, the way of business will change completely; people will focus more on technological advancement and innovation. 

We will see how the businesses can grow and emerge stronger from the pandemic. This month’s issue focuses on the “Next Normal” and see how they will tackle the challenges, and shape our future.

Since the emergence of the pandemic Covid-19, businesses have been struggling, entrepreneurs working hard, and scrambling to work effectively and adapt to the circumstantial changes. 

There have been several business transitions in 2021. However, 2022 will see beyond that. Rather than just grinding through the current situations, businesses should focus on evolving and finding new ways of an effective business. The next normal won’t be all struggle and grinding! It will be coming as fresh as new. It will change the way businesses work. We will look forward to changing and shaping our future in a better way and tackling the grieving catastrophes.
 
You will read on the latest trends that can shape the next normal and how it plays a role in changing the Indian Economy that will eventually make businesses and entrepreneurs adapt to the next normal in 2022. 

Small Enterprise Business Awards 2021, one of the leading awards platforms that recognises successful MSMEs, has announced the winners during its 4th annual virtual event conducted on 25 November’21. The winner’s list is published in this issue. A big thank you to all participants, Jury panel, Validation and empowerment Partner – Wadhwani Foundation and the Ecosystem Partners.

Also, get an updated trend on technology, HR, logistics and success stories.

Happy Reading!



Dear Readers,
This month we all look forward to witness the biggest celebration of Entrepreneurship. A virtual celebration of our 4th Annual Small Enterprise Business Awards’21 will be live online on 25 November’21. The finalist are announced in this issue and the MSME community are looking forward to view the virtual extravaganza!

For the first time in India, we will be celebrating the TOP 25 Entrepreneurship School Awards on 25 November’21. A first of its kind, awarded to colleges or universities in recognition of bold and innovative programs that made an impact in the field of entrepreneurship education.

This issue covers TOP 25 Entrepreneurship School ranking. Hope the new innovative and technological ways, attributes, and leaderships that are going to create a new entrepreneurial ecosystem that is fearless, viable, and sustainable.
  
Hopefully, this edition will work for many SMEs and Startups as an inspiring guide on how to thrive and grow their business while combating pandemics without spending a fortune. 

Happy reading!

Dear Readers,
 
Today the emergence of non-bank/FinTech startups is shifting the competitive landscape in financial services, compelling conventional institutions to redefine the way they do business. With the increasing data breaches and intensifying privacy concerns, regulatory and compliance needs have become more restrictive. 

There are many banking industry challenges that can be resolved using technology that’s caused this disruption, but this transition from legacy technologies to innovative ones hasn’t always been an easy one. In fact, banks and similar institutions need to embrace digital transformation to survive and thrive in the current landscape.

This edition will enrich you with the most updated banking tips and policies of the Indian Government given the COVID time. You will also have an interesting and healthy mix of tips to avoid rejection for business funding from banks and investors, save on financing costs, retail banking, avoid financial threat on your business, and many options to fund your business. We have also covered automation in banking, how to attract investors and how an SME credit rating can stabilize businesses.

Read on other regular topics on Technology, Mentoring, Women Entrepreneurs and Success Stories.
 
Happy Reading!

Editor In Chief

Small Enterprise magazine May Issue
Cover Story : Small to BIG – Challenges of Growth

Excelling in the business community is the only dream of a small business owner. You may dream to become the next Microsoft or Tata. But is it easy to make it possible? You might be wondering how to beat the leaders of the business ecosystem amidst such a competitive environment. 

In this issue, we focus on transforming your small dreams into bigger achievements, hence the cover story of this issue is “Small to BIG – Challenges of Growth”. You might be facing a lot of intangible obstacles while your journey of growth and scaling up. 

Your complementary digital edition attached.

Happy Reading!

