A long journey full of challenges and accomplishments

“Innovate not just to survive, but to prosper and thrive because there is never a recession for a trendsetter”
… The Indian Express featuring me in their Express Initiatives for Enterprenurship Development

Born in a marwari family, I was bought up with the hope of I taking over my father’s business. I started going to my father’s factory at the age of 12. It was quite a learning experience but it was definately not what I thought I was interested in. I knew my destination was elsewhere.

“The Complete Office”
By the age of 16 I had my first company of my own “Computers Unlimited“. Started with computer asembling and selling. Surviving the cut throat competition for a 16 year old was not easy. I then thought of expanding the market rather than competing it. Created a system i called “Complete Office”. A system that included a computer, modem and a printer with appropriate software. This gave an average shop owner everything he would need for 12,500. A typewriter, accouting system, invoicing system, fax machine and even email (all in 1995!). The idea got mixed response. It was not much of a business but good enough to keep a teenager busy.

Data Communications
Then I moved into data communications. At that time most companies would tally their accounts printing and faxing statements from one city to another. All led to chaos. I then introduced them to direct transfer of data using phone lines. Modems were unheard in the country there were some pathethic fax cards, that were useless for serious data applications. I sourced modems from Hong Kong and setup interoffice comminciation programs using AT command sets.

Enter the Internet – A Virtual World
In 1995 I heardd about the Internet, I managed to see it by dialing up to an ISP in Hong Kong costing Rs.1800 per hour!. I saw internet and said, this is the future. I soon started “A Virtual World” for providing internet services. Started by selling internet connections and modems door to door, office to office. Soon moved to web hosting services and web applications. For next 2 years did quite a lot of business in this field. This was when I really got settled in my business.

K Exports – Impex
This was the time when my close freind for about 12 years, Kavita Bora and I started looking at the relation beyond being “just freinds”. Soon our love bloomed. My stressful 18 hours a day, six days a week could not stress me for the few hours we spent together on those wonderful sundays. I soon realised that people were more interested in real business than websites. Exports and Imports was booming with globalisation, I soon started K Exports to help importers / exporters source products using internet. The business was just booming and I was suddenly in demand for my internet skills too, dot com boom was in the air. I was soon a technical director with some companies and consultant to others.

Disaster Strikes Back
And all of a sudden my world collapsed. For a stupid reason she broke off the relation when her parents had just decided to get us engaged. For next 2 years life was a hell. I gathered myself from pieces I had become and stared back at life, eye to eye. I soon realised the potential in developing for companies based in US who can offer good prices and loads of work. I started marketing the services in the US and got a good response. Soon Telegensys / Hotel Quest approached me to set up an offshore development center. Put months together building a base for it. I found certain aspects quite overwhelming, so I decided to take 2 parthers. This was the second disaster for me. My partners tried to double cross me and we lost the client who could have been the opportunity of life time.

Its not about what you have, its what you do with what you have
I had lost my old business, I had lost my love and I had lost the new opportunity. But there was one thing I still had with me. That was me. I had to start from where I began started years ago. Slowly built my business in US again and 9/11 struck. Then focussed into the UK market. Eastablished the customers there. Family pressure mounted for me to get married and get out of the greif. I decided to do it my way. I put up an ad in the matrimonials, gave (beleive it or not) presentations and web casts to potential partners. Put up a website about myself “This is me, If you think you can bear me, write back to myself@manojoswal.com” Decided on a girl and presented her to my family.

The Second Turn Around
Soon got engaged to Sarika and then things just started fitting in the right places. Found some great business in UK. Slowly got back to become the same fun loving person I used to be. My activism got me laurels and more importantly results. Got involved in the Right to Information movement, the Animal Rights Movement and Vegetarianism campaigns. Soon flew to the UK and built a solid business there. Later participated in two major exhibitions including CeBIT and Outsource World. Worked on some of the crucial projects for Universal Pictures and Momentum Pictures.

And its a baby now
There was just one experience I had kept on hold, the experience of being a Dad. Having loved and bought up so many children from the neighbours, I knew the responsiblity and joys of being an inspiration for a child. I wanted to be a dad when I had a lot of time for my child. 4 years after our marriage I now have a wonderful daughter (3 weeks old today .. 15-8-05) and I could have not been happier ever.