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KODAVA YOUTH’S ENTERPRISING JOURNEY

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg


Meet Theethira Vineeth Devaiah, Co-Founder & CEO of TeliportMe
With strong will and dedication, any youth can find a way to excel. As if to prove this, a youth from Kodagu has created a tech investing system that went on to gain popularity all over the world and has now become a billion dollar company.

Meet the 26-year-old Theethira Vineeth Devaiah, who has developed a company from scratch. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TeliportMe, Bangalore, which lets one explore places through the images and panoramas taken by users through the Android app 360. His system facilitates crowd-sourced panoramic images to build a community.

TeliportMe’s most-sought-after app 360 allows a person to press a button on the camera and take a circular shot of the world around, generate a panoramic, full-circle, hi-resolution picture of the surroundings and share it on Facebook or Twitter as well as TeliportMe’s website.

TeliportMe has outrun other leading apps like Photaf, Occipital, Dermandar and Photosynth and is now the choice for Android users. According to Vineeth Devaiah, the app’s fan base is growing rapidly by 2,000 new users a day with 8,00,000 users already logged in.

Vineeth Devaiah created his first website when he was just 10. He exited his first successful startup at 15, and has been involved in various technological and non-technological startups as a consultant. He graduated from Cornell University and headed the US and International Business Development at Terracycle Inc. which was called The Coolest Little Start-Up in America by Inc. Magazine.

Vineeth was mentored by Bala Manian, a US-based serial entrepreneur in optics space, whose inventions were picked up by George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic to make the film Return of the Jedi, which bagged an Oscar for technical advances.

Other investors in TeliportMe include venture capitalists from America millionaire Dave McClure (Chairman of 500 Start-ups), Bill Gross (Idealab), Alessandro Piol (Vedanta Capital), etc.

Hailing from Thyla village in Kutta, South Kodagu, Vineeth is the only child of Subramani and Latha. His father, a law graduate, worked with HAL for some time and was posted as the Deputy Financial Advisor in Port Trust, Goa. His mother is the daughter of Ammanichanda Appachu.

It was in Goa that Vineeth took the first steps towards starting his business ventures. He studied in Naval Public School there. Vineeth once stumbled upon the National Centre for Antarctica and Ocean Research just around the corner and soon started bugging them for data. Scientists were mystified, but were encouraging. They gave him access to weather patterns for the past 50 years on floppy discs and Vineeth began reverse-engineering a programme that could work with the data. An entrepreneur was born.

He ended up coding a programme that predicted weather patterns fairly accurately, attracting the attention of Infosys, which paid $1 million for it, eventually putting Rs. 65 lakh in his pocket. Vineeth did his undergraduate degree in engineering at REC, Surathkal in Mangalore, completed a Master’s in Bio-medical Engineering at Cornell University in the US, got admission for a Ph.D programme at Harvard but decided not to pursue it. While working at waste-to-products firm Terracycle, he met an old friend and entrepreneur Abhinav Asthana, whose technology inspired the duo to dream up TeliportMe.

Google approached them with a buyout offer for TeliportMe that was in the $15-20 million range, but its offer was turned down by the enthusiastic entrepreneurs who wished to take the company forward. At present, this billion dollar company is at the right place at the right time. —SH

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> Feature Articles / December 11th, 2012

FKCCI expects Rs. 1,000 cr. investments at Coorg Investors Meet

Business & Economy

‘It will be a boon to develop the industrially backward Kodagu district’

The proposed Coorg Investors Meet (CIM), a business development summit, scheduled to be held in Madikeri on December 18, is expected to attract Rs. 750 crore to Rs. 1,000 crore investments in various non-polluting industries from over 60 entrepreneurs, president of the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI) K. Shivashanmugam said here on Tuesday.

