I started working on the technical interview website back in 2005, when the entrepreneurship bug bite me for the first time. The website was called FAQDen [Frequently Asked Questions Den] and became one of the top destinations on Google for preparing for technical interviews. With over 100K users in less than 6 months, i was doing good, but could not figure out a way to monetize it. One option was to convert it into a book, but I lacked the discipline to see it through (with website you can make incremental changes).
After spending about a year feeling happy with the success, but unable to monetize it, I decided to move onto other projects. I wasted about 6 months exploring investment opportunities with Suhas Gopinath's Globalsinc. It was not a total waste, as I did learn how to negotiate as an angel investor and scout for high potential entrepreneurs.
In 2009, I noticed that a site called www.careercup.com came up with exactly the same concept, but the founder went one step further and finished writing a book. I started kicking myself for the lost opportunity and tried to invigorate www.faqden.com, but in vain. Well when you can't compete, partner with them, and that is exactly what I did. Well more on it later as we are working on a project together.
One thing led to another and eventually I landed at Sourcebits and was fortunately enough to directly work under the Rohit (CEO @ Sourcebits). Mobile product development, business development, and running a startup skills I learnt under Rohit were more valuable than my over priced 100K USD MIT education. It is no secret that anything I try to do at Faqden Labs, I ask myself, what will Rohit do and I do the same :).
I guess, I am taking too long to reach my point, but after working at Sourcebits, I realized that mobile apps are not only another channel into existing applications, but it is also an opportunity for small players to complete with incumbents on a level playing field. It is a new start. That was enough for me to start working on the iPhone app for my old www.faqden.com website focused on technical interviews. I re-branded the website as a mobile app development company under the name Faqden Labs and started working on 2 products. IntelliVocab (More details on that story some other time) and Technical Interviews Demystified. The first app was released in Jan, 2011 and went on to become a huge success beyond the wildest expectations.The second app is just finishing up and few days away from the release. I can share with you the images as they are getting finalized.
I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that it becomes as big a success as IntelliVocab.One can surely hope!
After spending about a year feeling happy with the success, but unable to monetize it, I decided to move onto other projects. I wasted about 6 months exploring investment opportunities with Suhas Gopinath's Globalsinc. It was not a total waste, as I did learn how to negotiate as an angel investor and scout for high potential entrepreneurs.
In 2009, I noticed that a site called www.careercup.com came up with exactly the same concept, but the founder went one step further and finished writing a book. I started kicking myself for the lost opportunity and tried to invigorate www.faqden.com, but in vain. Well when you can't compete, partner with them, and that is exactly what I did. Well more on it later as we are working on a project together.
One thing led to another and eventually I landed at Sourcebits and was fortunately enough to directly work under the Rohit (CEO @ Sourcebits). Mobile product development, business development, and running a startup skills I learnt under Rohit were more valuable than my over priced 100K USD MIT education. It is no secret that anything I try to do at Faqden Labs, I ask myself, what will Rohit do and I do the same :).
I guess, I am taking too long to reach my point, but after working at Sourcebits, I realized that mobile apps are not only another channel into existing applications, but it is also an opportunity for small players to complete with incumbents on a level playing field. It is a new start. That was enough for me to start working on the iPhone app for my old www.faqden.com website focused on technical interviews. I re-branded the website as a mobile app development company under the name Faqden Labs and started working on 2 products. IntelliVocab (More details on that story some other time) and Technical Interviews Demystified. The first app was released in Jan, 2011 and went on to become a huge success beyond the wildest expectations.The second app is just finishing up and few days away from the release. I can share with you the images as they are getting finalized.
I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that it becomes as big a success as IntelliVocab.One can surely hope!
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