“Startup to Proficorn” Book Feedback – 1

My book has been getting some good feedback. Here is a compilation of the early feedback.

REVIEWS ON AMAZON [here]

Ajay Row

A straight from the gut, honest and revealing book about a great man’s journey. His thoughts, learning and even inner-most feelings are all out there giving us a glimpse into how one of our generation’s greatest self-made entrepreneurs achieved so much success. Rajesh Jain’s humble decency, ethos and thinking are all object lessons in what a man should be, he makes it look, if not easy, at the least doable to achieve his level of success. And, if you follow his advice, perhaps this is indeed the case.

But even if isn’t building a Proficorn isn’t your life’s goal, read this book anyway. Think of it as a modern day Meditations, a way to live a good, rewarding and fulfilling life. Of course, in this case in the 21st century with a business rather than an empire to run. Still. In many ways, this book is as valuable in its teachings.

Read this book. Have fun. Learn. Apply and perchance succeed. And even if not, live a life worth living.

Aniruddha Malpani

Every entrepreneur should read this book . Instead of chasing investors , it reminds you to chase customers first . Full of advice based on his first-hand experience of creating two hugely profitable businesses in India from scratch , Rajesh uses clear language and lots of stories to inspire entrepreneurs to follow in his footsteps .
For founders, 100% of a proficorn >> 10% of an unicorn !

Hiten Jhaveri

This is an excellent book for every current or “to be” Entrepreneur or for that manner for anyone wanting to understand how start-ups should be managed.

The language is very simple and Author Rajesh Jain has explained all the terminologies in a non-technical terms. Terms like Bootstrap, PaaS, Velvet Rope Marketing and several others are explained very well. You need not have any technical background. It is so smooth to read and understand.

Overall a very good book. These kind of things should be taught in Management Schools.

And one more: While start up founders focussed on funding and growth even at cost of burn and mounting losses, here is story of a founder who has focused on building profitable businesses since last 3 decades.

LINKEDIN

Purwa Jain

Why would someone write a book review on my LinkedIn? It is because this book speaks about a startup that is in my resume, and I feel super proud that Netcore Cloud has reached this far. From the very beginning, the book captivates with its seamless flow. Initially, the chapter titles may suggest a methodical and scientific approach, but the book surprises with a storytelling format that weaves relevant anecdotes into the narrative. Rajesh’s remarkable storytelling skills breathe life into the content, making it engaging and never dull.

What sets “Startup to Proficorn” apart is the author’s refreshing willingness to embrace honest self-criticism. Unlike many biographies that fall into the trap of self-pity, Rajesh Jain’s self-criticism is candid, devoid of victimhood, and instead focuses on accepting weaknesses with humility and presenting tangible corrective actions. This approach inspires readers and fosters authenticity and relatability.

Throughout the book, I embarked on a personal journey down memory lane, connecting with the experiences shared. The chapter on the advisory board particularly struck a chord with me, as it reminded me of my own first board presentation and the profound impact it had on my career trajectory. This pivotal moment propelled me forward, and reading about Rajesh’s experiences reignited a sense of growth and accomplishment within me.

Moreover, what truly sets ‘Startup to Proficorn’ apart from the plethora of startup literature available these days is its focus on bootstrapped startups. In an era dominated by news of startups raising exorbitant funding and achieving astronomical valuations, this book offers a refreshing perspective. It showcases the stories of startups that have achieved significant success without relying on external capital. These narratives are not only motivating but also provide practical insights into the challenges and opportunities that arise when operating with limited resources. Rajesh Jain emphasizes the importance of resourcefulness, lean operations, and a laser-focused approach to create value and profitability. By shining a spotlight on bootstrapped success stories, the book encourages readers to look beyond the hype surrounding funding and valuation, presenting a more grounded and sustainable approach to building and scaling a business.

In conclusion, “Startup to Proficorn” is a personal and inspirational journey that celebrates the transformative power of startups. It evokes nostalgia, sparks introspection, and instils a sense of pride in those who have been part of similar entrepreneurial endeavours. If you are seeking inspiration and practical guidance on your own entrepreneurial path, I highly recommend reading “Startup to Proficorn.” Prepare to be inspired!

Shiva V

Dear Fellow Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists, I caught up with the humble and accomplished Rajesh Jain, Serial Entrepreneur and Social Entrepreneur and also happens to be my classmate from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, in India.

Rajesh was (and still is) a very quiet but confident guy from our campus days but always a hands-on executor. I remember how he used to hustle and get Mood Indigo IIT Bombay (a college festival) sponsorships for us and make the event a huge success. Rajesh and I parted ways after we left for the US for higher studies. I headed to the Midwest to study at Purdue University and he headed to Columbia.

After a MS in EE from Columbia, he returned to India and founded India World, India’s first internet portal, which he then sold to Satyam, if memory serves right. Indiaworld was truly the first “Yahoo of India” but much more. I remember searching for food recipes on his site way back then in the 1990s. Rajesh is now running another unicorn Netcore Cloud, a martech customer experience platform.

A few things about Rajesh. He is very frugal. Indiaworld was run from his dad’s office in Mumbai. Very tight ship. Low on expenses. Guy Kawasaki‘s “Eat like a bird, Poop like an Elephant” comes to mind :).

Rajesh is very humble despite his successes. When I talk to him, it is always like we are back on IITB campus brainstorming ideas like two students, trying to learn from each other! As Stephen M. R. Covey, accomplished author, used to say “Humility is the mother of all virtues”.

Lastly, he is always generous; I am reminded of Brad Feld‘s #givefirst principle. Rajesh has been so generous with his time and advice.

I was honored to be presented his new book – Startup to Proficorn.

In his own words “The reality is that 99.99% of ventures do not raise capital, and the stories we frequently hear in the media are of a very small fraction who do. As the stories in the book illustrate, it is possible to eschew external capital and build substantial businesses with a profits-first mindset.

The book is intended not only for tech entrepreneurs but also for anyone who runs a business, plans to start one, or wants to adopt an entrepreneurial approach. It offers valuable insights for students stepping into the professional world and managers striving for success in their respective units. An entrepreneurial mindset can be developed and nurtured, and I hope this book serves as a catalyst in that journey”.

Mudit Shukla has a nice video of me unwrapping and signing his book.

Hardeep Singh

Last 3 days was fasinating to read a Book – ‘Startup to Proficorn’ by Rajesh Jain (Founder & Managing Director of Netcore Cloud), this was my fastest read of any book. I couldn’t stop reading as it was full of learnings, stories about failures, success and full of learning experience from legend.

My top 3 learnings from this book:

1. Life is not a destination, its a journey. Keep learning & exploring.
2. How to build a proficorn company
3. Family is not an important thing. It’s everything

Aahan Malhotra has a primer on Proficorns.

OTHER COMMENTS (sent directly to me; will not mention the names since these were private messages)

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