August 2017 Entrepreneur India Monthly Magazine
August 2017 Business trends proved to be a significant month for India’s business and startup ecosystem. As the country adapted to critical policies like GST, urban mobility gained momentum, and marketing turned increasingly digital-first, new pathways opened for entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, startups were being recognized for innovation and social impact, signaling maturity in mindset and funding priorities. This 1500?word exploration dives deep into the movements that shaped August 2017 Business Trends—and offers enduring lessons for today’s business leaders. See More : Cottage Industry 1. Startup Ecosystem Shows Off at Awards In August?2017, India’s startup ecosystem took center stage at award ceremonies that celebrated scale, innovation, and social intent. 1.1 ET Startup Awards On August?18, The Economic Times Startup Awards spotlighted rapidly emerging companies. Swiggy clinched Startup of the Year, while Pandorum and Bugworks were recognized for their cutting-edge innovation in biotech. Aibono earned praise as Social Enterprise of the Year, blending agritech products with farmer empowerment. Why it mattered: These accolades showcased business maturity—companies were not just chasing growth, but impact. Being mentored by leaders like Nandan Nilekani and forming partnerships with investors meant validation for scaling startups. That narrative helped move capital from speculative to proven models. 1.2 Sharper Business Focus By mid?2017, Indian investors began shifting from glamour to fundamentals. Startups that showed strong governance, unit economics, and societal contribution—elements recognized at August’s award season—were being prioritized over aspirational hypergrowth models. 2. Marketing Strategy Goes Digital First August 2017 Business Trends marked a turning point: consumers expected something beyond banner ads. Below are eight digital marketing trends outlined by Entrepreneur India that began dominating strategies. 2.1 Native Advertising Ads that seamlessly fit into content—whether long-form editorial or video—began seeing higher click-throughs and engagement. Drawing from international successes, Indian brands experimented with influencer-written advertorials and embedded social-media series. 2.2 Micro-Influencer & Influencer Marketing With celebrity promos everywhere, a new focus emerged on micro?influencers: bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagrammers with niche audiences. Brands began partnering with specialists—like fitness coaches or local foodies—to deliver more authentic endorsement and conversions. 2.3 Visual Storytelling Short-form video (under 60 seconds) became a tool to tell bite-sized brand stories. Whether produced in-house or with creative studios, these made brands more relatable and shareable across platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, and emerging Indian apps. 2.4 Ephemeral & Instant Experiences With Snapchat and Instagram Stories taking off, brands experimented with day?only promotions—limited?time offers that drove invitations and on?demand notifications. The ephemeral nature increased urgency and engagement. 2.5 Mobile-First Engagement More than 90% of Indian consumers accessed brands via mobile. Businesses optimized their thumbs-on-the-screen experience, reducing page weight and catering to 2G/3G networks—an essential strategy in tier?2 and tier?3 cities. 2.6 Chatbots & Customer AI Brands began integrating simple chatbots for FAQs, hours, or catalog navigation on Facebook Messenger and website chat. It was a small leap toward building smarter, conversational customer experiences. 2.7 Personalization Marketers moved away from mass emails toward segmented messaging—grouping users by location, past behavior, age group, or viewing habits. Personalized subject lines and offers increased click and conversion rates. 2.8 Omnichannel Integration Whether a user saw a billboard, website banner, or store display, the sequel of messaging needed to be similar. Brands with cohesive tone and design across physical and digital channels gained credibility. Outcome: During August?2017, brands that doubled down on mobile and storytelling, especially on immersive experiences, began seeing improved customer loyalty and weaker dependence on traditional broadcast media. 3. Urban Mobility: Reinvention Takes Shape Cities across India were in flux. Public transport overloaded, garages crowded—yet the digital wave provided answers. 3.1 Ride-Hailing Matures Big players like Ola and Uber were joined by hyperlocal aggregation of cabs, auto-rickshaws, and two-wheeler taxis (later to become platforms like Rapido and Bounce). During August 2017 Business Trends, investors backed startups experimenting with self-drive models, subscription services, and fleet financing to eliminate vehicle ownership hassles. 3.2 Rise of Shared Mobility Car-sharing platforms began offering hourly rentals near metro stations. Early test zones in Bengaluru and Hyderabad hosted pilot fleet-sharing vehicles. 