Vikram Chalana

Although I decided to focus on enterprise software investments for the foreseeable future, I enjoy talking to and advising founders in other segments to share knowledge and keep my finger on the pulse. Office hours, Part 2: Side effect of the gig economy on the service industry. Per Max Holmes and Anirudh Kapuria, co-founders of Conduit, a small restaurant owner in the US would have to hire now two to three times for the same role. Every year. The reason? Gig-economy jobs killed switching costs for service industry employees. True reason? Employees need flexibility to keep up with study time and/or parental obligations. Fix? Create an employee-driven scheduling app to build optimized schedules for everyone and adjust them in real-time on demand. Result? Happy employees. But even happier employers who are saving a few hours on Sundays from manual scheduling and tons of energy on hiring and training. Sales strategy? Pull demand. Word of mouth. NPS should be close to 100. Usage: A few times a week. Growth opportunities: Vast, from starting as a scheduling app to turning into a hiring marketplace with added fintech capabilities to capitalize on the cash flows. Takeaways: #1 Software should solve the real pain for people to get them to sign up, change their habits, and use it. Once your solution becomes part of their routine, you can grow further from there. Don't try to put LLMs everywhere. First things first. #2 Focus should be on getting concentrated traction, not the occasional one. Concentrated traction means getting customers in a niche industry, small town, specific age group, etc. It will let you figure out everything faster than building occasional traction. This also makes an easier case for scale-up. #3 Ironically, if Conduit or companies alike succeed on scale, the service industry will become essential to the gig economy. Seems doable: when was the last time you met a happy Uber driver? :) #founders #investors #swartzcenter #gigeconomy #uber #driverlesscars

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Don’t mess with the Aunties! Great discussion at The Tech Aunties Podcast -Thank you again! Autonomize AI is leading this transformation of healthcare operations with #AI and we can’t wait to share more stories of how AI can lower the cost of care, improve the quality of care and transform the patient experience! Every industry, and especially healthcare has the opportunity to completely reimagine its business models with AI.

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It is important to revisit concepts that might have eluded me. Take the Intuit Lacerte Software Development Kit (SDK). For the non-programmers, a Software Development Kit is instructions and tools for connecting to local data sources. Think of them as APIs but for accessing local data and hardware instead of cloud data. The first time I looked at the Lacerte SDK over a decade ago, I did not understand how it worked. The best I was able to do was to pull basic client information (names and address) for generating mailing labels. This was before my firm was doing digital delivery. As I started using Robot Process Automation (RPA) tools to input data into Lacerte, I learned about batch input. This let me gain a new understanding of the structure of Lacerte's data. Just last winter, I built some RPA tools to read organizer PDFs from Lacerte to build Document Requests List in SafeSend and Firm360. This let me gain a new understanding of the flow of Lacerte's data. Just a month ago, I connected with TruePrep AI to build tools for inputting data into Lacerte. My original plan was an RPA method since it was something I was familiar with. In that moment, I had decided to take another look at the Lacerte SDK. With an additional 10+ years of experience in understanding Lacerte's data structure and data flow, the SDK all makes sense. In my excitement of applying new knowledge, I can now generate those previous Document Request Lists more efficiently as well as add, update, and delete data from Lacerte. What does this mean? It means, custom import tools that can be catered to a firm's workflow like trial balances, depreciation, etc. It is always important to revisit concepts that have been previously elusive. We are the sum of our experiences and even a few months (from winter to spring) can change how we find solutions to problems.

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📢 For those who will be in Pune this Saturday, 🙋‍♂️ I'll be speaking at an in-person event called "Google I/O Extended" hosted by GDG Pune. 🎤 The topic of my session is "Generative AI for Creators." 🚀 and here are the key points I'll cover: ➡️ Basic introduction to Generative AI 🧠 ➡️ Use-cases specific to creators 🤖 ➡️ What's next? 👩‍💻👨‍🔬 After the talk, I'll open-source the contents on my GitHub repo called #TeachingDataScience. 💻 Feel free to attend if interested! 🎉 It's an open and free event for all. Check out details in the post by the organizers, below. 👇 #AI #MachineLearning #DataScience #TechTalk #PuneEvents #ArtificialIntelligence #CReators #Pune #GoogleIOExtended Google #mvp #mvpbuzz GDG Cloud Pune Karthik Padmanabhan Anuj Duggal Prasad Seth Google Developer Experts

