During 2000, when the dot.com bubble burst, starting up in internet space was indeed like a no path. Many a company that had mushroomed during the boom either sold cheaply or merged with another to stay afloat, or just collapsed. Those who survived those tough times are reaping the returns of the digital revolution today – and one name that appears on the top of that list is MakeMyTrip.com and its founder Deep Kalra.
Sabeer Bhatia brought India to the notice of the world, but it’s Deep Kalra who has taken the digital revolution beyond everyone’s imagination. The confidence that investors have in Indian start-ups today is partly because of the success of MakeMyTrip, a very successful and pioneering pure play internet commerce company. MakeMyTrip’s listing on NASDAQ last year has boosted the confidence of millions trying to make a place in this space, which is relatively new in India and is not yet utilised to its full potential.
I have worked with Deep in a venture directly, when he was my boss in a bowling company called AMF before I started exchange4media. Working with him taught me lessons I have used in my own business. Deep believes in karma and working with people with the right mindset. Deep is a dreamer, who dreams, executes and turns it into a reality. “Everything is possible,” is what I learnt from him. If he had not dreamed, MMYT on NASDAQ would not have been a reality. Anywhere in the world and especially in India it takes a lifetime to build a billion dollar company, and Deep has made it in just 11 years. That says it all. Deep did not draw a salary for about 18 months when his company was going through a rough phase. But, he looked into the future rather than being dissuaded by the circumstances.
Deep’s lessons can be enshrined in a book. Deep is the the poster boy of the digital world today. With MMT, Deep has singlehandedly changed the sentiments of the market. Big investors and businessman are looking at digital as a big and serious play. Everyone wants a share of this growing pie. Deep’s success has contributed majorly to this growing phenomenon. Deep has brought respect, scale and seriousness to the business.
The best thing I like about Deep is his candid and easygoing nature. You can go and ask him anything. Deep is always there to advise, and shares his experiences. You have a business model, he is ready to listen and also critique in an honest manner. Deep has mentored many entrepreneurs including Kunal Bahl, co-founder & CEO of Snapdeal.com; Hitesh Dhingra, and Amanpreet Bajaj, founders of LetsBuy.com; Sandeep Maheshwari, Founder of ImagesBazaar. com; Neetu Bhatia, co-founder, chairman and CEO of KyaZoonga.com as a part of a television show, and I know he does that on informal platforms as well.
Deep is giving back to the domain and industry and the platform as much as he has taken from it. The jury of the second edition of exchange4media Indian Digital Media Awards 2011 rightly selected him to be the Digital Person of the year.
Deep is an icon, and his best is yet to come. The Indian advertising and media professionals must learn their lessons from Deep and MMT’s success. Deep and MMT have contributed majorly to advertising growing online as his company and category tend to spend a lot of their budgets in acquiring customers and building brands online. Deep has been at the forefront of Indian digital advertising’s march.
MakeMyTrip has diversified in various categories, spread its wings in US, innovated beyond imaginations and has kept its values at the core. It took over the Singapore-based Luxury and Tours recently and is investing heavily in those markets. It’s also making the common man’s dream of travelling to an exotic destination come true.
Deep’s ability to see the future is extraordinary. I am sure he would take his company and the whole medium along to unrivalled levels. As the internet penetrates more and more in the towns and villages of India, Deep’s story would be an inspiration to many. Our youth, the future of our nation would look up to him and build many more billion dollar internet companies. We thus need to reward Deep, to see many Deeps enlightening the digital space tomorrow.
“Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” Deep embodies what Arnold H Glasow said many years ago. Deep has set the Indian digital media industry and e-commerce domain on fire, and the illumination is an inspiration and glow for others. To the shining light (Deep) of India.
Feedback: abatra@exchange4media.com
