PROFICORNS - IT'S ALL ABOUT PROFITS

An essential takeaway from this book is that profits have to showcase proof of entrepreneurial passion, business performance and path to valuation. This is a wakeup call to the Indian economy, considering the hype and enthusiasm around valuations of its 103 Unicorns, and thousands of other startups, says Srinath Sridharan

- Srinath Sridharan

WHEN THE world in general brings about a new word coinage, say like 'Unicorns, one wonders who brought it up in the first place. But then, when a successful serial entrepreneur, and the founder of one of the original India tech-startup success stories going back 25 years coins a new word - Proficorns-one must pay heed.

Rajesh Jain is India's first successful technology startup-to-exit story. His book Startup to Proficorn is a must-read. Simply because he has shared his story and entrepreneurial learnings in an easy-to-read style, and luckily with no pompous narrative.

An essential takeaway from this book is that profits have to showcase proof of entrepreneurial passion, business performance and path to valuation. This is a wakeup call to the Indian economy, considering the hype and enthusiasm around valuations of its 103 Unicorns, and thousands of other startups. The book will be a glad-alternate reading material to entrepreneurs and startup investors who have been glamorously seduced by easy money availability (until recently) with equally frenzied valuation increase with every investment cycle over the past few years. This book is an antithesis to such sweet talk. Or should one say the seductive pillow talk of valuations?