The Story of Alma Mater

-Pratiti Nath

Ever dreamed of a store delivering customized t-shirts, tops and all other kinds of apparel? Alma Mater is just that. Now wait! it isn’t just any other kind of customized product selling merchandise. Here you get products customized according to the institution you are affiliated to. Your very own customized college products.

Origin of the idea

"Three years ago, two friends, one too many beers, one kickass business idea, one million dollar company… This, in a nutshell is how Alma Mater came about."- this is how the alma mater story begins in their facebook page. This company is a brain child of 2 people- Varun Agarwal and Rohn Malhotra way back in 2009. They hit upon this idea while reminiscing their good old college days over a chilled beer. That’s when the idea of catering to the needs of alumni of various colleges came into light. Thus, the name Alma mater. Varun started this apparel store targeting the necessity of memorable items and apparels for different institutions alumni. Soon, after that he wrote a book titled ‘How I braved Anu Aunty and co-founded a million dollarcompany’. This became an instant hit paving the way for him and his company. The company is based in Koramangla, Bangalore.

The Journey So Far

The major feature of this online apparel website is its “PLAY” tool.  As the name suggests you can literally play with the design, graphics, colour, fabric and other aspects of your desired products. Unlike other websites they don’t offer you selected choices. Here you can make your own designs and order them. Their unique outlook and aesthetic designs led to huge leap in profits. They manage to ship 15000 products every month. 

Keeping the target audience in mind the price range remains at an affordable limit of 450-700 rupees. Till July, 2013 they have sold 3,00,000 products. With the help of these tool you can draw doodles, make designs. As many as 800 fonts and 2000 vectors are at your disposal. Apart from that you can add your institution logo and change the background colour. Thus it provides huge pool of creative potential to unleash your creativity and wear it on your t-shirt. A plus point of this tool is its social forum. One can form groups here and easily discuss & build design with their friends. Till 2013 the response is substantial with almost every associations using it – from school students, college students to start-up companies to individual group associations. The company first started out-sourcing their work but now the manufacture & printing process is solely done by their 200 dedicated workers. This has removed the hazard of relying on others and minimized errors. With the incorporation of the PLAY tool, work has cut down further as continuous involvement with the customers aren’t required. One can just create their design and order it. As of now, they have worked for 2500 schools/colleges, 600 corporates, 100 start-ups spreading over 180 different cities of the world. This includes India and 6 other countries. Till May 2016, the company website registers 323401 happy customers, 15232 customized designs, 3554 college clients and 458420 likes on facebook 

Future outlook

The current focus of the company is to be the number one merchandise in customized t-shirt & products market. Their sole agenda is to completely monopolize this market and rake the 25-30% gross margins to even greater percentage. 

The Story Of Chumbak

-Pratiti Nath

We all like to travel and collect souvenirs and mementos from places we have visited. Now, think of a foreign traveler, travelling to India and looking for objects to remember the place. Well, here the market is flooded with conventional showpieces and mementos of monuments like Taj Mahal, Howrah bridge, India gate or Qutub Minar. At best clothing like saris and pashmina shawls.

A couple from Bangalore got bored of all this. Vivek Prabhakar and Subhra Chadda thought of channelizing their frustration to come up with a business enterprise. Thus, in 2010, started the journey of Chumbak, the popular lifestyle brand. The name by itself attracts like a magnet, and indeed true to its property. As illustrated by the co-founder Vivek Prabhakar, the name means “kissing stones”. As they wanted to monopolize the Indian refrigerator magnets market. Their tagline “home is where the love is” delivers the ultimate attraction punch for a lifestyle 

The Journey so far

Chumbak with just 45lakhs arranged by the couple by selling their house. It started as a 30 member souvenir store and ended up being a 150 member lifestyle store. The duo coupled their knowledge with pragmatism. It started as an online store that continued to flood the e-commerce market. 2012 brought the opportunity of seed funding via Matrix partners. Then , in 2013 they opened their first flagship store in Bangalore. 

Visiting their store or browsing through their products will make you gasp in disbelief. It has a quirky, colourful and vibrant range products. They have a magnificent range which spoils you for choice. It has  a wide range of lifestyle products – from key chains to mementos to dresses to footwear to apparel to jewelries to bags, wallets, watches, phones- all under one roof. 38 categories with more than 500 products. Thus, here is a brand which perfectly understands your needs. Price, design, style, range, colours EVERYTHING!!!

Like all start-ups they wanted to be different but in a different way. The company philosophy is to do it in a fun and lively way. This is visible in their public interaction and eccentric vibrant range of products. They team up the curiosity of a child, the innovation of youth and the experience of a knowledgeable person. 

