MxMIndia

Tag: Times Internet

  • Times Internet has launched its interest-based network, itimes.com which is live with over 5000 interests. We spoke to Archana Vohra, Vice President, Times Internet to get more details

    Jaldi 5 with Archana Vohra: itimes is philosophically different

    01. How will the property be marketed?

    We are excited about the launch and right now want to learn how our users are interacting with the new product. Once we get a better understanding we will think about how to grow the audience base.

     

    02. FB Groups/Yahoo Groups also offers same proposition. How do you plan to make it tick?

    The new Itimes.com is philosophically different from Facebook groups and Yahoo groups.

     

    03. Is it invitation-only?

    Itimes.com is a open interest network where anyone can create and share interests. It’s not invite or friends led hence relationships are based purely on content.

     

    04. How scalable is the property?

    From a business model perspective, the focus is engagement and not monetization currently. On the application side, we are scalable to manage large volumes of data and interactions.

     

    05. What are the challenges that this proposition might face in India?

    Right now we’re trying to build something that gives users a new way to engage with things they care about. So our real challenge is to see if we can develop an experience that makes that happen.

     

    As told to Ananya Saha

     

  • Applications are now open for the mentorship-driven accelerator program, which commences February 2012

    Got an idea? Write to Times Internet to help kickstart it

    By A Correspondent

     

    TLabs, a mentorship-driven accelerator program developed by Times Internet Limited (TIL), is inviting bright business ideas in the field of technology, mobile and Internet to develop into world-class products. TLabs is looking for young energetic teams with a marketable idea, who have the passion and skill to execute that idea.

     

    Backed by Times Internet Limited (TIL), TLabs will provide funds, mentorship, and strategic and execution support to entrepreneurs in order to shape their plans into sustainable and scalable products.

     

    Applications are now open for the program, which commences February 2012. The 13-week programme seeks to mentor 10 start-ups. Besides an initial seed funding of up to Rs 10 lakh, it will feature interactions with experienced and eminent leaders and domain experts in India and abroad, once every week. Entrepreneurs will also benefit with rehearsal demos for the project before they ultimately present their ideas and come face to face with angel investors and venture capitalists. Entrepreneurs are free to engage with these investor communities, and execute the plan independently.

     

    “What sets the program apart is the access to TIL’s huge infrastructure and domain expertise. This gives entrepreneurs at TLabs the edge over other start-ups,” says Gautam Sinha, Director – e-Commerce & Technology, Times Internet Limited.

     

    Rishi Khiani, CEO, Times Internet Limited, said, “We want to make this a very high quality program, with very significant value addition to support entrepreneurs as well as the entire innovative ecosystem.”

     

    One of the companies that benefited from the TLabs program this year is DataWeave, a young start-up founded in 2011 by Karthik BR and Vikranth R from Bangalore.

     

    “Being chosen by TLabs strengthens our belief in our product offering. The experience of the Indiatimes network’s mentoring and the infrastructure support has already begun to show in the way we work and in the way we are perceived,” said Karthik Bettadapura, www.dataweave.in.