Dear Readers,
Top brands like IBM, General Motors, and more are appointing female CEOs, the trend of women leadership is at an all-time high. Today we have more women running Fortune 500 companies than ever before.
Although the pandemic-induced recession has affected as much as 73% of women-led businesses in urban India, still 90% of women entrepreneurs haven’t given up and are confident they will overcome the crisis. 
The pandemic changed everything and work is no exception. It has equally impacted women's careers. In fact, women are nearly three times more likely to be unemployed than men.
Still, working women who are managing home-schooling and child care, are more prepared and confident to combat any crisis during the pandemic. It is a tug-of-war between their personal life and job. 
In this March edition, you will find many survival stories and inspirational tips to combat any circumstances by urban and rural women alike. 
It also covers the reasons why we all should support and empower women for a better future and society. In addition, you will also find some success stories of businesses that survived and sustained this pandemic and faced the brunt head-on. 
This issue is also packed with some power-punch marketing skills and tips that are evergreen coupled with trendier ones as well. 
In addition, do not forget to enjoy our regular reads like HR, technology, finance and many more that will add many more tips and spice up to your business arsenal. 
We believe this edition will act as a guide for SMEs especially women entrepreneurs to not only thrive and grow but find a sustainable business strategy combating pandemic within a limited budget. 

Happy reading!
Dojo Jose

Season’s Greetings to all our Readers, 

We at Aspire Media would like to wish all of our readers a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year 2021.

While the world is just trying to combat COVID-19, the business world is struggling to stay optimistic in this pandemic. The world is learning to roll with the punches. 
Many entrepreneurs have grabbed this time as an opportunity to introduce a social enterprise that has a dual vision of social impact and financial gain. With the increasing challenges associated with this pandemic, there is no dearth of innovative entrepreneurs who have stepped up to help others and their businesses innovatively. 

To ensure that such innovations can last as a viable and long-term business - is a matter of debate. 

While India boasts of several accelerators, incubators, and investors, the ecosystem needs to be strengthened to catapult the survival rate of start-ups, spur growth, design and build profitable firms. 

India expects to bounce back with an 8.8 per cent growth graph in 2021. It will regain the flag of the fastest-growing emerging economy, surpassing China’s expected growth rate of 8.2 per cent – as per the IMF.    

In these circumstances, entrepreneurial commitment with new innovative e-commerce and technology initiatives are going to become a new level of revolution. With the Modi Government drive “Vocal for Local” it’s time to develop a new saga of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, and this is pushing leaders beyond their comfort zone. 

This issue covers the new innovative and technological ways, attributes, and leaderships that are going to create a new entrepreneurial ecosystem that is fearless, viable, and sustainable.  

Hopefully, this edition will work for many SMEs and Startups as an inspiring guide on how to thrive and grow their business while combating pandemic without spending a fortune. 

Happy Reading!

Cyber Security for Small Businesses

Greetings to all the Readers!

With the prevailing COVID-19 crisis, cybercrime has catapulted many folds. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the priorities of chief information security officers (CISOs) of businesses and their teams. 

The first one is protecting their work-from-home setting and workers on an unprecedented level and now businesses have told workers to stop travelling and organizing events in many places. They have suggested their staff members stay home. The other is retaining the integration, confidentiality, and availability of customer-facing network traffic as volumes spike as people are spending the most time at home.

This pandemic has also presented many structural as well as technical challenges that require an in-depth understanding and reassessing of the processes and tools in the cybersecurity arena. It is quite likely that some major changes could become permanent or continue to prevail in other forms in the post-COVID-19 time. 
It is the right time for small businesses to think about their crisis management capabilities, create quick solutions to combat ongoing situation, and evaluate the implications in cybersecurity. This special issue will address the growing threat of cybercrime and the possible solutions that will help protect small business setup and their employees from such threats. 

Also, you will find the regular articles of success stories, women in business, technology in small business, investment, HR, Tax, etc. 

Hopefully, this edition will introduce you with better tools and tips to combat the cybercrime menace and help you thrive and sustain in this new normal of COVID-19! 

Read on and enjoy this October edition of Cyber Security Special!

Happy Reading!