Another potent problem for a start-up is real estate. Subhra and Vivek were pragmatic in this matter. They started with small kiosk of 150-200 square feet and then made it to 2500 sq ft. They have 20 such kiosks with more than 60 outlets in 5 major Indian cities. Of them Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore gathers the maximum revenue (60%). 15% of sales are made through online. They are first of its kind store. They are quick to adapt with changing market dynamics and fashion trends. This lead to an unprecedented growth rate of 300%  in 5years. 

Future Venture

In the coming years they are targeting a 400 crore annual revenue. It is vying to spread its wings all over India. Their future target is to open more such kiosks in other cities. Chumbak planning to boost is online sales percentage to meet the target. 

Overall, with their unique set of ideas and executions they are a force to reckon with it. A viable start-up story for every entrepreneur dreaming to make it big.

Why Teleportation is Awesome!

-Ankita Roy

Quantum teleportation is a process by which quantum information(e.g the exact state of an atom or photon)can be transmitted(exactly, in principle) from one location to another, with the help of classical communication and previously shared quantum entanglement between the sending and receiving location.

All those who didn’t understand a word of what has been written above, put your hands up!! Above stated was a paragraph copied and pasted straight out of Wikipedia. To explain what has been written above, lets put it this way...remember how we all watched star trek and gazed in amazement as captain kirk and his crew constantly used their transporter to move between the enterprise and another world, an asteroid, another spacecraft and into an exact place in any of these locations. Or remember harry potter?! The floo powder, port-keys and apparition. This, my friends is what teleportation really means. 

It is the art, or ability (or anything you would like to call it, as it doesn’t exist in reality yet)to disappear at one place and instantly reappear at another place, a place of your own choice.

Why teleportation would be awesome is not difficult to imagine.

1.People would be able to transport themselves in no time to a different place at any place in any time. Distance, would in fact become a theoretical thing. We would need no visas and passports to travel from one country to another, free as a bird.

2. Cars, trains and airplanes would not be needed anymore, doing mother nature the favor that has been long due to her. Lesser pollution will solve a lot of environmental as well as health problems.

                         

3. If the ability to teleport were given to me with absolutely no holds barred on its potential ,I would definitely teleport myself to the future and first and foremost, wait-for-it, watch the entire series of "game of thrones" and find out how it ends because being made to wait for months for a new season of this particular series is definitely the most torturous act of all, worse than the beheading.    

4. Having satisfied myself of the future I would teleport myself back to the past, to old England, to the era of gallant young men and chivalry, to those wide frilled skirts and bonnets, to the age where Mr. Darcy thrived(aahhh….drool!).i don’t think I could ever teleport myself back from that age so that’s a dangerous gamble to play.(if it only wasn’t for the dynamic  Mr. Darcy).

5.As for the present ,I would definitely want to teleport myself to the secret mysterious lair wherein our college exam papers are evaluated. I wish to drench the burning thirst of a burning question in the minds of majority of the students in India-“that person and I have written the exact same answer, then why did he get more marks than me?”. What force of nature is it that prompts such injustice? Teleportation could definitely help provide an answer to all those students in agony who can do nothing except go “why you do like this?!” *weeping internally* 

6. So having made it clear that giving me the power of teleportation would do no good to the world lets come back with what its other general awesomeness could be. For starters, it could save you a lot of money. You could just teleport yourself to the concert of your choice without having to pay for it. Free events=saving money+having fun!!Cant dispute mathematics now, can we?

                                                                                                            

7. Teleportation is more discreet than other powers like flight. Less people find out, you don’t get mobbed by people asking for favors and you are less likely to be captured. And even if you are, well you can always be…*poof*..gone

                              

10. Also, crime would fall with the ability to teleport being placed in responsible hands and the world would become a safer place to live in. Needless to mention the positive impact on the environment.

Teleportation if it ever comes into existence would be a boon for mankind, at least for a while before we somehow manage to turn it into a lethal weapon.

  

                                          

If Dogs had Twitter Accounts

-Ankita Roy

Happiness my friends is a warm puppy. Dogs are undoubtedly man’s best friends. They are the only creatures on earth who can love you more than they love themselves. No matter what you do, you can not dissuade them from leaping in joy when he sees you .A dog is a little heartbeat at your feet. All this and more. Dogs these days are smart too! They have taken this tech-savvy generation tail-on. With Meredithswift(Taylor Swifts dog),cookie(bethannie frankels dog) and many more celebrity canines joining the twitterati, we thought of a world wherein all the dogs had twitter accounts. After all….never underestimate the power of the common dog.

