Name: Nipun Sangral
Age:21
Qualifications: B.Tech ECE Final eayr NITK Surathkal
Company Website: www.rhapsodylabs.com
Company Profile: It’s a product and services based Private Limited Company
Established in: Navi Mumbai
Number of employees: As of now we are 6 members. We don’t have any employees as yet.
Q1. Tell us something about yourself
At present I’m a final yr student at “NIT Surathkal” in branch “Electronics and Communication”. I have done my high school from “Sainik School Nagrota” and higher secondary from “M.H.A.C Nagbani”. My state of domicile is Jammu and Kashmir.
Q2. What is the company profile?
Rhapsody Labs Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated on 12th Oct 2011. We provide both products as well as services based on “Augmented Reality” technology. Our first product is MirrAR which can be used both as a digital mannequin and a virtual dressing room.
Q3.Why into a digital venture?
As all of us (founders) are pursuing Bachelor of Technology in “Electronics and Technology” and “Information Technology” so it was an obvious choice for us.
Q4. How did it click?
Well it worked out in steps. We were working on some things from an year ago and doing research about various new technologies which are being worked on. We found out about this technology (AR) and thought about it’s applications. We found it’s application in the retail interesting. So we discussed about it, what we can do to help the customers and the retailers and we came out with our product MirrAR.
Q5. Can you tell us something about the initial days- what kind of challenges, struggles did you face?
Well talking about the challenges, the first was to build up a team. We are from a good college and by the end of the year everyone in the college gets a job. There is very rare chance of someone starting up a company due to the setup that is in our educational system (I’m talking about the whole country). So you need to motivate and find out people who can work on the venture you are going to start.
Then comes finding the time to work. We as students have to take care of our studies also along with the venture. So we needed to efficiently manage our time so that we could maintain a balance.
Then comes the money. Thanks to our parents, the support and trust they have shown in us. Parents of all of us supported us well and motivated us when needed. It’s not just money but the very fact that your family is behind you in the step you want to take boosts your confidence a lot to go ahead.
But in the end all that matters is are you strong enough. Do you believe in yourself. Are you willing to take this step.
Q6. What was the turning point in your business /career?
We are a startup. So I would say, the beginning of it is a very big point for us and we are looking forward to getting our first clients.
Q7. Besides you who are all involved in setting up Shakes peer brief us about the founders and profiles.
Well to name, they are:
Siddharth Chilukuri: CEO ; Technical Experience in Computer Vision and Electronics
Neelesh Soni: M.D; Technical Experience in Computer Vision and Graphics
Niranjan S: Web developer; Expertise in Linux OS programming
Gaurav Raj : 3D graphics ; Genetic programming
Saket Gupta: Technical Expertise in C programming & Electronics
Q8. Right now What is the position of the product?
We have developed a prototype of our product. We showcased it at IITB on 28th and 29th of Jan 2012 in the Entrepreneurship Summit 2012. We are confident we will be able to develop the finished product in 4-5 moths of time.
Q9. What plans ahead for the company ahead?
Well this is our first product. We are right now looking forward to having a successful launch of this products. We are in talks with some people right now .
Looking some time ahead, we have few more products in our mind. But we will be working on it after a year or so.
We have a vision of making world a smarter place to live by providing innovative and quality products.
Q10. Any message to young entrepreneurs
Well I’m myself 21, so this question seems a bit odd. Anyways, I would like all the young students and entrepreneurs to work on things what they actually feel like doing. I’m not saying you omit the feasibility or profitability of the business, but in the end one must get a sense of satisfaction in what he does. So follow your dream and enjoy your work. If you enjoy what you do then the success will follow. That’s what I believe.