It would be a boon to develop the industrially backward Kodagu district, Mr. Shivashanmugam told presspersons here. The FKCCI was facilitating a platform for the State government and private sector in fields such as IT, BT, tourism, garment, food processing, and education sector to interact with the participants. Establishing coffee technology park, promoting tourism, developing horticulture, popularising beekeeping, and setting up cold storage facilities for vegetables and flowers had good scope in Kodagu.

All the industries proposed to be set up would not have any adverse impact on the environment of the district, he said.

These industries would generate employment for local people in a big way and help farmers make over their lands for developing industries, Mr. Shivashanmugam said. Educational institutions, especially residential, would prevent youth from leaving Kodagu in pursuit of studies.

The FKCCI intended to remove the regional imbalances with regard to industrial development and account for the prosperity of the district, he said. Senior vice-president of the FKCCI R. Shivakumar endorsed his statements.

The participants from the State government and its agencies, investors, the representatives of the FKCCI, Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KIADB, KSSIDC, MSME, bankers, and New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) would participate in the CIM and offer suggestions to the people who would want to set up industries in the district,

Many farmers in Kodagu had come forward to offer lands to set up industrial units, Mr. Shivashanmugam claimed.

Rail links

The Mysore-Kushalnagar survey for rail links had been completed. Railway line would be a boon to the people of Kodagu, he said. The meet would culminate after a session on business opportunities in which the NMPT officials would make a presentation on export facilities. Mr. Shivashanmugam agreed to a point that the road infrastructure was poor in Kodagu apart from shortage of electricity and water, the vital ingredients for industrial development. The State government had agreed to address the issue after the FKCCI had spoken to the Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar and Industries Minister, Murugesh Nirani, he said. A session proposed to be held in the CIM would focus on the road connectivity from Kodagu to Kerala. That the State Government intended to come up with a mini airport in Kodagu for which lands had been identified in Somwarpet taluk was a god augury, he stated.

The president of the MCCI, Sudhakar Shetty, said that Yadgir and Bellary districts, supposed to be industrially backward, would be considered next for holding investors’ meet.

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‘The FKCCI wants to remove the regional imbalances with regard to industrial development’
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The December 18 meet is expected to generate 10,000 jobs for local people: Sudhakar Shetty
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source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, December 05th, 2012

Coorg wins ‘Favourite emerging Indian destination’ Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All


G. Satyavathi, Director, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and Arvind Jadhav Singh, Addl. Chief Secretary, Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka, seen receiving the award for Emerging Destination in India for Coorg at the Readers’ Travel Awards 2012 function in Delhi recently as Alex Kuruvilla, MD, Conde Nast India and Divia Thani, Editor, Conde Nast Traveller India look on.

New Delhi, Dec. 10

Condé Nast Traveller India, the last word in travel, has announced the winners of the second edition of the Readers’ Travel Awards-2012.

Coorg, with its abundant natural beauty, wooded grandeur and unique culture, was recognised as the Favourite Emerging Destination in India. Located in Karnataka, Coorg attracts travellers and nature lovers, mainly due to its scenic landscape, coffee estates, plantations and rich heritage.

Parvez Dewan, Secretary Tourism, Govt. of India, who was the chief guest at the awards ceremony said, “My connection with Condé Nast Traveller goes back to my earlier days. When I started doing my research on hotel standards I used Condé Nast Traveller as a benchmark to better understand the industry. Having such credible lineage, I feel that that the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards have become the Oscars of the Indian travel industry.”

Readers of Condé Nast Traveller India had the opportunity to vote across 22 categories for their favourite destinations, hotels, airlines, spas, airports and more. The winners were then chosen after being scored on several parameters unique to each category.

Commenting on the success of the awards ceremony, Alex Kuruvilla, MD, Condé Nast India, said, “Having introduced the prestigious global Readers’ Travel Awards last year and set a benchmark in excellence for the travel industry, I feel that Condé Nast Traveller India has outdone itself this year. We are proud to host the most credible awards for the discerning luxury traveller, and spearhead growth in luxury travel space in India.”

Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Award-2012 winners are:

1. Country – Thailand

2. Overseas City – London

3. Indian City – New Delhi

4. India Leisure Destination – Goa

5. Emerging Overseas Destination – New Zealand

6. Emerging Indian Destination – Coorg

7. Overseas Business Hotel – London Hilton on Park Lane.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / December 10th, 2012

And what about traditional healers?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

All the medicines he gives are derived from herbs, collected from the forests and not chemically spiked.

The steady stream of patients has been increasing over the years for this ayurvedic practitioner, whose knowledge has been handed down the generations

The sick and anxious queue up every day at the clinic of a popular ayurvedic pandit in a north Kodagu village, hoping to find a solution to their ailments, and many undertake an arduous journey to reach this remote place nestled in coffee plantations.

His medicines — mostly herbs, powdered and packed in plastic covers — are handed out along with a pamphlet providing details about dosage and diet. The steady stream of patients has been increasing over the years for this ayurvedic practitioner, whose knowledge has been handed down the generations, but not through any formal method.

All the medicines he gives are derived from herbs, collected from the forests and not chemically spiked, he claims, telling patients to test them for heavy metals or steroid if they so wish.

“Most come after allopathic drugs fail to provide relief. Many come with faith in traditional knowledge,” he says.

There are thousands like him, claiming to use remedies handed down generations in a State that has rich biodiversity. Sources in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) estimate that there could be around 40,000 to 50,000 traditional healers, mostly in rural areas, in the State.

However, without a recognised degree, the medicines they prescribe have not gone through the rigours of modern testing methods.

The role of the traditional healer is thus a matter of debate. Lack of government-monitored system to test their medicines and validate their practice has also not helped.

No recognition

Officially, their role in the health system has not been recognised either by the Karnataka Medical Council or by the AYUSH Department. According to a senior official in the Drug Controller’s Office, prescribing allopathic medication without medical qualification is illegal under the Drug Rules and it is also illegal to prescribe ayurvedic drugs without recognition by the Directorate of AYUSH. AYUSH Department sources said that though no time-frame has been set, there is a loud thinking in the government to address issues pertaining to traditional medicine and healers as this knowledge is considered an important element in society that should not be lost.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Sharath S. Srivasta / Bangalore, December 04th, 2012

Kodagu villagers teach Wayanad a lesson in tiger conservation

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Kozhikode :
Just two days after the controversial killing of a tiger in Wayanad, the villagers of Nidugumba in Kodagu district, just across the border in Karnataka, have given their counterparts in Wayanad a lesson in handling a man-animal conflict.

The villagers on Tuesday swiftly rescued a tigress which had strayed into a coffee plantation and got its feet entangled in a barbed-wire fence, without baying for its blood as it happened in Wayanad.

According to Karnataka forest officials, the entire community headed by the owner of the coffee plantation, Sullimada Muthanna, ensured that there was no mobbing of the struggling tiger. The villagers stood guard on the tiger till forest officials from the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve arrived and took control of the situation.

“The villagers were very cooperative. There was no violent mob baying for blood and the tigress was tranquilized swiftly,” Bandipur Tiger Reserve director Kumar Pushkar told TOI. With 10-12 tigers per 100 sq km, Nagarahole is known to have ones of the highest tiger densities in the country. It also produces a surplus of animals each year.

The animal was soon untangled from the fence and transported to the Mysore Zoo where it is currently under medical care.

Leading tiger ecologist and director of ScienceAsia, Ullas Karanth, said that the situation in Kodagu stands in stark contrast with the recent tragic outcome in Wayanad when a cornered tiger was first tranquilized and then shot dead amidst chaos created by a local mob.

