About Me
Challenging the status quo, taking on the impossible and creating value out of it drives my motivations, my ambitions and my life in general. I love technology and entrepreneurial people. But I love this planet more, so I am an avid outdoor enthusiast (Trekking, backpacking). I also get involved with environmental conservation. Having grown up in a country where women & other socially deprived citizens are discriminated I also got senstized to the social & gender justice related activism very early. I continue to keep myself involved with these activities as well.
My Profession Profile 
Liked your post on “Is Bangalore Silcon Valley”? I agree – it isn’t and it is premature on our part to go to town making that claim. It is like claims of “Developed by 2020″ or “Superpower by 20xx” – as a people we are more about form than substance – our marketing running way ahead of our realities.
The issue fundamentally is lack of angel capital Though in 1999 when we set out to startup for doing products in India, it was also lack of “product mindset” engineers. That has changed though I still think not enough. Even in 1999 we started by first attracting a small group of folks experienced in US based product companies before assembling the rest of the team around it. As I like to claim our first Ad was in the San Jose Mercury News not TOI, Bangalore. Though success was more then due to a website – return2india site rather than the ads.
As a product based entrepreneur, I feel by now I have made all the mistakes possible and from here on it can only get better. I would, however, like the chance to meet with you and interact just in case there are more mistakes to be made
, especially given your marketing background which is one function that remains a mystery for me (or is it an enigma shrouded in mystery 
). I do feel I know a thing or two about doing products in India given I like to believe we were probably one of a handfull of companies that could be counted on one hand, doing this in 1999.
If possible do send me email at arunm_blr@yahoo.com. I back in Bangalore Oct 18th onwards.
BTW, I worked with a Vittal Kini at Intel, Oregon. Any relation of yours?
Ms. Kini,
Great articles…. indepth, incisive.
I admire your energy to keep at it…since your Cornell days.
Cheers,
-V