Sometimes crazy ideas become successful: Prabhu on start-ups

Making a pitch for unconventional ideas for the growth of entrepreneurship, Union minister Suresh Prabhu said here today that there is a growing trend of school dropouts becoming successful start-up owners.

He said sometimes "crazy" ideas are the ones that click and become successful business models.

"Any idea you pursue, don't ask anybody whether it is a good idea or not, because for every idea there will be thousands who will say it is a bad idea. Only the ones who pursue that idea will succeed," the Commerce and Industry Minister said.

"Sometimes crazy ideas which are discarded, are the ones that ultimately become successful. And therefore we must find out crazy ideas from around the world," he added.

Prabhu was giving a key-note address on the second and last day of the Goa Start-Up and Innovation Day organised by the state government with an aim to provide opportunities for the new ventures. State Information and Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte was also present on the occasion.

The Union minister further said that there are crazy as well as lazy people around.

"Those who are crazy might succeed, but lazy will never succeed...But lazy might succeed in tourism, because if there are no lazy people, why will tourism succeed? I think there are enough opportunities for everybody. When I say lazy, I mean to say those who want to laze around and become tourists," Prabhu added.

Prabhu said a study should be conducted on why school dropouts become successful businessmen.

"Start-up is something different. The ones who don't want to go the conventional way, will succeed in start-up. Ultimately success will come.

"One must really do a study on why the drop-outs have successful start-ups...That does not mean you should become a dropout. Those who not follow the regimented idea are the ones who are going to be successful," he said.

The minister urged the start-up community to take up the untrodden paths.

Prabhu also pointed out that sometimes old fashions are reborn and start trending.

"It always happens that old fashions are reborn. I will not be surprised if after three years everybody will be wearing dhotis again. So old brands can be reborn and you can make a business out of it," he said.