“The restraint and positive conservation attitude of the Kodagu villagers is exemplary. They responded positively and acted as the guardians of the tiger. Other communities along the Western Ghats, including Wayanad, should realize that the tiger is a very precious heritage of ours. The government also has to develop more professional ways of dealing with such situations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi president N Badusha said that historically, the people of Wayanad have coexisted peacefully with wild animals. “But over the last two months, certain vested interests, backed by political parties and religious institutions, have created a mass hysteria which has created animosity among people against animals. This hysteria has taken over even the people who usually speak up for the animals,” he said. Badusha added that even his son was attacked and house stoned for the pro-conservation stand taken by him.

source: http://www.m.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by K R Rajeev, TNN / December 06th, 2012

Miss.Tibet – 2013 Pageant at Bylakuppe next year

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Dharamsala, Dec. 4\
The Miss Tibet Pageant-2013, which was held in Dharmasala for 10 years since it began in 2002, will now be held in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlement.

The organisers have decided to shift the venue since most of the Tibetans-in-exile live in South India. The contest will be held from Feb. 10 to 13, 2013 and the applications will be online soon with Jan. 15 as the last date to submit the form.

The organisers have also changed the timing of the event from June to February. “This is the time of Tibetan New Year, Losar, and hence the event is being held in the starting of 2013,” organisers said and added that eventually the event would be held in other parts of the country where Tibetan people are settled in large numbers.

The organisers had decided to forgo this year’s Miss Tibet Pageant 2012 in the wake of the growing unrest, to protest Tibet’s “grim” condition under the Chinese government. They said that the next year’s Miss Tibet will be dedicated to the critical situation in Tibet and especially for those who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause. The controversial event was vehemently opposed by many including the Tibetan government-in-exiles, saying it was not part of Tibetan tradition.

Till date, winners of the contest have twice won Miss Earth in the Philippines and Miss Asia Pacific World once

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / December 04th, 2012

CM to open Business Summit at Madikeri on Dec.18

Business & Economy

Focus on tourism, infrastructure

Caption: FKCCI President K. Shivashanmugam addressing a press conference at Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) premises in city this morning. He is flanked by MCCI President Sudhakar S. Shetty and FKCCI Vice-President R. Shivashankar. [Pic. by Pragathi Gopalakrishna]
Mysore, Dec. 4
The Kodagu Region Business Development Summit, to be held in Madikeri town on Dec. 18 to attract investors, is focussed on tourism and setting up of knowledge-based industries using local resources, with impetus on connectivity to and from the district via road, rail and air.

The Summit, a joint initiative by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) and the Kodagu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar at 11 am at Cauvery Hall on Race Course Road, Madikeri, said K. Shivashanmugam, President of FKCCI, at a press meet held at MCCI premises here today.

“The Summit will showcase the investment potential of Kodagu and attract new investors. It also intends to develop and motivate the existing enterprises. Focus will be on the development of knowledge-based sectors such as Information Technology and Bio-Technology, infrastructure development, tourism, education, horticulture and food processing industries for which there is ample scope in the district,” he said and added that care will be taken not to encourage industries that may harm the environment.

“Investments to the tune of Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 750 crore are expected to be made at the Summit which will be attended by more than 50 industrial investors,” he said.

Speaking about connectivity, Shivashanmugam said that land has been identified for a mini airport in Somwarpet and survey has been made for a broad-guage rail link between Mysore and Kushalnagar, for which a Prelminary Engineering and Traffic Survey has been completed.

When asked about the deplorable condition of roads linking Kodagu district, Shivashan-mugam said that the FKCCI had already discussed with the CM about the need for developing basic infrastructure in the district and he had assured all assistance. “Since the entire government will be present at the Summit in Madikeri, the issue of roads will be taken up as a priority,” he said and added that development works cannot take place overnight.

Speaker K.G. Bopaiah will preside over the Summit which will be attended by Large & Medium Scale Industries Minister Murugesh R. Nirani, Tourism Minister B.S. Anand Singh, Small Scale Industries Minister Raju Gowda aka Narasimha Nayak, Ecology, Environment, Planning and Statistics Minister Sogadu Shivanna, Youth Services and Sports Minister M.P. Ranjan Appachu and others.

