After our post regarding NEN using pluGGd.in name to nominate startups, Livemint interviewed NEN’s Laura Parkin regd. the goofups and here is an excerpt from the interview:
LiveMint: What was the issue with source attribution to Pluggd.in while nominating a start-up?
Laura: That was a very early glitch because we were so scared of not giving people credit. I’m sure we’ve looked at companies all over India, we’ve also been in touch with CII, contacted management and trade associations. Pluggd.in was not a partner. The company was indeed sourced from Pluggd.in and we accidentally sent (an) email out saying Pluggd.in had nominated them. We falsely attributed something to (Ashish Sinha, chief editor of Pluggd.in) that he did not do. The minute we realized this was a mistake, we wrote back to the entrepreneur and to Ashish. Now what we’re doing is unless people say you must attribute it to me, we’re just taking it as general nomination.
Our take:
- So NEN is saying that the entire attribution goofup happened with only 1 startup? In reality, there were more – how does NEN explains that?
As a FYI – they haven’t yet sent emails to the other startups (till date).
- Most important – Dis-respecting creative commons license:
So, NEN contacted CII and others for startup directory, but GENERALLY felt that lifting directory from pluGGd.in is just okay? Our credit policy is clearly laid out and looks like NEN didn’t give a damn to that.
I don’t want to stretch this issue as negativity soaks energy, but couldn’t help replying to NEN’s fabricated reply (and by the way, they also ‘planted’ a blogger to get the list of startups who were referenced from pluggd.in and later withdrew nomination)..
90 paise (2 cents) worth of advice to startups: Govt. of India is mulling over a decision to ban kids to participate in reality shows – now, I know where are these kids heading to!
As far as adults (startups) are concerned, they are busy improving their product offerings.
None is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes though only few admits it. In this case, no doubt NEN committed a mistake. But the moment they apologized for the same, the discussion should have been ended. I dont think you really suffered a ‘monetary’ loss or mental ‘agony’ coz of this. Neither i think NEN has done such a big crime.
Then why extending the issue beyond limits ?…. Come on. As far as the intention of NEN is good (to promote entreprenuership in India), entreprenuers will always be on their side.
Leave it there and focus on something ‘productive’ bro.
Ths is expected from plugs. Keep on!
Sorry, i missed out ur last statement. Hence this comment
“As far as adults (startups) are concerned, they are busy improving their product offerings”
No doubt that this has come from an engineer. An entreprenuer should not leave any opportunities which he/she gets to promote the startup at the right time. I would say NEN platform is
DEFINITELY giving visibility to unknown startups.
Yea, I dont blame you. Your credentials gives you an ‘audience’ when you talk. But please dont think every founder in India are as fortunate like you. They need such platforms to get some visibility, however BEST their product are. And an inexpensive mrketing is never bad.
@Hari – you are one of those who guys who wont move your butt, unless your own house is on fire.
Intention is a fn(actions)- not words..right?
I see valid points raised in this post..keep the discussion within the boundaries (instead of yada yada statements).
-Ravi K
To be very honest, we too are disappointed by misleading statements in that interview (I am quoted there). Laura commented that:
“The issue with TringMe was the nomination was online and he emailed the contact person (to withdraw it).”
It makes me feel that Laura is probably mis-informed by her team about what has really happened. We had requested TringMe’s withdrawal much before NEN-HS put us online and not after Tringme was put online as Laura mentions in that interview. As you can see from my blog, we requested our withdrawal on 29th Aug 2008 while our nomination went online on 11th Sep 2008 despite of our withdrawal request (http://tinyurl.com/tringmenen ).
While, I am not saying that Laura or any individual from NEN has intentionally done this, however it is expected that they check on the facts before making statement to media, especially when all facts were made public and also made available to them.
To top of it off, the comment about NEN apologizing to TringMe puts us in a bad light for appearing to be “extending the issue”. We have not received any apologies whatsoever – not a single email.
It takes guts to admit that one has committed a mistake, but in this case, it was much easier to reach a closure and move-on had someone from NEN-HS team even called us just once or emailed us to accept the mistake. While mistakes happen, they should definitely not make incorrect statements in interviews to cover it up !! – this only instigates it more.
Although I continue to have high regards for NEN & their senior management for the work they do for startups, I believe this issue could have been handled in a much better manner from NEN-HS.
NEN is full of goof ups and Laura Parkin is most incompetent. The Hottest startup program is very good but the team has NO idea of what they are doing.