Underdogs in Overdrive -- 10 Insanely Great Ideas for the Asian Technopreneur
By Ilyas Khan (John Wiley & Sons; HK$200)
Review by Trevor Richter -- Gorilla Asia
(Disclosure: Ilyas Khan, co-founder of techpacific.com, is on the board of directors of Gorilla Asia Limited, and techpacific.com owns 25 percent of Gorilla Asia Limited. All proceeds from the book go to the Karma Trust, a nonprofit organization trying to close the Digital Divide by providing computers to rural schools in developing countries.)
Thinking of starting a technology-based company in Asia? If so, then you're brave and hopefully foresighted. You may also be in need of some advice. In Underdogs in Overdrive, Ilyas Khan, co-founder of techpacific.com, doesn't claim to provide all the answers to an entrepreneur's needs. This book is a good resource, though, featuring 10 basic tried and tested principles for starting and operating a successful business in Asia.
These 10 principles are reinforced with inspirational quotes, numerous examples from Khan's experiences at techpacific.com, short contributions from colleagues, amusing cartoons by the inimitable Trigg, and exercises. Some of the exercises are downright corny, but you won't forget them! There are also useful appendixes that list funding pointers, business plan guidelines and venture capital firms.
The motivation behind Underdogs in Overdrive was to help technopreneurs in Asia capitalize on the vast amounts of wealth that Khan foresees in the Asian tech sector over the next decade. He attributes this massive potential to a change in venture capital philosophy in Asia, the deregulation of markets and the hard work and innovation of Asian entrepreneurs. The book also aims to fill the gaping void in how-to guides for Asia-specific technology business.
Written for an entrepreneur new to Asia, technology or startups, the book can be read in an evening and should get any professional fired up to take on the next day and even a new venture. Its focus is Asia and the challenges and opportunities here. Although the book is not a history of techpacific.com, the reader can put together the pieces to imagine the wild ride it must have been to start up techpacific.com.
Many of the "10 insanely great ideas" -- guidelines such as "Walk the Walk," "Act with a Heart of Gold" and "Network, Network, Network" -- apply to life in general as much as to entrepreneurship. The book was written with obvious enthusiasm and openness -- two musts for an entrepreneur, as far as Khan is concerned. You might've had an inkling of some of these life lessons, but examples in the book will help you remember to follow them in business as well. Those ideas that are specific to technology or business have been learned the hard way by many. "Long Live Beta" is a personal favorite.
There is an accompanying CD and a website, www.underdogsinoverdrive.com, which was set up to encourage further discussion on the 10 principles.
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