Just look at that puppy dog face!  

Things You Need To Know About Virtual Reality

-Partiti Nath & Sona Jain

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality, term seems self-contradictory. You might think how can something that is virtual - be a reality? VR is a computer based technology where a real or an imagined world is duplicated and allows a person to interact with its surrounding environment. A virtual world is created which looks real and very much closer to reality. The latest technology involves graphics displayed on HD stereoscopic display screens coupled with enhanced stereo speakers & headphones enabled for VR users. Majority of them function by stimulating sensory and tactile receptors- thereby making the experience seem like a reality. It creates a virtual 3-dimensional world where the user can explore and feel the environment like it’s real. It’s like giving firsthand knowledge of places or things before you can actually experience them. 

For example: How would you like if you could walk through a city or country before going on a vacation? You could experience tunnels, roads, water-bodies and mountains through VR that will change according to your sensation. This 3D world has life size images and objects which are sensitive to your body, that is, they are flexible to change according to your eye movements or tactile stimulation. This virtual reality system creates a feeling of being a part of a world or experience and enables the user to interact with the environment. This immersion and interactivity is known as telepresence. 

According to computer scientist Jonathan Steuer this immersion has 2 components: depth of information (resolution, graphics etc. of the images) and breadth of information (visual and audio which affects the sensory and tactile stimulus). This feedback sensory stimulus is the haptic system. 

The Equipment Used

The gear used today has evolved quite a lot. It isn’t restricted to 3D glasses and equipment. Technology has advanced so much that now you can get haptic system enabled foot wears, clothes and other articles for visual reality. A few of the gadgets are Oclus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Sulon Q, Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard and many more. Scientists and programmers have started using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML),X3D, Collaborative Design Activity (COLLADA) etc which enables people to maneuver between different virtual landscapes and interchange/exchange files in virtual reality space.

Utility of Virtual Reality

1. The most prominent field of VR utility is gaming, film and television industry. Earlier it was only restricted to video games like those played on PlayStation. With the onset of animation films, VR utility has become a boon. In films like avatar, inception, matrix etc where a perceptive illusion world is created, VR played a crucial role.
2. For heritage restoration and archaeology VR is extensively used to monitor areas which otherwise can’t be explored without destroying artifacts. For example: for mapping the underground Stonehenge area in Wiltshire, UK.   
3. VR is used to create 3D models of buildings or roads or streets. Thus enabling in real life visualization of architecture & urban planning.
4. This technology is used by automobile companies to create 3D designs of cars and 3D environments to test these car models.
5. VR helps in creating virtual environments for training different space programs, military programs or medical practices.
6. Doctors specially surgeons use VR to visualize the exact operation model before a surgery. They can test various robotic devices before going onto actual surgeries. 
   
7. They can be used to treat different phobias like height or water- by enabling patients to face them in a virtual world. The advantage of this is, it occurs in a controlled manner and the patients are easier to handle.
8. Libraries and Museums can employ VR to create 3D interactive programs- like an interactive tour through the museum or a visual reading of a sci-fi novel.

The Indian Scenario

According to a TOI report from CES 2016 Las Vegas Convention, VR is the next big thing. This is going to be the year of Virtual Reality. South-east Asia, along with India is a potential market.  The main concern in India is pricing and non-availability of educated users.  So far VR is restricted to gaming and high-ventured films in India. Theaters and gaming zones have them. PlayStations are widely available. India today has VR enabled mobile devices and mobile accessories. Various advanced VR devices OCULUS rift, HTC vive, Project Morpheus [PlayStation VR], largely remains unavailable in the Indian market. 

Overall, VR is here to stay. India being a diverse country with rich heritage, population, flora & fauna, ever demanding healthcare sector and an entertainment crazy nation; VR is of prominent  importance to us. 

Virtual Reality in Chennai 

Our own city (Chennai) will soon be getting its first ever virtual reality experience – Kaleidozone, which aims to create all-in-one system that delivers an interactive and immersive experience. By combining the latest advancements in immersive head   mounted displays, controllers, motion capture systems and real time 3D engines. Kaleidozone delivers human experience with limitless potentials. The team has more than 75 years of collective experience as business owners, technologists and game developers, who are looking at tapping the amusement industry in India which is poised to grow from $375 million to $811 million by 2020. (Source: Business India report on growth of Amusement Industry quoting IAAPI)

Click to play

Youtube's New Fearure: The Snoopa Vision

- Pratiti Nath

Every day we go online and watch millions of videos – from educational ones to the ones for entertainment. Where do we get these videos? YouTube off course. Now, consider watching these videos from different angles. 

