(5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)
Loading ...GeniTeam is a Web2.0 specialist company and create products for the iPhone. Here is Jehan Ara, President of P@SHA, talking to the founder, Khurram, about running a business and doing the great work they do. Watch this!
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[...] Watch Khurram’s interview on “In the Line of Wire” on the CIO Webstudio, and hear how the company got to where they are and what their plans are for the future. [...]
@Khurram, thanks for the clarification. I concur with you that the emerging eco-system within Pakistan is adding a great deal of value and providing the support structure that is needed for entrepreneurship to grow. Much more work needs to be done but thankfully a lot of good people are already putting in a lot of time and effort.
Hey Khurram, please do not talk about the next generation yet. It is you who are part of the current generation that are taking the country forward.
@Rabia : We exchanged few emails 6 months back, and inshallah i will have more stories to share with you in next 6 months
1. Marketing & Capabilities:- Rabia, I agree to your argument however both have to be in synch. with overall corporate strategy. In our case, we made some investments in capabilities and then marketed to have quick turn over to generate cash. The extra cash was invested in building more capabilities and then marketing team ensured we have good ROI on investment. You always have to switch gears between marketing and building capabilities, however when you do is purely a judgment call and depends on situation and lots of internal and external variables.
2. We got very good feedback from investors within Pakistan. Dr. Zahir and Azhar Sahib ( MITCEF & TAN), are doing “really great job” and there is a potential to raise funds within Pakistan. However, in our case we dont really need the cash, all we need is mentoring and guidance to help us take to next step. We are currently raising funds ( very nominal amounts ) from people who have already made good success in Web2.0 and Mobile2.0 ; so as we can learn the rules of games. There is a lot to be learned about Web2.0 & Mobile2.0 – its a 180 degree shift to traditional business models.
3. I have submitted one paper in LUMS : from where i drew my inspiration for enterpreneurship. I will inshallah be writing more.
Jehan@ Your understanding is partially right – Its just its a different brand
I am a strong believer, that a Product Company cannot provide services and a services company cannot do great product. Processes, culture and everything has to be lot different. We are equity holders in 5 Applications at Apple Store, and we are confident we have done fairly well. I know, i have taken a different approach to other companies but only time will judge
Muhammad Mubashar Shoaib@ Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I swear, it was not possible without the support of community, bloggers, mentors and off course everyone at GenITeam. I will be glad if the next genration, can really take the country to next step.
@Khurram Samad,
Congratulations on your achievements so far and wish you best of luck.
@Jehan/Rabia,
This is the kind of success story that we need to make entrepreneurship happen in Pakistan.
@Khurram – Oh yes – Please DO share your insights about the Apple Marketplace.. Would be interesting to get your perspectives!
And Khurram I agree with Rabia (yes I sometimes agree with her) – your passion and excitement about what you do, is truly inspiring. Don’t ever lose that!
@Khurram I apologize … I was under the impression that you were working on your product line as part of your business model, and that the first “free” product was already available on the App Store.
However, if working in partnership with your partners Europe, the US and India is what works for you right now, we wish you luck. I am sure a number of young people (and old) will be inspired by your story.
Khurram – Great interview – Considering we exchanged a long thread of emails almost 6 months ago, it is heartening to know that your passion and drive is still as high as it was when you had first got your app up on iTunes.
Your comment in response to @hanif, addresses an important concern I’m sure many companies share – Develop the product first or invest in Marketing. Of course, you may not get the big clients unless you are well known, and you might never be well known until you have the big names on your portfolio. It’s always interesting to hear about how companies such as yours, struggle with the same dilemma – it also helps us to better understand how we can get the media to help get your word out.
As for your concern about competition from Russia and India, I wouldn’t be all too worried about it. We have an incredibly strong Pakistani presence throughout the blogosphere which can help your products and those developed by other Pakistanis (Jahanzeb Sherwani, JaaduVNC) get picked up across the web.
One question I have for you – what kind of feedback do you get from potential investors in Pakistan? What’s the most common feedback you get from them? And, of course, why should companies prefer getting funding from abroad and not from Pakistan? What’s the risk factor?
@Hanif : Thanks for your feedback. We definately have lacked in terms of marketing and promotion , and a clear evidence is that i have not updated our website for last 6 months. I think, Marketing has to be backed up by great products; and were waiting for international coverages before we start agressive marketing. Your feedback made me realize that we really need to better promote our efforts over web as well; I will be obliged, if you revisit our website in 1 week from , as I really wish to update our website.
Being a services company, GenITeam only focuses on providing custom application development services. However, I have made investments / partnerships with other companies including the Dutch Company – Magnatron , Indian FizzyApps (by Warton Grads), and a New York based funded company. Our Partners helped us raise seed investments for product development and hence the IP belongs to onsite partners. Thus, you may not see few products mentioned on our site, and published with our name at Apple Store. I personally feel, our partners brought lot more stuff on table then i expected ; which includes idea development, raising seed funding, and product commercialization. I feel, we yet to have learn a lot for making a successful product competing with SMULE, SGN , TAP TAP
I do expect a growth in IPhone Apps after launch of IPhone 3.0 expected in July 09. With 15,000 Apps at Apple Store it would be lot more tougher ! Developing IPhone Apps simply, is no longer a competitive advantage; We capitalized on early mover advantage, but I know some very strong competitors emerging in india and Russia.
I will be glad to share with yourself and other Pakistan fellows, my observations of Apple Marketplace.
@Jehan : GenITeam will continue doing development in partnership for next year. I dont think so we are yet ready to quit services and focus totally into product development.
@Hanif, I understood from Khurram that, until recently,they had been developing iPhone applications at GeniTeam for a Dutch company which then marketed it. Maybe that is why their name was not out there!
It is only of late that they have started developing and investing in their own products which are now beginning to be made available on the Apple App Store.
Innnnnteresting! The question I have might be a bit obvious but if GeniTEam develops apps for iPhone, how come they aren’t better known? I mean, is it a marketing budget thing or just a policy to remain lowkey?
Also, I was checking up some of the apps on iTunes… ummm… are they really getting a lot of downloads for that one? I mean, is there really a useful application of it? Regardless of your response, your work and effort is great!