Coronavirus is one of the most devastating epidemics the human race has ever witnessed in modern days. The impact of this global pandemic span beyond unemployment and isolation. It has shaken up the global economy. Venturing into this uncharted territory is challenging for all business types. 
Today millions of startups start their journey every month, hence “losing” customers is much easier today due to this epidemic than ever before. But, if you know your audiences well, and your product and services even better, digital marketing is an amazing mechanism to keep them satisfied with your brand pushing your competition away.
Many small businesses are facing a sharp drop in their demand for products or services due to COVID-19’s impact which is visible on international trade, tourism, retail, and transportation. This is alarming as it leaves management to decide where to make cost cuts to avoid getting too many losses. Often, these cuts are in staff, operating hours and capacity, and also marketing. All these strategies and initiatives have changed the way businesses have been functioning. Today due to this epidemic most of the small businesses, nearly 95%, have moved from brick and mortar regimes to online territory.  


Greetings to all the Readers!

With a pandemic prevailing for more than three months now, navigating business in this time of uncertainty is something we all need to contemplate. In this time of crisis, you require an approach to redefine and reset your business plan. This issue of July 2020 will help you find your new normal and ensure you can make the transition smoothly.

As small firms reeling under both a worldwide pandemic and financial crunch, the economic landscape cannot stop evolving. It becomes even more important for you to analyze what the coming few months may have stored for your business. 
It’s time to prioritize your resources and reinvent your business model to sail through this new world of business we’re all witnessing today. Many firms may be bootstrapping and searching for innovative solutions to remain competitive and at least thrive. Whatever the situation may be for your specific businesses, it’s time to ponder upon the overall health of your enterprise.  

This issue covers several small business guidance for Micro to Small Businesses to constantly pursue efficiency. Moreover, this issue will also help you find the best way to streamline and tips to stay afloat during this pandemic. 

You will find topics like Jumpstarting your Business, evaluating the financial losses, financial planning, and emergency response plans, sources of small business funding. It also talk about mapping your new normal, business re-launch map, how to motivate your team, safeguard the health and safety of employees, right technology adoption, and many more. 

Also, you will find the regular articles of women in business, success stories, technology in small business, HR, Tax, etc. 

I hope this edition will help you sail through this crisis of COVID-19 and also help you thrive with it!  

Happy Reading!

The entire business ecosystem has undergone a sea change in the last decade. Many SMEs haven't even begun adapting to the new changing scenario or how buyers research and find the service providers of their choice. Although they all have adapted content marketing and marketing technology but often see it as a fight to carry a consistent, well-defined promotion initiative. 

When businesses are deliberating on their marketing priorities for 2020, it’s necessary to have insight into what’s happening in the market, and then mindfully invest in the events that will position your business for future growth. 
There are many tools and technologies like Google and LinkedIn that have gained prominence as they will be simpler, powerful enough to generate plenty of options faster than those using traditional techniques like referrals, etc. We have talked about these tools also in this edition. 

This issue is an amazing read for those who are looking for ways to market their small business and want to know the dynamism of changing global business landscape. We have also covered topics on women empowerment in business to celebrate Women’s Day this month! 

In this cover story, you will read how every small business’s goal is to sell their products and services. This can be best accomplished by positioning the business before the target audience with the right messaging and offering something that solves a problem or that they can't refuse or get elsewhere.

You would also love to read topics on women empowerment and how a handful of Indian women have made a mark in the global landscape of business, breaking the traditional glass ceiling.

Enjoy this power-packed issue in March 2020

Happy Reading

The MSME sector is one of the pillars of the Indian economy that is contributing almost 30 percent of the country’s GDP and providing employment to more than 117 million people. In a globalised world where entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of modern economies and a cherished dream of millions of innovative people, it is only fitting that the MSME sector is receiving its due recognition and attention from the Indian government. 

One of the biggest roadblocks faced by budding entrepreneurs in our country is the lack of funds to start and sustain a business. To ensure that a brilliant business idea does not choke and face an untimely death, the Government of India has come up with several options for business loans and is relentlessly trying to improve the ease of doing business in the country. By withdrawing angel tax on startups, easing the corporate tax rates on businesses and announcing bank recapitalisation, the Government has shown its commitment towards addressing the problems of capital and investment in the Indian economy. From government loan schemes to micro-financing and insurance facilities for businesses, including agricultural MSMEs, there is a lot going on in the business domain that inspired us to explore this theme in this issue. 