YouTube's new feature - Snoopa Vision does just that! 

On April 1^st, 2016 Youtube has enabled this option which allows you to watch videos in 360 degrees... wait for it... with Snoop Dogg!  Hence the name Snoopa Vision.

This is the brain child of the content studio Portal A and the Director Innovation of YouTube Ben Relles. Guess who is the project architect of this project? None other than Rapper himself Snoop Dogg. According to Youtube this won’t be out until a decade but a β-version of it has added the “Snoopa Vision” icon beside the “settings” options. They will role it out to all YouTube videos by 19^th  January, 2031. Clicking the icon will take you to a list of top most viral videos viewed by Snoop Dogg, Olga Kay and some other famous YouTubers. 

So there you go it’s an April fool’s prank from Youtube which enables you to watch videos in 360 degrees with Snoop Dogg and other famous YouTubers. It’s virtual reality with Snoop Dogg!

Watch the Video Here!

Want to watch videos with Snoop Dogg?

The Ice-Cream Van in SnoopaVision

MOMMYS BIG SECRET :) in SnoopaVision

Little Boy Trying to Break Board in Taekwondo in SnoopaVision

Top 10 CEOs Who Are Famous Than Their Companies On Twitter

-J.N. GNANESHWARI

“Expect the unexpected” is the phrase that would summaries this article  at “jet-speed”.  Apple, Google, Microsoft… If these are the names that you think are in the list, here are some facts that would leave your eyes wide open…

1. Richard Branson

The first man on the list of the top most CEOs on twitter, with 7.3M followers and 3,845 following is Richard Branson. Virgin group, his brainchild has 211K followers on twitter @Virgin.

2. Elon Musk

“When I was in college, I wanted to be involved in things that would change the world. Now I am.”-ElonMusk. He is the founder, CEO and CTO of SpaceX; CEO,co-founder and product architect of TeslaMotors and the list goes on. Elon Musk has 3.5M followers while he follows only the few 50. His creation SpaceX and Tesla have 1.3M and 944K followers respectively.

3.Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey, a university drop out, co-founder and CEO of Twitter, founder and CEO of Square. Though “Twitter” outcasts him but his brain child Square has just 189K followers yet he can boast about his 3.4M followers.

4.Anand Mahindra

That's right! It’s an Indian CEO of a company born in India… Surprised? Anand Mahindra with 2.9M followers and he chooses the best 182 only to follow. He carries a legacy founded by his grandfather JC Mahindra-The Mahindra Group. The company has about 69.2K followers @MahindraRise.

5.John Legere

John Legere an American businessman who is the CEO and president of T-Mobile US currently has served various other multinational companies like Dell, AT &T etc. His personal twitter profile has 2.2M followers while T-Mobile has 645K followers.

6.Tim O’Reilly

Tim O’Reilly, the man behind O’Reilly Media, quotes-“Money is like a gasoline during a road trip. You don’t want to run out of gas on your trip, but you are not doing a tour of gas stations.” This man deserves a loud applause with 1.9M followers and 1550 under following category he makes it to “The top 10”. O’Reilly Media has about 81.1K followers @OReillyMedia.

7. Kai-fu Lee

At an age of 54, Kai-fuLee is a venture capitalist, technology executive, writer etc. He is the man behind the world’s first “speaker- independent speech recognition system.” His personal twitter account has 1.5M followers while only 145 following. Innovation Works, his company has about 4196 follower’s @iwpgh.

  

8.Warren Buffet

The man who is referred as the “Wizard/Oracle/Sage of Omaha”, considered as one among the “world’s wealthiest people”, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway needs no introduction. Man with the heart of pure gold Warren Buffett has 1.1M followers and 0 Following.

9. Michael Dell

Michael Saul Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Inc., is one of the world’s well known tech giants. Dell is his brain child which has about 566K followers on twitter while Michael Dell has around 966K followers and 1963 under following category.

10. Kerth Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch is the founder, chairman and CEO of News Corporation. He has about 750K followers on twitter while News Corp has 13.9K followers (@newscorp)

It indicates that these people not only rule their companies but also rule Twitter. By connecting with their customers and other stakeholders directly, they constantly shape up their public image and also the image of their company. Keeping a highly active and vivacious profile help them form positive relationships and line up opportunities for their brand. It’s incredible to see CEO’s diving into the Twittersphere far beyond their company.