A 'teenager' company
Of the youth, by the youth, for the youth. That is how a start-up firm by a group of teenagers from Mumbai proudly describe their company.
The brain child of eighteen-year-old Samyak Chakrabarty, Electronic Youth Media (EYM) offers an array of personalised services. EYM launched a social networking portal in February 2008. A one-stop destination for the youth, this portal will also offer online advertising and research services. The idea is to offer companies with ideas and concepts to market their products. EYM has received a good response with an average of 1.5 million hits on the portal every week.
"One needs to think differently to succeed," said Chakrabarty, a first year mass communication student at Jai Hind College, Mumbai. One of India's youngest CEOs, he believes in the power of his strong business model and has successfully managed to enroll about 100 teenagers in the company.
For him work is a passion, not a compulsion.
"Two years ago three of us, myself, Bhavyash Agarwaal(director, EYM) and Vatsal Thakkar (director, EYM) decided to start this venture," Chakrabarty sid. His mantra is not to mint money, but create value, great services and be known the world over. Money comes secondary for this off-beat, ambitious and cool CEO!
"I am not a topper. I don't believe in rote learning. What we learn from the textbooks for degrees is just for the resumes, I learn more from the newspapers. Most of our academic courses like BCom, HSC, SSC are all outdated," says Samyak Chakrabarty in an interview. So what is it like to become a teenager CEO? Read on. . .
Electronic Youth Media. How did it begin and what is the idea behind such a venture?
I always wanted to do something different, unconventional. There is no fun in following the conventional jobs. I believe that the media, Internet and the marketing industry is booming now and we hope to capitalise on this huge opportunity. Initially, I discussed my plans with two of my friends, Bhavyash Agarwaal and Vatsal Thakkar. Today, we have a strength of about 104 employees. All are on our payroll.
What services would Electronic Youth Media offer?
Electronic Youth Media will have a social networking site, www.youthportal.in. We are currently studying user's likes and dislikes and finding out newer and simpler methods to attract youngsters with exclusive features.
We also have an online advertising and research agency, 'Concrea.' The idea is to offer companies with ideas and concepts to market their products. We have talked to people across the industry. We have got a good response. Since we are young, it is easier for us to understand the market needs better.
We will create advertising strategies and media plan for clients. We will be looking at brands whose customer base comprise 16 to 28-years-olds.
Text: Manu A B
Image: Samyak Chakrabarty, CEO, Electronic Youth Media
Also read: Success mantras from a world champion
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