Life of a Non-Tech Guy in a Tech Start up!

Landing on to an unknown island is always exciting and interesting. The same has been my experience with “Inventrom” for last one month.

When I was offered an internship at “Inventrom” on 17th November 2016, I was really happy and received appreciation for the same. But on the same time, I had a question in my mind — What will I do in a technology based start-up?? The Internet of Things (IoT) was something that I had heard of for the very first time while preparing for my interview (:P). The interviewer also asked me a question on a product which was related to their ongoing project, and I was not sure whether I had given them a correct solution.

I am a B.Com graduate and then worked as an Analyst in an Investment Banking firm. Currently, I am pursuing MBA in Business Economics from Delhi University. So, I was nowhere close to coding or any other tech based analytics. Even though I was hired for the Business Analyst team, I was not pretty clear with my role (as my field of expertise lies in finance).

I joined the company on 1st June 2017. Had my first “Stand-Up” on the very first day in which I introduced myself to the whole team and was inducted to a new culture of posting updates relating to the work done. Post that I was taken through the on-boarding process by our HR Manager Ms. Joyner Fernandes and understood the “Cultural Ethos” and basic details of the company. Colleagues were friendly and hierarchy-biase was not at all visible from the initial day itself. Ryan Dcosta, who heads the B2C Sales and Marketing, listened to all my suggestions on digital marketing, ways we can make “BOLT” up in front of Tech Bloggers and also put forward his inputs on the same.

A few days later, I had my meeting with the CEO Mr. Pranav Pai Vernerkar (PPV). I was a bit nervous. But he was very cordial. We strolled down the street of our office and had juice together. He asked me my field of interest (which I mentioned to be “Finance”) and he was pretty happy with it (this was a little surprising for me). Later he told that he was looking forward to someone who could help him design the financial process for the company, as well as, suggest him some secured investment opportunity to park the funds of the startup. He was open to all advices and supplemented me with his vision and experience. He communicated me exactly what he wanted and was very approachable as and when needed. With his help, I designed a model to analyse the risk associated to the investments in Mutual Funds. Post that, I created a process for the Budget approval which is to be followed by the employees for all the projects to be taken up. I also helped Dheeraj, our Project Manager, to prepare a Price-Cost analysis for one of the deal which is on cards currently. I learned about the tax regulations and various compliances a start-up needs to go through. All this has been possible because of the autonomy and free flow of information that has been provided by PPV as well as by other employees. I never felt as if I am an intern here. I was involved in the core activities and was appreciated for my contribution from time to time.

Apart from the above, I was a part of the workshop for the BOLT device and was amazed to see the way IoT can potentially change the way we live and help us becoming more efficient and effective with simplicity. I was introduced to the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ways it is making devices SMARTER and BETTER.

Currently, I am brainstorming and researching on viable options of IoT for the Financial Institutions such Banks, Insurance Companies, Fund Houses etc. (as per the directions of PPV). I often have a healthy discussion with Ishan, Enterprise Sales Manager for Inventrom with regards to plans for the pitch to our potential clients. We get in touch with our tech team all possible clarification and support required.

My experience at Inventrom is enriching me. I have garnered a lot of innovative experience for the last one month and looking forward for the same in the upcoming month.

Currently Inventrom is looking to hire passionate and dedicated individuals as Interns in the Sales & Marketing as well as Software Development team. If you are interested in internship at Inventrom, send your CV to career@inventrom.com with the subject line Sales and Marketing_Intern or Software Development_Intern.