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Last week, I sat down with Fazal Gupta, co-founder of Logik.io, to talk about monetization in digital businesses. Having worked for BigMachines, then Oracle, then Workday, prior to co-founding Logik, Fazal has observed firsthand the evolution of software monetization over the last 15 years. 🕒 Every time I speak with Fazal, I gain insights, not just about building & monetizing enterprise SaaS, but also about the deep consideration he gives to the customer experience. In this 3-minute snippet, we discuss: 1️⃣ The 3 pillars of complexity SaaS businesses must manage. 2️⃣ Introducing products to customers in commercially viable ways. 3️⃣ Why monetization approaches must vary for different customer segments. 🎥 The full episode is live on youtube. Link in comments. 🔗 #pricing #packaging #b2bsaas #monetization #cpq #q2c

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Thanks Selvi Radhakrishna Cherian for having me on your podcast. I look forward to your listeners getting value from the journey of Snic Solutions. Best wishes to Biz Sherpa #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #startups #leadership‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

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Excited to see our work at CloudEagle.ai featured in msn Microsoft Network! It's been an incredible journey leading our amazing team to save millions for our customers. "The major trend right now is to cut down on spend. CloudEagle.ai helps other companies save on their wasted software spend." Couldn't have said it better myself! 🔗Read the full article here

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Excited about the evolution of Product Management? Join us on 5/22 at 4pm PT for a deep dive into this dynamic shift with Carelon Chief Product Officer Gautam M Shah. In this engaging Products That Count webinar, we'll explore how Product Managers are transcending their traditional roles as mere builders to become strategic partners driving business success. Learn firsthand how PMs are leveraging their expertise to navigate the complexities of today's product-led industries, shaping strategies, and enabling growth. Don't miss the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A session with an industry expert. Secure your spot now for an insightful discussion: https://rb.gy/wdvep7 #ProductManagement #Webinar #BusinessStrategy

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🔍 Enhance Skill Gap Analysis with Multi-Agents and LangGraph Staying ahead in tech means continuously bridging skill gaps. Our innovative approach with multi-agents and LangGraph boosts accuracy and efficiency in identifying and addressing these gaps. How It Works Think of our multi-agent system as a well-coordinated team. Each agent has a specialized role, like team members with specific expertise, and their work is continuously validated by their peers. Our Approach Gap Skills Detect Agent: Identifies skill gaps by analyzing profiles and job descriptions, like a team member who spots missing pieces in a puzzle. Routing Agent: Coordinates and ensures quality control, much like a project manager who checks everyone's work to ensure it aligns with the overall goal. Mentor Suggestion Agent: Matches candidates with mentors, similar to a career advisor pairing mentees with experienced professionals. Course Finding Agent: Recommends relevant courses, acting like a researcher finding the best resources for team training. Teamwork and Validation Each agent's output is validated by the routing agent, ensuring high standards and seamless integration of all parts. This is akin to a team leader who reviews the work of each member to ensure top quality before passing it on. Benefits Precision: High accuracy in detecting and addressing skill gaps. Scalability: Easily handles large datasets. Efficiency: Faster results through concurrent operations. Flexibility: Adaptable to various tasks beyond skill gap analysis. Ready to optimize your team's skills? Explore how our multi-agent approach can make a difference. #TechInnovation #SkillDevelopment #AI #LangGraph #CareerGrowth #TechTraining 👉 Read more on our blog! https://lnkd.in/ghBrq6hH

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“Being out of sight can lead to being forgotten when it comes time for recognition.” Kevin Goldsmith, CTO of DistroKid and author of 𝙄𝙩 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨, offers his insights on the specific challenges of managing partially distributed teams and provides strategies to make sure no one feels out of sight and out of mind. Read the article by Kevin, featured in this week’s edition of Executive Engineering. Link: https://lnkd.in/ehsQSjFB

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Amazing lessons from a humble visionary Jay Chaudhry in our space. A few of my thoughts - Dont keep getting inspired by the competition ! May lead you in the wrong direction - Startups have a lot of ups and downs. Choose the right members of the team who can be strong during those down times. - An intern with -2y of experience or a senior member with 25y of industry experience in the team should breathe Customer obsession and all decisions should be driven by customer value realization. The impact matters not the amount of work put in. - My partner Jyoti Bansal always talks about the mindset of Get s**t Done/No Politics/No BS. #entrepreneurship #cybersecurity #tiecon2024 #leadership

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So excited about this newsletter that was written by Neha Paranjpe. A lot is happening at Lyzr AI and we are excited to bring it to you. 1) Launching the Enterprise AI stack Course. 2) 100+ Gen AI Use Cases across 15+ industries (Free & Downloadable) 3) Webinars coming up 4) Launch of Jason, our AI Automation Sales Agent 5) Launch of AI studio: The Dashboard for AI Agents 6) 50+ Use cases that have been built on Lyzr. 7) New Office 8) We all meeting in person for the first time. 9) How is Lyzr different from other players in the market. #newsletter

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Thanks for the article Anshu! A comprehensive guide on how data plays a pivotal role before strategizing for online product launch!

