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V. Rishi Kumar
M. Somasekhar

HYDERABAD, Jan.25

CONCEPTLABS Inc, the US-based, technology driven company, which offers a mix of technology and equity to create new ventures in the Information Technology (IT) area has decided to expand its India operations.

Its two broad areas of diversification are developing `low cost computing' solutions for rural India by spawning start-ups and nurturing a technology focussed entrepreneur venture, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Henry Bertoldi.

Mr Bertoldi told Business Line that it is initiating a series of contests at select Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to identify promising business opportunities based on innovative technologies. Simultaneously it has embarked on expanding Smartifacts - its existing engineering services group in Hyderabad.

Following its plans to expand India operations, Mr Surendra Kapoor, formerly, Executive Director at CMC Ltd, has been appointed Managing Director of ConceptLabs India. He is to be supported by the existing team at Smartifacts, headed by Mr Subba Rao.

"By the end of 2002 I would like to see at least one strong idea from India well established on the path to growing into a company,'' Mr Bertoldi, whose ConceptLabs has already nurtured 5 successful technology companies globally said.

In the low-cost computing sphere, ConceptLabs would like to bring in technology and support ventures that are targeted at applications in healthcare and education. It is also in the process of formalising ties with MIT Media Lab Asia soon in this direction.

Mr Bertoldi said "we view the Indian IT industry as being well-developed, but we see an opportunity to participate in building a start-up culture with emphasis on intellectual property rights creation.''

"There are opportunities to leverage the excellent R&D initiatives in India to build new companies with a domestic home base, which will replace the current model of exporting IPR for development to foreign countries. We believe that we can build global companies here and then seek global expansion,'' Mr Bertoldi said while explaining that this is the right time to build new era computing companies.

Dr Rao Machiraju, Chairman of ConceptLabs, and formerly head of Apple Computer's Learning Research Lab, said "we believe that ConceptLabs can build new solutions to meeting rural healthcare needs and new approaches to education that will deliver significant benefits to the population, while at the same time using these initiatives to build commercially viable enterprises.''

Mr Kapoor said parleys with several IITs have proven that a keen interest exists in participating in ConceptLabs in its initiatives. "We are well on our way to launching our first contest and look forward to assisting students and faculty at the IITs in the commercial development of their projects.''

ConceptLabs, founded in 1999, is headquartered at Berkley, California. The company is engaged in assisting start-up companies with IPR development and technology prototyping.

It has presence in the US, the UK, Hong Kong and now India. It is in the process of entering China as well.

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