This month, we delve into the various insurance schemes available for SMEs and how they can insulate your growing business from unforeseen troubles. We will also explore the loans and schemes provided by banks and NBFCs to entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs. To encourage our readers to believe in their dreams and achieve them, we have incorporated some inspiring success stories in this edition. We sincerely hope that the tips and information shared in this magazine would add value to your financial and risk management strategies and take you one step closer to success!

Happy reading!

From the recent events we conducted, one primary issue that I kept coming across was the challenge faced by SMEs that are either involved in the logistics industry or require logistical support for delivering their goods and services. In today’s highly competitive business environment, where e-commerce and internet-based businesses are growing at a meteoric pace, logistics has become so vital that it can make or break your firm’s credibility and reputation. While e-commerce giants like Amazon and Alibaba are spending millions of dollars on nailing their supply chain management, small and medium businesses are struggling to fulfil the lofty consumer expectations on a shoestring budget. In times when one-day delivery of orders at the customer’s doorstep has become a benchmark for sound logistics, SMEs are striving to manage their supply chains efficiently with limited resources. This inspired us to explore the domain from the perspective of a small or medium business owner and share our insights regarding various aspects of supply chain management with our valued readers. This month’s issue is based on the theme “Logistics and Supply Chain Management in Small Businesses”, which is an extremely crucial aspect of any supply-based business.
This issue delves into various logistics challenges faced by small businesses and their solutions, the modern supply chain practices and how small and medium businesses can implement them efficiently, the current trends in the logistics industry and what to expect in future, the importance of supply chain management and essential tips on how to achieve sound and efficient logistics and a lot more. With this month’s issue, we have made sincere efforts to enlighten our readers about different aspects of the logistics industry and address all possible doubts and queries through our well-researched articles. We have also incorporated several success stories to inspire the budding entrepreneur in you!  
Happy reading!

Hope this finds you well. In this issue, we bring you the quintessential topic “Startup Essentials” which explores various fundamental aspects of launching a startup. For a budding entrepreneur, taking a plunge into the turbulent sea of possibilities and struggles involved in setting up a business can be daunting. There are myriad of processes and tasks that need to be planned and executed before the actual launch, and through this issue we have made a sincere attempt to decode the drill for our readers. We have covered a variety of topics such as tips for startup success, business planning, funding, brand awareness, choosing office space, team building, technology for startups and much more. The objective behind these articles is to provide a coherent direction to those who are perplexed about where to begin and help them achieve clarity in their planning process. 

The Spotlight story in this issue is about facing failures in Entrepreneurship. One thing failure gives you is a picture of the other side of trying. As you're getting ready to make your move, that unknown looms large. Once you've failed, as long as you're still standing on both feet, you're better off knowing that what hasn't killed you has only made you stronger. Every successful business story starts out with failing. In doing so, you're in good company.

The magazine also covers the 3rd annual Small Enterprise Business Awards and The AEONIAN 2019 event which was held on 29 and 30 May 2019 at St. John’s Auditorium, Bengaluru. 

We hope that this issue will clear many of your doubts and help you lay the foundation of your dream business in a more organised way.

Happy reading!


As a small business owner, you may have dreams of your company becoming the next Amazon or Apple, or you might be content making a splash in your local community. Either way, you may wonder how you can make it against large companies that seem to have the people and resources to do the things you can't do.

Businesses of all types and in every sector are capable of significant growth. The constraining factor often isn't the business model - it's the ambition and capability of the owner-manager, although it may take longer to grow in some sectors and some business models can be scaled more quickly than others.