Those interested to participate in the Summit may get their names registered with Ramakrishna, Asst. Director, Karnataka Udyoga Mithra, Ph. 9945917303 or e-mail: mramdic@gmail.com

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / December 04th, 2012

Forest staff, villagers to be immunised against monkey fever

Science & Technology

Mysore, Dec. 5
A mass immunisation drive against monkey fever will be conducted by the Chamarajanagar health officials for the Forest Department personnel of Bandipur and the villagers in Maddur Colony in Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) tomorrow, said BTR Director Kumar Pushkar.

Speaking to a newspaper yesterday, Pushkar, who has confirmed the monkey fever in Maddur forest range, said that there was no need to panic and the situation was under control. Blood samples of primates, suspected to have died of monkey fever, were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Monkey fever, also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), claimed the lives of eight Bonnet Macaques and two Langurs during last week. No more deaths of primates have been reported after that, Pushkar said and added that forest watchers working at Alegowdanakatte anti-poaching camp are in good health and there was nothing to be anxious about.

Five personnel of the camp had taken ill a few days ago with suspected monkey fever and were admitted to Gundlupet hospital for treatment.

Pushkar said vaccinations will be administered only for those aged between 6 and 65 years. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will not be vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Dr. R. Srinivas from Gundlupet and his team of medicos conducted a health check up for Maddur colony residents and found them to be free from any infection.

The vaccinations will be provided by Virus Diagnostic Laboratory (Shimoga). An expert team from Kyasanur forest of Shimoga (where KFD was first reported in 1957) will arrive in Chamarajanagar to assist the team.

Doctors have asked the forest authorities to take precautions before entering the forest like applying tick-repellent oil, which will be provided by the Department of Animal Husbandry at the veterinary hospitals. This will prevent the ticks, the carriers of KFD, from biting them. They have also been asked to bathe after returning from the forests.

Common symptoms of KFD are bleeding in nose and mouth, fluctuation in blood pressure and repeated fever.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / December 05th, 2012

CMC wards restructured in Madikeri

About Kodagu / Coorg, Business & Economy

After the exercise, the number of wards comes down to 23 from 31

Following the High Court’s direction to restructure the wards under Madikeri CMC limits, the CMC has taken measures to restructure the wards, based on the population of 2001 census.

There were 31 wards in Madikeri. Now, it has been reduced to 23. The CMC has already invited objections for the restructuring.

The new wards are:

Ward No 1 — Block No 14 (Dairy farm, Rifle range, Subrahmanya Nagara, DAR quarters, road behind FMC College, Vidya Nagara Housing Board)

Ward No 2 — block No 1 (Mahadevepete Main Road, Muthappa Temple Road, Kodandarama temple Road)

Ward No 3 — Block No 2, 3 and 24 (Ganapathy Street, Mahadevapete, Dasavala Road).

Ward No 4 — Block No 3 (partially)(Block 6) (Dasavala road, Ganapathy street)

Ward No 5 — Block No 5, 4 (Mahadevapete, Makangalli, Kanakadasa Road and Hill Road).

Ward No 6 — Block No 7, 4 (partially) (Ranipete, Mahadevapete, Hill Road)

Ward No 7— Block No 10, 7 (partially), 8, 9, 14 (Ranipete, Convent Road, Mallikarjuna Nagara).

Ward No 8 — Block No 8 (partially), 25, (Ranipete, Mallikarjuna Nagara).

Ward No 9 — Block No 9(partially), 14 (partially), 8 (partially) (College Road, Bhagavathi Nagara, ITI, Housing Board).

Ward No 10 — Block No 11, 12, 13 (College Road, Appacchu Kavi road, Pension lane, Shastri Nagara).

Ward No 11 — Block No 12 (partially), 11 (partially), 13 (partially), (Gowlibeedi main road).

Ward No 12 — Block No 14 (partially), Indiranagara, Chamundeshwara Nagara and new layouts.

Ward No 13 — Block No 14 (partially) (Jyothi Nagara, new layouts, Police quarters and Remand Home).

