Information Optimized.

January 2010 at Optimus

2010-02-07T16:12:00.001-08:00

We are making fast and steady progress at Optimus. Now, with 10 clients and a cash flow positive business, the model is proven. It is all about growth from here onwards.
We are focused on Software Development and Testing outsourcing in a hybrid model from our offices in Canada and India. Our primary target market remains mid size software companies and IT departments.
In the agile world, our fast paced methodology helps clients build a cost effective and fast solution.

October / November at Optimus

2009-11-11T20:31:00.001-08:00

Business model is being refined week after week. Assumptions being challenged. A humbling experience on how little I knew before assuming things.
However flexibility helps and that is what is gving us growth and speed.

Happenings at Optimus

2009-10-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

September was a good month. We showed month by month growth. We also added new team members.
In October, we have brought in Vipul Kulshrestha as Co-Founder and Head of India Operations. India is becoming more and more important in our strategy and with improved telecom infrastructure, it is easier to benefit from strong talent pool in India.

Offshoring - Next Gen

2009-09-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

With improved infrastructure and work - life being integrated, there is tremendous opportunity to disrupt exisiting way of offshoring. We are aiming to do that. Cloud, SAAS and good internet bandwidth. Can we move to "Pay as you go" model for offshoring.

Optimus Progress

2009-09-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

We are making good progress at Optimus. In the process of hiring India head and estabilishing office in India. Our offering of outsourcing with Mid Size Companies as clients resonates with clients.

Last few weeks

2009-08-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

It has been hectic on business side for last many weeks. I was surprised to see that most of the people were working in August. Is it due to recession or simply the fact that I was working.

Clients are happy with our work so far. We need to raise the bar so that we surpass expectations every time.

Our team on India side is shaping up well. Talented individuals with hunger to learn and perform. That is the best I could have asked for.

OptimusTest

2009-07-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

OptimusTest, Managed testing services from Optimus. Great need for organizations to look at testing as whole and devising a more efficient testing platform, automated and synchronized with development cycles. Outsourcing can help in a big way in managing peaks and troughs.

OptimusDev Offering

2009-07-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

More and more organizations, I meet in Vancouver, they are looking to optimize their software development costs while needing some strong local presence from the outsourcing vendors. Also, India is the preferred destination.

Many of them wish to extend the partnership by exploring India as market.

Our positioning would remain that of a local company with benefits of global offshoring.

IT Outsourcing in British Columbia

2009-07-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I met many technology CEOs in last 2 weeks. Most of them have shown an interest in having a reliable outsourcing partner. Partner who can work as an extension of their engineering team and help in the areas of software development, software maintenance and software testing. The key questions : a. Can it be same or better quality b. Can it be same or better productivity. c. Would it be cheaper, faster and better.
I believe that hybrid model i.e. an extension of client's engineering team with on-shore and offshore capabilities is the long term way to succeed.
Where do things go wrong ? I think that wrong expectations, wrong assumption that all work can be done offshore and also mistake in ascertaining what is offshorable and what is not, are some of the reasons.

Happenings in India

2009-07-03T08:09:00.002-07:00

I just returned from 10 days trip to Delhi and Mumbai.
Delhi, temperature was 44 Degrees Celsius. I was pleasantly surprised that everything works as usual. Mumbai seems to be a city in decay. It was season of mangoes and one can never go wrong with Indian mangoes.

After elections, mood is vibrant. Cong-I, the ruling party has appointed a very good (capable and mostly honest) government and Sonia Gandhi is driving them hard.

Visited Aman in Delhi. Aman has some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. http://www.amanresorts.com/ . Very good new property in middle of Delhi. They completely rebuilt a government owned hotel. ( Many of you might be surprised that Indian government was running hotels too. )

Private equity players are still very bullish and there is lot of money chasing opportunities. Lot of action in sectors including manufacturing, power, agriculture, education and automation of public services.

Real estate is hurting and there are some good deals in the market. I visited one of my real estate investments in India. Good property but looks like 5-10 years before I gain in a major way. I do not plan to invest in Indian real-estate. It is a not a very liquid asset.

Rupee may get stronger as foreign direct investment would increase in next few quarters.

Visited two of the largest Telecom operators in India (and now in the world). Bharti (http://www.bharti.com/ ) and Reliance (http://www.relianceadagroup.com/). Was amazed at their scale, application of technology, hunger and new business model involving outsourcing.

I also had a chance to meet a young company in education segment (http://www.careerlauncher.com/) . Impressive team. They are building schools, incubation centers and what not.

New Delhi Domestic airport and Mumbai International airport, both have been renovated and offer great facilities, similar to any other international airport. Internet is good and coffee is great.

Radio Taxi service has taken off. http://www.easycabs.com/ and http://www.merucabs.com/ .

On negative side, infrastructure is improving at very slow pace and bureaucracy hurts. Appointments, 30-60 minutes variance is quite normal.

Some cultural changes in business life : People are getting comfortable with early morning (that is 8:30 AM) breakfast meetings. People are getting direct in communication. SMS is all pervasive.

On my business interests, my portfolio companies are doing well and I am surprised at their growth and opportunities. If one has good team in India, it is a land of opportunity. Like every other place, it is all about people. One needs to be patient and exit may not be that easy.

Last but not the least, Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Frankfurt is serving Indian food under the brand name “Budha”. Not a surprise with so many Indians in the lounge. Budha must be laughing / crying after seeing the menu which was full of non-vegetarian food.

Cheers, Pankaj