In this issue, we focus on making your small dreams gain wings to grow big. Hence the cover story of this issue is “Small to BIG – Challenges of Growth”. There are a lot of intangible obstacles that small businesses face during the journey of growing and upgrading. A lot of them fail because they don’t know how to respond well to competition on the global/national front. When small businesses grow big, balancing quality and growth is a huge challenge. Added to that, there are always cash flow management issues. In this issue, we take a look at all of these challenges and a few ways of tackling them. You will read about smart business partnerships, factors and skills that are catalysts for business growth and how small firms can compete with big businesses. Also on your read is an article on smart living in India. 

This month end, on 29 and 30 May 2019, we will be organizing the 3rd Annual Startup and SME Pitch, Awards, Conference and Expo – The AEONIAN 2019 and Small Enterprise Business Awards 2019. Over 2500 entrepreneurs have registered to attend the 2 days mega gathering of SMEs and Startups at the St.John’s Auditorium, Bangalore. The finalists are announced and count down has started to biggest Startup and SME event!

Do write back to us because we’d love to know your thoughts and opinions on this issue.

From endless rows of cubicles and desks a decade ago, offices today have distributed workforces collaborating from across the globe. With all the digital tools that enable employees to work whenever and wherever, the push for adequate work-life balance will continue to be a dominant focus for many workers. The future of the workplace isn’t all about technology. Some of the more human aspects will continue to garner more focus as well. The Importance of mentorship will become even more apparent.
The focus will remain on gender equality. Emerging trends in the nature of work and its organization share a common goal of making people’s lives more meaningful.

The workplace of the future is already here! If you look at workplaces today, they are radically different from what they were a decade ago. Be it the ambience or the workplace culture, a lot has changed. They are now more inclusive and employee friendly. Technology is changing the way offices work. Interactive and activity-based environments are preferred in most workplaces today. We now have co-working spaces, virtual offices and business centers. A lot of effort is being taken by many companies to make their work places eco-friendly, sustainable and energy efficient as possible. 

Explore all these and much more in this issue.

Entrepreneurship in India, is heavily male-dominated, with only less than 10% of startup founders being women. In spite of being the world’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem, India has little space for female entrepreneurs. Thanks to the overall change in the perception and social acceptance on women entrepreneurship, the past few years have seen a record growth in women entrepreneurship and more women are pursuing their career in this direction in India. This new breed of women entrepreneurs, who are driven by their inherent ambition, are now transgressing the traditional barriers and are becoming role models for others.

Today’s changing women-friendly environment, changing reforms in social, political and economic policies, ease of accessing finance, technology, the shape of entrepreneurship will see more focused work by women than men can do.
With Women’s Day being celebrated on the 8th March, we take this opportunity to dedicate this issue to Women in Business. 

Be it urban or rural India, the tribe of women entrepreneurs is stealthily increasing. From working towards resolving societal issues to contributing to the banking & finance sector, women are forging ahead in every field. In this issue, we talk about women who are making a mark in rural and urban India’s business scenario. We will discuss tips on tips to foray into business, having the right attire, addressing challenges, managing stress and the most important one – work-life balance! 


India is an entrepreneurial country. However, over the years, there have been several attempts to define entrepreneurship. Indian entrepreneurs have had to struggle to create and grow their business ventures. The first-generation Indian entrepreneurs that have generated many employment opportunities and significant wealth. These success stories have encouraged a new breed of entrepreneurs, especially in the internet and e-commerce space.

India has the potential to build many highly scalable businesses. Given the probability of entrepreneurial success means a large number of startups will need to be spawned to get to a few unicorns. Experience across countries suggests that vibrant entrepreneurial activity significantly improves social harmony, living standards and quality of life.
In this issue, we focus on entrepreneurship in India. Today’s youth are more inclined to start their own venture and achieve economic independence. Entrepreneurship foster learning better than multinational companies and this is one of the reasons why around 76% of the (surveyed) workforce from India prefers to work at a startup as opposed to an MNC. 

You will also read how entrepreneurship impacts the economic growth of the country and what are the struggles faced by entrepreneurs.  How entrepreneurship increases employment opportunities in the youth and some of the current trends in vogue in the Indian entrepreneurship ecosystem is an interesting read in this issue.

