This is damn unprofessional on NEN’s part to use pluGGd.in’s brand name to run a campaign like this (without even informing us!)
Look at this (click for larger resolution):
For obvious reason, I have marked startup name with a marker.
Email Content that was sent to startup
Subject of the email: WWW.PLUGGD.IN has nominated <startup name> for TATA NEN Hottest Startups Awards!
Body:
Hi
Congratulations! Your startup <startup name>has been nominated by WWW.PLUGGD.IN for the TATA NEN Hottest Startups Awards.
——–
For records, I have never been to NEN Hotteststartups page – and won’t nominate one for an event, which has taken a spammer route.
In my opinion, market will eventually chose what a hot startup is. Using these ‘reality tv’ styled voting is simply a waste of startups’ time. But then, I leave that to organizers and startups to figure out.
Each one to himself.
For startups, my 2 cents of advice – Focus on Execution.
And before you press that ‘Please vote for us’ button, understand the difference between cheap marketing/ spam vs. long-term branding (see this cool dude who has even had a press release!)
If you are a startup and have received an email like this from NEN, please email me (anonymity assured) – I need to understand whats happening here.
An email has been sent to Laura for clarifying on these points.
Update from Laura:
”
Hi Ashish,
Apologies.
Am not sure how this would have happened. We do give people a choice of which organization they can attribute their nomination towards, but since pluggd.in is not a partner, I didn’t think that we gave people that alternative.
We’ll immediately check this out, and make sure that no one attributes any nominations to pluggd.in.
We only send out these mails to the entrepreneur if someone has nominated a startup, and claimed association with a particular organization. We do this to be sure that the organizations get the right credit for the nomination.
Will let you know what happened here. And of course immediately change the attribution of this particular nomination.
Best,
Laura
—
I am seriously not sure how attribution is linked to these emails – these emails are sent by NEN people . Right?
Ashish,
That was very bad on the part of who ever is running the TATA NEN show. I admire NEN for some of the work they do, but this kind of spamming is not what such organizations should get into.
IMHO this is much worse than the tactic followed by PR folks at startups.
Will let you know, if I come across such a thing.
Even OpenSourceDeal.com was nominated by , …mmm.. I think startups.in or something (I’ll have to dig out the actual mail), for NEN.
I think I better mail those guys and ask them , if this was without their permission too.
OKay now i got it. I got a mail from NEN saying that our incubator had nominated my startup (incubator is nt operational nw…none to send a nomination on behalf of us)for the awards…ws wondering whether NEN would go this low to do such a spam….thnks ashish for this post and clarifying the same….
Its a shame !
The bigger image clearly shows the company name and the email of the individual. I think u forgot to hide it in bigger image
Looks like you have already corrected it.
The old image url is still accessible.
@Gnusmas : this is the bigger image url : http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2842272211_d9614756b2_o.png
Have rectified the post too.
That is sick, how can they back track so easily on this. You should sue them for incorrect brand representation.
NEN is real desperate!
Really cheap stuff. Didn’t expect this. As I see it the whole concept looks so glamorized. They should tender a public apology.
That’s the problem you know. They must have hired some fresh/1-2 yrs experience MBA who came up with this smart idea. MBAs fuck everything.
This is hilarious! Next only to Yaari.com that used to send out those “So-and-so is your yaar!” emails:)
I liked what you said- “In my opinion, market will eventually chose what a hot startup is. Using these ‘reality tv’ styled voting is simply a waste of startups’ time. But then, I leave that to organizers and startups to figure out.”
Good to this happen, a few controversies mean that the startup space is growing up !
Yeah. Just that few players make startup sound more spammy!
Shame on NEN for doing this.
We understand why Ashish is upset, and we apologize. We appreciate that this has been brought to our attention, and have immediately corrected it.
Generally, we are trying to give credit to organizations that have provided us with leads and nominations, or even if that is where we first heard of a company. But in this case, we made a mistake and credited Pluggd.in as nominator. We’ve gone back and changed how we credit people, and the team is focused on the problem, so that it does not happen again.
As you know, it’s the first time putting this sort of public event together, and we’re working through all sorts of things to make it work. We appreciate the ongoing input, and the support. Please do let us know as other things come up.
- Laura Parkin
@Laura
Couple of questions:
a. How were your employees sending emails to startups using pluGGd.in name?
b. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t NEN spending whole lot of time in our startup directory?
Your reply is more of ‘crediting’ issue, but you aren’t talking about the REAL issue.
