Sheventures: See how they have changed the way people can communicate with each other?

The internet upended many industries. It changed the way people communicated with each other. It changed the way people and businesses bought goods and services from each other, from anywhere in the world. It changed the way people consumed video and audio content. It changed the way people did…everything, well, a majority of things. 

Amongst all this, it also ensured the fragmentation of the media landscape. Today, businesses need to market their products and services effectively on the digital medium, if they want to be relevant to the twenty-first century consumer, simply because that’s where most of the people in the world will be in a few years’ time, spending most, if not all their time on the internet for their wants and needs, from buying daily essentials to voicing their opinions on a host of issues to watching their choicest audio and video content.

Do businesses really understand the change that’s underway as we speak? Do businesses truly understand the mindset of their target audiences on the internet? Do businesses truly understand how digital platforms are developed? Do businesses truly understand the business models of the big two, Google and Facebook, who account for a majority of the world’s digital advertising expenditure, their algorithms making use of massive user data sets, that are available to businesses for a commercial fee? 

As a business, have you truly cracked digital?    

 

Give a brief info about your start-up?

With a firm belief in empowering businesses, no matter how big or small, I believe that we can help inspire brands & business owners to truly understand the power of the digital world. I envisioned SheVentures to not only be a state-of-the-art digital marketing & branding provider but to also be a company that helps empower business owners to make the jump online. This can be done through workshops & motivational talks that we as a company hold to help empower small businesses around the country.

In addition, I am a pure believer of content is king. Content marketing is not a new concept, but right now, it is more important than ever before. Since a one-size-fits-all approach will never suffice, it is important to create unique, high-quality, & engaging content for our brands. I envision our company to be a leader in generating content, utilizing various formats from text, video, & imagery to infographics, surveys, webinars, & podcasts to produce high-quality, shareable content. I envision a company that has a fully equipped copywriter, designers, planners, animation artists, production crew, media planners, and more to help deliver the highest-quality content for our brands.

So how would I sum all this up in one word? I envision SheVentures as a market leader providing business solutions & empowering brands to move digital. With our brand expertise, innovation, & creative prowess – we endeavour to create a brand experience for our clients that leads to endless possibilities.

Tell us about yourself, your previous jobs/ventures? What were you doing before this start-up?

I’m born and brought up in Bangalore, and I went to a liberal arts college called Claremont McKenna College to study economics and psychology. I graduated and was offered the TFI fellowship, however due to time constraints, and health constraints – I didn’t take it up. I joined WeWork in Bangalore, however after working there for 5 months, I decided I needed to focus and pursue my passion, and then started SheVentures.

 

Where is your start-up based out of? Why do you think that is the best place for you?

It’s based out of Bangalore. Bangalore has the most vibrant start-up scene in the country. There’s the perfect mix of traditional and modern. It helped that I’m from here and that my parents live here too!

 

As a start-up founder, what are you paranoid about? What keeps you awake at night?

 

I provide professional services. For me, I’m most worried about not working with people who display the same level as passion and intensity as me. I want to make a change and I have so many different plans for the future, but I need people beside me. I can’t work alone. I need to be a part of the team. It took me a while to get adjusted to India and the people. I found America black and white, and it suited me. Getting used to the shade of grey in India is still hard, and that’s my biggest problem.

 

Who are your competitions and how are you better than them?

 

I don’t think competition is the right word to use. I derive inspiration and strength from people and agencies who are constantly upping the stake of digital marketing, while I drive a message that’s unique. My primary goal is to educate people and drive a message. Don’t think anyone’s better than anyone else. People have different strengths, and we’re all just trying to find a groove. 

 

How hard is it to have a work-life balance as a start-up founder and how do you manage it?

 

Work-life balance is the most important thing to me in my life. In college, I was a part of a team that was analysing different work cultures across companies, and putting across solutions that could increase productivity and the work-life balance for employees who were both millennials and baby boomers. It’s pretty hard for me at times, because situations that are beyond our control arise and we need to work towards solving it. I’m always thinking about work (on the weekend too), but I’m able to pursue all my interests (Dancing, blogging) because I’m in control of my own schedule. So that’s a break from working for me, and it contributes to relieving stress and increasing the happiness factor. I’m able to travel when I want and take long breaks and that’s important to me. 

 

Have you raised funding? If yes, then we would like to know the details. If no then please tell us if you are looking to raise.

 

No, I haven’t raised funding. I’m in the process of expanding. Right now, all we’re focused on is spreading a message and helping businesses drive traffic by doing so!

 

What’s the biggest misconception people have about you? Why do they have that? What’s the reality?

Biggest Misconception that people have about me is that my family has funded me. My family is my biggest support, and I speak with privilege when I say that I don’t have to worry about rent/laundry/food because my parents look after me. While I come from a family business that’s been around for over 80 years and exists in 4 cities, this idea was my baby. My fathers and my uncles taught me the basics about importance of relationships, people management and work-ethics, but all that I’ve built has been through my blood, sweat and tears (more often that you’d think). 

 

Tell us how a day in your life looks like? Your schedule for a day right from the time you get up till you hit the bed at night. 

Every day is different. That’s the beauty of being an entrepreneur. I’m still trying to establish a structure, but it’s hard. My waking times are different too! But I usually wake up by 9, eat breakfast, catch up on emails, then catch up on calls, study, shower, eat lunch, head out for meetings, hit the gym, shower, eat dinner, finish up a little work and then unwind by reading/watching tv/going out with friends and the family. It’s keeps getting shuffled, but I never miss a workout and stick to my meal times.

 

Tell us about your team and how did you meet each other?

A friend’s friend approached me a year ago to get a job at the place I was working at, and I was very impressed with her. So when I started this, I reached out to her and she brought in 2 of her friends, who were brilliant. One of them (Nihal) actually really helped me understand what we should focus on and believes that SheVentures is his baby too and now, I’d be lost without him! 

My photographer (Vignesh) is the brother of my best friend, while people say that nepotism played a role, the boy really worked hard and proved himself to be a great asset to the team! Ammar (who’s a trained chef) came onboard to help us understand food in a deeper manner. Everyone came through a referral or a known person. My team is most important to me. I love them as individuals and as colleagues. They’re kind and driven people with the same goal of growing SheVentures. I cannot work alone. I believe in teamwork and anything I’ve achieved today, is also because of their dedication. 

 

 

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