Happy reading!


Dear Reader,

Wishing you all a fabulous New Year from Aspire Media!

Entrepreneurs don’t wait for chances, they create them, just like you did. 

In this issue, we discuss the various facets of small business marketing. There’s no doubt that small businesses need marketing to grow and expand further. But given their limited budget, is it wise to cut down on marketing? The answer is no, provided you know what to focus on. 

You may have an excellent product and exceptional service, but none of these is going to matter if it doesn’t reach the right audience. Today, you have a plethora of marketing options to choose from to target your potential customers and promote your product. And no, not all of these are expensive. Choose one that is most financially lean for your business. Also, investing in a skilled marketing team can do wonders for you. Therefore, don’t hold yourself back when it comes to marketing your product/service because it can be the one thing that prevents your company from achieving what it was meant to. 

Moving on, we all know that Kerala is now getting back to normalcy after the devastating floods hit the state. There have been unprecedented damages done, but at the same time, the state is fighting back and getting back to standing on its own feet. In light of this spirit of the people of Kerala, we have introduced the “The KERALA BRAVEHEARTS – Comeback Story Series – Part 2”, in which we have interviewed small businesses that have been affected by the floods and how they’re making a comeback despite the odds. 

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful read.

Small businesses find it difficult in understanding and adapt to new technology trends. But technology creates so many more options now, better and faster ways of doing things. Digital technology is driving many changes in consumer behaviour and the business environment. With online tools, businesses have increased insight into customer choices, and build lasting relationships with them. In today’s digitally-driven economy, many consumers now expect to be able to engage with businesses through online channels.

Higher market reach and brand recognition are among the top priorities for small businesses. With so many small businesses not fully embracing new technology trends, one might expect to find a broad range of roadblocks that are tough to overcome such as inadequate broadband, a lack of technical skills, or huge financial barriers to investing in technology.

In this issue of the magazine, we have put together articles which concentrate on the tech products and tools that small businesses need, to help you make better choices while buying one and using technology to its fullest. It covers smartphones, servers, routers, notebooks, email management tools, cloud services and provides reviews of the same. Also included in this issue is an article on the GST and its impact. 

Flip through the issue to get an insight into Big Data and Virtualization in small businesses.  

Happy reading!

If you are an entrepreneur with little idea about logistics, then you are in the right place. In this issue, we provide you with the insights of logistics for small and medium businesses.

With the growth of e-commerce and internet-based markets, the need for good logistics is increasing. It is important for a small business to know that warehousing, packaging and distribution of goods must be done efficiently and cannot be neglected. Also, when it comes to choosing a way to transport your goods, investing the right amount of money is important. Large businesses often have sufficient storage space, resources and capital to maintain coherence. However, small business and start-ups need to think twice before taking each step. The customer experiences, the technology used, type of logistics chosen, and several other factors play a role in deciding the future of your business. 

The Spetember18 issue brings you the success stories of leading logistics companies, tips on how to go about logistics and information on logistics management practices, the importance of Supply Chain Management and the prominence of technology in small businesses.

Starting a business and putting on the entrepreneur hat will be an exciting as well as challenging task. Creating the right business model, committing to one business, building a team, analyzing the industry and handling failures will need more than an entrepreneurial spirit. In this issue of Small Enterprise magazine, we share with you certain important insights required to build a startup business. These startup essentials are vital if you’re taking on the journey for the very first time.

Moving on, I’m very delighted to share with you that the annual startup summit “The AEONIAN 2018” and the 2nd annual SME summit “Small Enterprise India Business Awards 2018” (SEBA), was concluded successfully.  The event was organized by Aspire Media from 15th to 17th May 2018 at the World Trade Center, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. The event provided a platform for both MSMEs as well as startups. 

We thank our Support Partner “Startup India” and over 80 Ecosystem Partners, Sponsors – GoAir, PayPal, Airtel Bank, Tata Tele, NSE Emerge, The Art of Living, DBS Business Center, SBI General Insurance, EDII Ahmedabad and our Jury Members. We also thank KPMG our Knowledge Partner for the Small Enterprise Business Awards 2018 and Deloitte our Knowledge Partner for The AEONIAN 2018. 