-Ashish.
Laura’s Reply is so funny ” we’re working through all sorts of things to make it work”…
and You thought she is doing damage control exercise….
The problem is that its a people choice based contest and as this is happening for the first time all such issues will come up.
Anyone can nominate any startup and then do marketing to get them votes.
If you check out on hotteststartups.in, they are providing a nomination kit, marketing kit etc for anyone who wishes to nominate a startup.
They have 103+ expert panel comprising of angels, VCs and CEOs.
I think it will serve the purpose of investors as they will get to see a list of major startups at one place and of startups who get visibility to large number of investors.
If startups market themselves to get votes it fine but if someone else being a nominator does the same you dont know what and how they are doing it. It may be treated as spam by receivers and may hurt the brand, but any day this is better than sending mails to people by buying a database or outsourcing it a company who may do the same.
Sumeet – the problem is you just spammed thrice (to my cell phone).
How does it affect me? Your credibility as a startup/serious entrepreneurs went down.
So keep spamming.
Ashish-
I agree that NEN using pluggd.in’s name to nominate companies is not just SPAM but a very serious issue.
But I wont say that my sending you an SMS to vote for us is spamming, as I just sent it as a personal message to some people I know and who know me.
sorry for spamming you (not other people I sent the same message to)…my problem, as I was not able to judge that you may treat it as spam.
I or my company is not sending it to anyone or everyone by buying a database of numbers, that will be a WRONG practice and spamming in real sense, we are no way doing that.
What’s wrong in asking people who know us to vote for us?
Well.dude..Like I said earlier- Market will decide who is hot.
Now, imagine what i go thru’ – most of the startups sent me a mail/sms for this.
And some of them aren’t even part of this ‘hungama’ – they send me feature updates/new wins – I give credibility to them, not to the spammy ones.
My 2 cents.
Pingback: NEN Forcibly Nominating Startup - Why? : Yusuf Motiwala’s Blog
Pingback: Weekly Recap (Sep 7th-14th) |Technology and Business Startups in India
I Just can’t believe today’s or future entrepreneurs are so unsupportive. every other guy or a company dose a mistake and they learn with their mistakes! Not sure why NEN trying educate entrepreneurship in India?? When some people just want to do road side Business. As for as me Hottest Start-up is concern it is a great thing! I’m happy to see all young guns working on their won and created lot’s opportunities, ideas, trends for every one in this bloody ‘CORPTED COUNTRY’
I’m sure NEN will follow some good process in future! they will do much better for our community. Ashish can you/we also suggest them?? thanks
@Ashish: As far as this issue is concerned, Laura seems to have clearly explained the attribution part of it. Incase the startup that you are referring had used your name or probably the NEN personnel had mistaken the attribution of nomination as pluggd.in, your name would have featured there.
In all possibilities, Laura had clearly and openly apologized for it. I dont get a point of dragging this beyond, if only you are interested to derive mileage out of this issue. Whatever be it, spammers are to be banished and am sure, organization like NEN of such a stature, wont indulge in cheap acts. Of course, bootstrapping such an event would eventually create loop holes which would be plugged. Even though startups needs proper execution and not bother much about such reality TV event. Just imagine what all blogs and ur plugs quote for startups – free marketing is always welcome and such events are conducted to provide such an opportunity. Even if it is not, somebody looks like attempting.
Your comments of displeasure sounds more harsher than exploratory.
*disclaimer* In no way, I am associated with NEN
@Hari – Attribution? WHo needs explanation on that?
How did the pluggd.in name featured there? Think about it !
[hint: what were the employees of NEN doign @ pluggd.in?) – if I share the logs our our site, you will come to know the real picture.
And as far as mileage is concerned, fuck it! I dont give a damn to NEN and their cheap tactics.
They are nominating startups even though startups are sending out emails saying they want to withdraw their nominations..how fair is that?
And hey, we never said cheap marketing id good – an intelligent marketing is good, and it’s never cheap.
Pingback: TATA NEN: Nominations by Force? « STARTUPCENTRAL
With all the shit flying around, it seems everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong with NEN HS.
I would like to nominate NEN HS for the “Worst Contest Ever” award. Please vote?!
Pingback: NEN explains the goofup..but it still a goofup |Technology and Business Startups in India
Pingback: Kaafi Advice from a Lifehacker fan » Post Topic » TATA NEN Hottest Startups Awards India
Can you give more details on this?