Building technology in India is a unique challenge and privilege. My journey started with Innoz, an SMS-based search engine that reached 120 million users, many of whom were experiencing the internet for the first time. This taught me my first and most important lesson: build for the user's context, not your own.
Key Learnings:
- Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication: The user interface must be intuitive, even for those with low digital literacy. Voice and vernacular are not features; they are necessities.
- Trust is the currency: In a market where many are wary of digital transactions, building trust is paramount. This means transparent pricing, reliable service, and a human touch.
- The network is the product: Whether it's a network of users on an SMS platform or a network of stores on ONDC, the value lies in the connections you enable.
These lessons, learned over two decades, are the foundation upon which we build KiranaPro today, as we continue our mission to empower the next billion users.