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Had a great conversation with my friend Vignesh Rajagopal for his podcast Fika Bytes, where he speaks to a variety of hardware tech founders about their experiences creating and launching tech products. During this podcast, we deep dived into the challenges of starting a tech company, how we were able to bring Pulse Devices, LLC to life, and some of the most important lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur. Check out the episode here: https://lnkd.in/eP5Rf4YF P.S. if you're a hardware tech founder that wants to share your story definitely reach out to Vignesh!

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{GenAI] Navigating the Generative AI Revolution: A Strategic Imperative for Enterprises The march towards generative AI (GenAI) is not just a trend; it's a strategic pivot that's reshaping the enterprise landscape. As we delve into the findings from Boston Consulting Group and PwC, it's clear that the anticipation for GenAI's impact is high among business leaders, with a significant number betting on its potential to transform their operations. However, the road to integrating GenAI is not without its complexities. What stands out is the shift from a public cloud-centric approach to a more nuanced, multicloud-by-design strategy. This evolution in IT infrastructure is a testament to the growing need for agility, performance, and security in the GenAI era. The Dell survey underscores this, revealing a strong preference for on-premises or hybrid solutions when it comes to building GenAI workloads. It's a move that reflects the desire for greater control and efficiency in managing data-intensive models. Yet, with 66% of business leaders expressing dissatisfaction with their GenAI progress, it's evident that the journey is as challenging as it is promising. The key lies in identifying the right use cases and technology solutions, and perhaps more importantly, in choosing the right partners to navigate the GenAI landscape. Dell Technologies' Validated Designs for GenAI, offered through APEX subscriptions, exemplify the kind of support organizations need to mitigate risks and align their operational and financial goals. As we look towards a future where GenAI matures and becomes an integral part of business strategy, it's crucial for IT leaders to remain adaptable, informed, and collaborative. The potential for GenAI to revolutionize industries is immense, but realizing that potential will require a thoughtful and intentional approach to technology adoption. For those in the trenches of digital transformation, remember: the path to GenAI is not a solitary one. Choose partners, such as DealCoach.io, that empower you to bring AI to your data with confidence and control. #GenerativeAI #DigitalTransformation #CloudStrategy #AIAdoption #Innovation

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Unlocking Throughput & Flow, from the book "The Goal" written by Eliyahu Goldratt In this video, I'm diving deep into the goldmine of insights from Eliyahu Goldratt's "The Goal." We'll explore powerful concepts like Throughput (the money your system generates), Bottlenecks (the weak link slowing you down), and the magic of Flow (getting things done efficiently). Discover how to: Measure what truly matters: I'll explain the difference between inventory (money tied up in stuff) and Throughput (money coming in). Identify your bottleneck: Find the slowest link in your chain and optimize for it, not local efficiencies. Master the art of Flow: I'll show you how to reduce batch sizes, minimize wait times, and keep things moving smoothly. Implement powerful tools: I'll delve into Kanban systems and Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) to improve flow and prevent overproduction. #eliyahu goldratt, # the goal eliyahu goldratt, # business book summary, # business book review, # productivity tips, # bottleneck theory, # throughput accounting, # kanban system, # drum buffer rope, # business efficiency, # business growth, # throughput, # inventory management, # operational expenses, # dependent events, # statistical fluctuations, # batch size reduction, # lead time reduction, # theory of constraints, entrepreneurship, # small business, # manufacturing, # operations management, # project management, # supply chain management

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Ai is everywhere, is it for Everyone!? We at iNextLabs invite ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) and SIs (Solution Integrators) to be part of this transformative shift by enhancing your offerings with our state-of-the-art generative AI solutions. 🚀 Partner with iNextLabs Incorporate our SaaS-driven AI solution, inFlow, into your offerings. Powered by advanced GPT technology, it's designed to seamlessly integrate with your solution suite. 🤖 What's in It for You? ·      Expand Your Product Capabilities: Enhance your products by adding our robust and industry focused AI solutions. ·      Deliver Exceptional Value to Your Customers: Improve user engagement, increase satisfaction, retention and enrich customer experiences. ·      Stay Ahead in Your Industry: Utilize our technology to position yourself as a leader in digital transformation within your sector. Our straightforward integration process and dedicated support ensure that you can quickly start offering these enhanced capabilities to your clients, allowing them to harness the benefits of AI from the outset. We're excited to connect and explore synergies. Please go ahead a drop a DM! iNextLabs | Sachin Hridayraj | Murugappan (MNM) | Siddharth Samal | Nandha kumar V | Kaja Sherief

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