Ward No 14 — Block No 15, 14 (partially), (Rajaseat Road, Mangalore Road, Brahmanara Beedi, Chamaraja Villa Road).

Ward No 15 — Block No 16 (Mangaladevi Nagara, General Thimmaiah Road, Mission Compound, Moornadu Road).

Ward No 16 — Block No 17, 18 (Moornadu Road right side, Mangalore road left side, Mysore Road and G T Road).

Ward No 17 — Block No (partially), 17 (partially). 19 (Mysore road, Ukkuda, Old Siddapura Road and PWD quarters).

Ward No 18 — Block No 18 (partially), 17 (partially), (Mysore Road, Sudarshana Circle, Putani Nagara and Jayanagara).

Ward No 19 — Block No 20, 21, 22, 13 (Chaingate road, Junior College Road).
Ward No 20 — Block No (partially), (Dasavala Road, Kannandabane and Somwarpet road).

Ward No 21 — Block No 23 (partially), (Forest quarters, Somwarpet road, Kannandabane, Pumphouse and Housing Board).

Ward No 22 — Block No 24 (partially), (Muthappa temple road, behind Gaddige, Thyagaraja Colony).

Ward No 23 — Block No 24 (partially), (Behind Gaddige, Azad Nagar, Ukkuda Road and Rajarajeshwari Nagara).

History

Madikeri TMC was upgraded to CMC in 2007. After the upgradation, the number of wards were increased to 31. Questioning the increase in wards, P P Chami had filed a writ petition in the High Court, on March 24, 2008. During the proceedings, the court directed the state government to suspend the order on 31 wards. As the elected representatives were elected for 31 wards, the court had directed to maintain status quo and asked the government to restructure wards for the next election

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / December 02nd, 2012

Speciality Coffee Association Seeks To Carve Niche For Indian Coffee

Business & Economy, Coffee News

Bangalore, September 8::

‘When the going gets tough, the tough gets going’ is a much abused cliche. But in the context of the present situation in the global coffee scene, there is no other way to describe the slew of initiatives launched by Speciality Coffee Association of India (SCAI) to create a niche brand identity for the Indian coffee.

An All India Barista Championship on the lines of International Barista Championship and SCAI-certified speciality coffee auction through Internet, revamping the SCAI website are some of major programmes planned by SCAI in the next one year. This is the first time such an event being held in the country.

Speaking to FE, SCAI chairman Ashok Kuriyan said, “We are working on the modalities of organising this event and also plans to promote the cafe culture in India through trained baristas.” As members of SCAI our vision is to promote varietal, organic, sustainable, geographic and estate-brand coffees, he added.

The association has also chalked out a detailed project to start SCAI- certified internet auction of speciality coffee for its members. “We plan to set up this by March 2003,” Mr Ashok Kuriyan added. Earlier, each member used to participate in the general auction on his own.

This initiative is expected to further strengthen the speciality coffee segment in the country.

Measures are already underway to revamp SCAI website. The new website will be activated with important information on a monthly basis, Mr Kuriyan said. SCAI members who lack own website will be allowed to put up a web page on their plantation coffee profile at a fees of Rs 1,000 per annum, he added.

SCAI also plans to participate in the speciality coffee association convention to be held in April 2003 in Boston, where it will showcase the Indian speciality coffee. SCAI also plans to extend its membership to foreign buyers, roasters and similar associations from other countries, said SCAI co-ordinator S Venkatesh. The membership will be further extended to roasters, brokers, retailers, traders, exporters, coffee shops, machinery manufacturers, curers, auctioneers and agri input suppliers in the future, he said. However, the association is taking a cautious step regarding this, he added. At present, the membership was open only to coffee growers and producers of monsooned coffee.

The association started with the purpose to promote the concept of special and speciality coffee in India in 2000 has around 17 members now. The association had recently held its AGM presided over by European Speciality Coffee Association president Trygve Klingenberg.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com / The Financial Express / Bangalore, September 08,09th, 2012