Meet Manav Singhal -Student from IIITM, Gwalior ( M.Tech in Information communication Technology).  Chief Technical officer at Tanishqexports.com. Winner of Indian Android Developer Contest Award 2011 for Business Category and Social Category applications. Read more about this passionate mobile app developer…


Describe your initiatives/ activity

If technology is my way, business is my destiny. If a technocrat breeds in me, an entrepreneur rules me. I have always dreamt of extracting the essence of these two flavors to my best, and so, in the pursuit of realization of this dream of mine, I, recently, founded my Mobile Solutions startup, Tanishq Softwares (www.tanishqexports.com). Though the company is a startup with one of my very experienced senior, I have a wish to see it as an important market player a few years hence.

I started my journey with developing softwares as my curriculum projects. Gradually, I started enjoying the work, application development, working on new mobile technologies, learning upcoming softwares and becoming adroit in them all and hence, grooming myself more as a Techie, became a part and parcel of my life.

What motivated you to take this initiative?

While in the 2nd year, I had developed some interest in Mobile technologies and to become a little adept in them, I did an internship at Spice Mobiles and Communication, where I worked as an internee and my domain of work was to develop applications in J2ME. Working with Spice and the invaluable experience and knowledge I gained while working on J2ME, drove my interest in this field and I harbored the passion regarding these within myself to the best.

What roadblocks did you hit? How did you overcome them?

Needless to mention, we know well the curriculum of our graduation and the languages or subjects we are offered. So, obviously, learning new languages, Server scripting language like, JSP which are really vast or becoming adept in various Mobile platforms like Android, Blackberry, Adobe Flex etc within short span of time has always been a tough task.

I have always respected sincerity in my life and I follow it to my best. So, timelines and passion towards my work helped me overcome the difficulties. I had to stretch myself to study and walk a mile more to excel in my work.

What were the high points?

My awards, the recognition I have got with time and the success and appreciation are the ones I count as my high points.

Recently, I have collaborated with Flypp Infosys for the marketing of my Android applications. Every work needs recognition and some publication. Since, my applications seemed good to Infosys, we have signed a deal for the sale of my applications. Its impacts are the higher sale of my applications, my work being recognized and applauded at a bigger scale. It feels great to see my name becoming more prominent in the market.

How do you balance your initiative with college, exams, friends and hanging out?

Well, I also dream of myself as a successful entrepreneur and so, I try to balance out work with entertainment. Though, I do compromise a little to remain focused at work and as I hate piling up work, I stretch myself a few extra hours in case I have some outing plans, so that my work doesn’t suffer. But when I am home or free, I am on a complete holiday when I freak out with friends, watch movies and give a retreat to myself.

Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?

I want to groom myself more as an entrepreneur in these years and I wish to see myself running my company successfully. I would also try for a few more startups if I have some really worthy ideas.

Did you do an internship /training last summer? If yes, where? What’s one awesome thing you learned there?

I have done internship at Spice Mobiles and Communication where I had worked as an internee on J2ME. This was the most memorable experiences of my life as it was the first time I was being exposed to Mobile related languages, codes that work on them, the new IDEs etc and these fascinated me a lot. Every day was a new learning experience. I owe complete gratitude to Spice Mobiles for training a novice like me so well.

I also did an internship at Perennial Systems, Pune where I worked as Android developer. This experience groomed me more as a professional and I could jell with people well, even in such rigorous working environment. So, this intern not only helped me professionally but it was great on a personal aspect as well.

I have also worked with Advantal Solutions, Gurgaon on a similar application development work but this time I had to deal with some security constraints in my project as well. This too was undoubtedly a great experience and gave me a good exposure to the security related stuff.

What is your favorite book/movie of all time?

I have read “YOU CAN WIN”…a very famous and inspirational book for aspiring students. This book did influence me a long way, but self-motivation has played a bigger role in my life.

Which inspiring personality would you like to have dinner with? Why?

I wish to dine with Mr. Lawrence (Larry) Page, the co founder of Google, the firm which gave birth to Android, my favorite Mobile Operating System.

What’s your advice for students like you?

All I would say don’t be too serious or a geek in your life. Life comes to us for once, so do enjoy all its flavors but always remain sincere in whatsoever you do. A little of sincerity towards work yields much bigger fruits.

Do you follow any blogs/people on Twitter, forums, discussion groups or other web/non-web sources that you learn from?

I am currently not following anyone. I rather wish to see people following my blogs or me on twitter and elsewhere, in a few forth coming years.

Tell us about your other notable initiatives/accomplishments

These have been a few of my merits recognition which have always motivated me. To enlist a few, they are:

• Among the finalists of Imprezzio Software Contest 2011 for Mobile Application iStockfolio held at Cluj-Napoca, Romania which is an International Software Contest held annually in Europe for the students.

• Won First Award for Category Winner- Social and Business for the apps Krishi Ville and Stock Portfolio in Indian Android Developer Contest (IADC) 2011.

• Won First Prize at Java Contest 2010 hosted by Open Source University Meet up (OSUM) and BOJUG (Bangalore Open Java Users Group) for Software Stock Ticker.

• Finalist for Open Source Software World Challenge 2011 which is the annual competition hosted by Ministry of Knowledge and Economy of Korea.

• I have also won prizes at the national technical fests held at places such as IITB, IIT-KGP, NIT Trichy, NIT Calicut, DCE etc.

Anything else you think we missed out on asking?

On a personal note, I would like to say that my biggest inspiration in my life has been my father. Every day I spend with me, the talks we have and the bond that we share has been my greatest motivations and I get to learn a lot from him. His encouragements, my mother’s dream of seeing me touching the zenith of success, and my brother’s blessings have been the impetus behind my success till today and hope they will, forever.

Check out Manav Singhal website:
www.tanishqexports.com

Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1121087605

The Student Rockstars series features students who have taken outstanding initiatives and shown unusual accomplishments while they are still in college. Powered by Twenty19, this series aims to highlight their key initiatives and their influences so that the larger student community can learn and benefit from them. You can nominate a potential Student Rockstar here.