Our special thanks to NASSCOM CoE - IoT for co-organising The AEONIAN 2018. 

Enjoy the post event coverage and the Awards winners list published in this issue.

In May 2018 issue of the magazine, we discuss the parameters that define a small industry’s growth. A startup doesn’t remain a startup forever. Some show unprecedented growth while others wither at the first phase itself. What then, are the qualities that transform a startup or a small industry as a well- established organization? While there is no absolute definition or yardstick for the same, it is essential as an entrepreneur that you are able to analyze the growth curve of your company to make necessary changes to ensure that your business model is working just fine.

Moving on, the International Workers’ day is celebrated on the 1st of May, celebrating working class citizens all over the world. As an entrepreneur, one should use this day to better understand and improve the working condition and environment of your employees, which will lead to increased coordination and improved business.

The government recently said that it is working on a new industrial policy to promote and advance SMEs. With the number of MSMEs in India being close to INR 50 million, here’s hoping that this is a step in the right direction!
Happy reading.

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The highly informative online repository for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India, ‘Smallenterpriseindia.com’, is dedicated to provide current news and related information from the medium-sized business economy to the SMB fraternity on a daily basis. ‘Smallenterpriseindia.com’ online business news portal facilitates direct exchange between the large networking of the Indian SMB community and other entrepreneurs in the small and medium-sized business segment, connecting them to opportunities available domestically and globally.

‘Smallenterpriseindia.com’ is a functional professional training cockpit for the entrepreneurs which expands the comprehensive audience and complement the complete package. The portal is a repository of verified reliable professional information, providing support through useful working tools as well as online campaigns, seminars, road shows and live trainings on trend issues and important reforms. We focus on in-depth coverage of the Indian small and medium businesses, success stories, case studies etc, enabling the target audience to communicate, collaborate and understand the industry, market as well as opportunities available locally and globally in a better way.

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Magzter Inc. is the World's largest and fastest growing self-service, cross-platform digital newsstand with over 80 million users since its inception in 2011 and thousands of magazines and newspapers across 40+ categories and 60+ languages. Headquartered in New York, Magzter has its local presence in Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Singapore, and will soon be expanding to other countries. Founded by global entrepreneurs, Girish Ramdas and Vijay Radhakrishnan in June 2011, Magzter enables magazine and newspaper publishers around the world to create and deliver digital editions of their titles to global consumers.

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is the World's largest and fastest growing self-service, cross-platform digital newsstand with over 87 million users since its inception in 2011 and thousands of magazines and newspapers across 40+ categories and 60+ languages. Headquartered in New York, Magzter has its local presence in Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Singapore, and will soon be expanding to other countries. Founded by global entrepreneurs, Girish Ramdas and Vijay Radhakrishnan in June 2011, Magzter enables magazine and newspaper publishers around the world to create and deliver digital editions of their titles to global consumers.

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which gives digital readers unlimited access to 8,500+ magazines and newspapers for a monthly subscription price. Magzter also has the largest number of stories in the world with its game-changing ezRead 2.0 feature for its apps, which enables smartphone and small-screen mobile users to enjoy magazine content the way it was meant to be enjoyed, with article text that is easy to read and is accompanied by stunning videos and high resolution photography.

{{magzter}} is the World's largest and fastest growing self-service, cross-platform digital newsstand with over 87 million users since its inception in 2011 and thousands of magazines and newspapers across 40+ categories and 60+ languages. Headquartered in New York, Magzter has its local presence in Amsterdam, London, Mexico City, Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Singapore, and will soon be expanding to other countries. Founded by global entrepreneurs, Girish Ramdas and Vijay Radhakrishnan in June 2011, Magzter enables magazine and newspaper publishers around the world to create and deliver digital editions of their titles to global consumers.

Small Enterprise Magazine - June 2016

Small Enterprise Magazine - June 2016

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