Get All Access for $5/mo

The Man Who Made India's First Digital Deal: Rajesh Jain On His Favourite Books Based out of Mumbai, tech entrepreneur Rajesh Jain launched India's first Internet portal - IndiaWorld in the late 1990s and pioneered Asia's dotcom revolution.

By Kabir Singh Bhandari

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Rajesh Jain

Based out of Mumbai, tech entrepreneur Rajesh Jain launched India's first Internet portal - IndiaWorld in the late 1990s and pioneered Asia's dotcom revolution. In 1999, he sold IndiaWorld to Sify for $115 Million in the country's first dotcom acquisition. It was the first digital deal in the country. In 1997, Netcore Cloud , his second profitable startup was founded, which today is revolutionizing the way over 6500 brands engage with consumers across 40+ countries. Jain has also published his debut book, 'Startup to Proficorn', in which he chronicles his three decades old journey as an entrepreneur with an objective to help aspiring and young entrepreneurs build unicorn firms while making profits.

Here are Jain's three favourite books and why he feels they are an important read:

1. Jim Collins: Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0

While Jim Collins has written a number of books, this one is my favourite because it essentially brings out all the best ideas from his previous books. In the book there is also a map, what he calls 'The Map', and that encapsulates the ideas from the previous books. The book contains enduring principles which help one think big about how you want to build a company and how to ensure that it becomes a great company and one that is built to last.

2. Uri Levine: Fall in Love with the Problem, not the Solution

The title of the book actually tells the story. I think this is a great teaching for an entrepreneur that many times what entrepreneurs do is create a solution and then they are go out in search of the problem That is not the right way to build a business. When I have tried that several times in my life, I have actually failed. So the correct way is to figure out the problem, fall in love with the problem. The book talks about what is it that one is going to solve for the target segment that you have and then how can you test the thesis inexpensively and quickly. It makes you ask essential questions such as are there enough people with the same problem to create a profitable business overtime?

3. Richard Rumelt: The Crux

The third book that I would like to recommend is Richard Rummel's book called The Crux. The core idea is around strategy, that when you are looking to solve problems, figure out those problems or that that one particular problem which is the most important and most solvable.

Many times we look at the important problems but do not look at look at solvability. Strategy at the end of the day really is about choices and what Rumelt distils down even further in the book is that at every pivotal time moment in your company, identify the most important and most solvable problem.

The author can be reached at bkabir@entrepreneurindia.com and Instagram.com/kabirsinghbhandari

Kabir Singh Bhandari

Former Senior Assistant Editor

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

News and Trends

Tech Burner's Anarc Smartwatch Achieves INR 3 Cr Sales with USD 1 Mn Investment

Anarc features a patented octagonal design by Thought Over Design and Seymourpowell, with a medical-grade stainless steel body. It includes advanced technology like a Hisilicon chipset, AMOLED display, and seven-day battery life.

Money & Finance

5 Links You Need to Be Successful As a Day Trader

Mastering drive, computer skills, emotional regulation, situational awareness and discipline are essential for day trading success.

Growing a Business

Stop the Errors: Set a Review Process That Works

Mistakes make you look unprofessional and hurt your growth. Fix them today.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.