An incubation centre for software projects

Space for the centre is being provided by the MCCI at its premises on Tilak Road. The STP will be bringing in the IT infrastructure, the communication links and administrative backup. STPI is estimating a cost of around Rs. 50 lakh for the hardware and software. Funding for some of the none-computer infrastructure is being provided by SIDBI.

The idea being that the entrepreneur does not need to make any investments and creating their own set-up and instead will use the space and facilities of the incubation centre to start their business. Explains Gupta, “Persons have the technological skills but do not take the plunge fearing failure or losses. In the incubation centre there will be no risk of losing investment as the entrepreneurs will bring in only their skills and manpower into the centre. So there is no risk of losing investment.”

The centre will also helps create confidence in the minds of persons abroad outsourcing their business to the Indian software outfits. “The centre will inspire confidence overseas in the ability of the Indian company/ professional to deliver and prove its credentials and bring in further business in future.”

According to Gupta the centre could also be used by software professionals and technocrats returning from abroad. Some of them come with project in hand but it takes at least six months to set up the company, completing formalities and finding a place etc. Such persons can start their work from the incubation centre while simultaneously creating their setup so there is no waste of time, which is one of the most critical factor in software exports. Six months is a long time in the IT industry and Gupta hopes that people will use his set-up to execute their orders from the centre and not lose out on orders.

In a month’s time all the data communication systems will be in place and the centre should become operational. In the next few days, some of the STPI staff will move on to the MCCI building on the fourth floor. To start off there will be a 1,000 sq.ft. area earmarked for the centre. It will be equipped with 18 terminals. People have options of hiring two, three or four terminals as per their requirement and these will be networked. It will be a virtual LAN environment. High speed data communication facility will be provided with the help of 64 kb lines. In addition there will be UPS, DG sets, telephone, fax and internet connectivity. While all these common services will be shared by everyone users will be charged on the basis on the terminals used.

The facility can be accessed for a limited period of around six months to one year and it cannot become a permanent base. “Once the concept is successful, we will go in for a bigger project,” promises Gupta.

The message for budding entrepreneurs is clear. Use the set-up and give it a shot or should one say press ENTER.