Imagine, Innovate And Invest
Innovation is, of course, the flavour of the times. As are startups and entrepreneurship. Add a dash of imagination to fuel these and you have a potent mix. Here, then, are some suggestions for off-beat investment avenues and innovative new ventures (equity acceptable as royalty for the ideas!).
Tourism is booming, with the post-Covid revenge travel bug proving more powerful and longer-lasting than Sars-Cov-2 beta. It creates many jobs and could bring in substantial forex: both good for the country. But tourism is highly competitive, and success calls for disruptive innovation. Here are a few that are unique, high-potential possibilities.
Start a resort – or re-position an existing one – not with the traditional lure of “free wi-fi” but of “free signal jamming” and assure zero connectivity for all electronic devices. De-toxing is no longer limited to cleaning up the results of the junk you ate; it is now more fashionable to do an e-detox and take a break from all electronic gadgets. High-power corporate executives and CEOs being amongst the biggest sufferers (and complainers), this is a high-value, high-profitability proposition. A high-intensity ad campaign focussed only on no-connectivity would do wonders. The sceptics who want to also tom-tom the great location and scenic views of their resort may note that automobiles advertise the superb sound system, not the quality of their engine, and mobile phones sell because of their photographic capabilities rather than connectivity or voice-fidelity features.
Urban safaris are another sure winner. Loads of foreigners, unwilling to brave the difficulties of forest living, could be attracted by promoting assured sighting of an assortment of animals right in the urban areas. Not in a zoo or enclosed park, but roaming freely. Delhi roads, for example, offer dogs, cats, donkeys, cows, horses, monkeys, pigs; if you are lucky, you might even see a camel or elephant. Other cities may have more or different animals to offer. In addition, the Delhi urban safari could advertise adventure motoring – the excitement of being driven by a wannabe F1 driver imagining he is in a “Fast and Furious” car chase amidst the heavy city traffic. Those with no heart problems could be offered similar experiences in an autorickshaw. The lucky might even see a (road rage) shoot-out. Adventure tourism at its best!
For the techies, here’s an idea that will use their skills: create an app which, based on a photograph of a signboard can immediately tell you whether a specified language is 60 per cent of the total signage of the business’ signboard. To start with, this could be only for Kannada. However, knowing how good practices are quickly replicated, the entrepreneur should plan to make this available for all Indian languages. The more ambitious could link this with a social media app that will immediately send out the Google pin or GPS location of any deviating establishment to select groups, enabling prompt vigilante action. The more devious could make more money by charging a fee to simultaneously inform TV channels, allowing their crew to be on the spot to record the ransacking of the deviant establishment. Any qualms of conscience could be assuaged by informing the police too (of course, after an appropriate delay).
Aspiring entrepreneurs, these ideas should whet your appetite!
*The author loves to think in tongue-in-cheek ways, with no maliciousness or offence intended. At other times, he is a public policy analyst and author. Among his books is Decisive Decade: India 2030 Gazelle or Hippo (Rupa, 2021)
