The Painstaking Part 1: Launching Plan

To launch or not to launch. THAT’S THE QUESTION.

The launching idea has been rendering, at least, for two months. We have tested that the streaming with +Indie TV Indo where there was no geo-block restrictions. And so far the analytic shows a promising start.  You can view the result at this link. 

BUT?

Can we scale up the number of eyeballs to the level that advertising agencies are looking for? 

Do we have unique contents that appealed to the advertising agencies?

Do we have the right business model that would appeal funders or potential buyers in 3 year times?

Of course I have some reservations launching the streaming especially considering the cost to sustain for the next six months. It is not that cheap to maintain and sustain. 

However, market validation is very important. Feedback from customers, friends and colleagues is equally important to shape our streaming products. In fact, it would give a good indication of specific features that might appeal to our potential target customers.

I would need a good launching plan especially in reaching the audience better and gaining a considerable momentum in popularity. Luckily, I have a supportive team that always advise and keep me on the right ground.

Certainly, we will need more credible staffs and the headhunting is already begun.

Just wait and see!

The Ultimate Part 1: My Start-up plan

Mentoring and building the start up companies are totally different games. Mentoring is like being the board of director, advising on day-to-day functioning of the start up. It depends on the stage of its maturity and how influential I can be to the companies. 

Building and running the start up companies could drain you personally, emotionally and professionally. Yes? No? Well, feck it!

Last night, I sat down with friends who are into digital media and ICT with a bit of 'entrepreneurship' addiction.  They failed several times and slowly getting back on their feet. Their relentless spirit is diminishing. However, they agreed to go for the final one, considering their age and current commitment. 

I don't want to make this start up arrangement as another hopeless new year plans though. I have been setting up the foundations for several years and I bet that this is the only way to seal it. 

In essence, we agreed to leverage on our experience. They complement my weaknesses and easily eliminate my limited knowledge in technology. Well, I can tell you what kind of cars you should have. I can tell you whether those cars are fast. I can tell you those cars will hit 100 km/h in less than 10 seconds. But they can tell you what kind of bolts and nuts go into those cars.

Ergo, since we are already into digital media and ICT, we will introduce products and services that related to video. 

We are building up something similar to +Livestream or +Ustream.  But more personalized to our target market; South East Asia region.  

We should start with Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia first. We would formalize everything within, at least 3 months. If we managed to overcome this first hurdle, you should see us more in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. 

Amen. 

The Essential Part 1 : Loft TV Media Solutions

Loft TV media solutions is a start up media company. I aim to use the company as a vehicle to enter digital media business solutions. 

In a nutshell, Loft TV offers a set of mobile solutions for businesses, content providers, broadcasters, special interest communities and individuals to reach their customers on all level of mobility tools. We could put them on the tablets, smart phones, streaming and even in the hotel IPTV. 

The Loft TV website displays more about my motivation creating Loft TV media solutions. We are into mobile technology or mobility. Enterprises in banking, financial services, education, automobile, retails, manufacturing, healthcare and entertainment are actively adopting mobility. 

For me - entertainment is the easiest entry. We read news on tablets and smart phones. We watch streaming TV or YouTube while queueing at the counters or at the bus stops.  

The wave of awareness about doing digital or mobile business is not happening as quick as in the west. The infrastructure is somehow lacking. The cost of doing business is still quite high. The barrier of entry is the capital expenditure cost. However, it must be another way to do it.  

Loft TV is still at an infancy stage. Lots to tweak and re-align to suit the various needs of our potential clients. The cost, nevertheless, is quite 'intimidating' especially if I want to host and rely on the available infrastructure in Malaysia. 

Finding the right business model is a pickle but I have to start somewhere. The potential is there. I just need to connect the right dots with the right people. 

The Weird Part 1: I "Google-d" myself...

My brain somehow refuses to continue thinking about strategising +Indie TV Indo and Loft TV media solutions.

So I play around and do like other people do. Yes…I Google-d myself! Everybody does that. 

Don’t tell me that you never +Google-d yourself +Khailee Ng , +Pahzai Al Khairid , +Johan Nasir , +Zaiferez Hadzere , +Rizal Kheli , +Clarisse Iribagiza , +Hussin Yusof , +Milinka Radisic , +Christina Koh , +ikke novianti and +Shamsul Anuar Mohd Wahid ...

Well, it turned out that I am the most popular Azuan Muda in the virtual world – according to Google.

Below is the screen I captured under images.

I recognized most of the pictures but the one I circled in red is totally out. How on earth I was associated with that photo? I don’t know her at all. And the gesture or appeared to be a gesture, doesn't help at all!

However, it turned out to be Azwan Ali’s sister. 

It brings me to another question – How the search engine algorithm could pick up ‘Azwan’ instead of ‘Azuan’? How does it work? Is it random? Does it recognise only 4 out of 5 letters in any words and pull the results?

Must be SEO thingy. Simple request - please remove the tag of 'Azuan' or 'Azwan' from the photo. Not good. 

The Secret Part 1 : Who Am I?

I think it would be worthwhile to put something forward about my thoughts and things I do in a blog. I don't write journals. I don't like having a diaries. It's just not cool.

However, lately, I mean for the last 3-5 years, I have to let go and share some thoughts, opinions, experience and gut feelings about what I do on this tiny planet. My mind is crowded with so many things to prioritize. Work. Life. Passion. Interests. Family. 

This personal blog would focus more on my passion, life and interests, most of the times. I want to keep it simple, straight-forward and understandable unless if I have to use certain sophisticated jargon in which you could easily Google it. 

So who am I? 

I spent almost half of my life in Europe. London, Paris, Brussels and Dublin are my common cities. Sometimes for work and sometimes for passion and interests. 

I spent more than 7 years with American investment banks. Dealt with money, investments, funds, operations, strategies and people. I know I am good in analysing data, concepts and strategies. Devising corporate, business and investment strategies were easy for me. It worked for me. Handsomely. 

Back home, I started to get involved with start-up companies, not intentionally. God knows. The challenges of start-up companies are so exhilarating. The learning curve is discouraging but challenge accepted! 

This blog would be a venue to share my experience, knowledge and journey of doing something outside my comfort zone. Far far far away from my comfort zone. Because I look for one thing and one thing only: SATISFACTION.