3.3 Backup from Government & Policy State transport authorities recognized shared car schemes as urban decongestion mechanisms. Local governments began openly exploring pilot zones and data-sharing with mobility startups. 3.4 Value?Velocity?Volume Mobility wasn’t just about moving people—it was about offering reliable, affordable, and timely options that matched people’s lifestyle and income levels. That can only truly happen when infrastructure + technology + policy align. 4. Logistics & Supply-Chain Overhaul Carrying goods in post?GST India became a competitive advantage. 4.1 Warehousing Shift With India’s tax borders removed, logistics companies consolidated small warehouses into regional hubs. Investors bet on last-mile logistics startups that used tech for route optimization and real-time tracking. Benefit: Centralized inventory lowered stock levels but sped up distribution—beneficial for both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar chains. 4.2 Data-Driven Fleet Use Logistics startups began collecting GPS, weight, and time data to identify inefficiencies. AI-backed route management allowed better asset utilization and reduced empty runs—a challenge still common in the sector. 4.3 MSME Opportunity Small manufacturers in Tier?3 markets found it easier to dispatch through tech-enabled logistics partners. Quick delivery no longer depended solely on proximity to metro hubs. 5. Tech Infrastructure: The Quiet Revolution August?2017 was quiet but foundational for India’s digital future: 4G Rollout: Widespread 4G access (e.g., with new carrier capacity) enabled smoother mobile browsing and video streaming. This changed user behavior at scale. Edge Analytics & AI: Even small firms began integrating free AI tools—Google’s Dialogflow, Amazon Lex—for lightweight chatbot responses. Freemium SaaS Growth: Businesses started paying for essential tools—Zoho CRM, QuickBooks, Mailchimp—shifting from spreadsheets to subscription models. These micro shifts cumulatively moved India’s business landscape into the digital age. 6. Content Strategy Goes Deeper Traffic metrics took a backseat as content found new purpose: Engagement > Page views: Bounce rates dropped when articles focused on solving actual problems, not just SEO bait. Emotion-first storytelling connected more deeply in categories like parenting, beauty, and finance—timely across both urban and vernacular audiences. Interactive formats like surveys, calculators, and live Q&As increased retention and social sharing. 7. On-Demand Services:
Best Business to Start in Himachal Pradesh, India (Shimla (Simla), Solan, Dharmsala, Baddi, Nahan, Mandi, Paonta Sahib, Sundarnagar, Chamba, Kullu)
Himachal Pradesh, known for its breathtaking landscapes and serene environment, is more than just a tourist destination—it’s a promising hub for small businesses and startups. With its rich natural resources, educated population, expanding infrastructure, and strong support from the state government, the state presents a range of profitable business opportunities. Whether you’re in agriculture, tourism, food processing, or handicrafts, this city-wise guide will help you find the best business to start in Himachal Pradesh. See More : Bread Making Business Why Himachal Pradesh Is Great for Business Himachal Pradesh ranks high on development indicators like literacy, health, and environment. Its strategic location near Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana also gives it access to large markets. Here’s why it’s ideal for business: Abundant Natural Resources – Forests, herbs, fruits, and minerals Educated and Skilled Workforce Thriving Tourism Industry Supportive Government Schemes Low Crime Rate and Clean Environment The government actively promotes entrepreneurship through subsidies, tax exemptions, and infrastructure development, especially for women, youth, and tribal entrepreneurs. Profitable Business Ideas in Himachal Pradesh 1. Apple Orchard and Fruit Processing Himachal is India’s leading apple-producing state. You can start a cold storage unit, jam/jelly production, or dried fruit packaging business in areas like Shimla, Kullu, and Kinnaur. 2. Tourism and Homestays Tourism is booming. Start a homestay, eco-tourism resort, or adventure tourism business (trekking, paragliding) in Manali, Dharamshala, or Kasol. 3. Herbal and Ayurvedic Products Himachal’s forests are rich in medicinal plants. Manufacturing herbal teas, cosmetics, or Ayurvedic oils is a sustainable and export-friendly business. 4. Mushroom or Organic Vegetable Farming Districts like Solan (the Mushroom City of India) offer great scope for button and oyster mushroom farming. Organic farming of vegetables or herbs also works well. 5. Dairy and Goat Farming With ample green pastures and climate, dairy farming or goat farming can be started with moderate investment in rural areas like Mandi or Kangra. 6. Crafts and Woollen Products Local handicrafts, Kullu shawls, Chamba rumals, and woollen wear can be sold through local shops or exported via online marketplaces. 7. Candle and Soap Making Eco-friendly candle and herbal soap making from local herbs and oils is low investment and suitable for women entrepreneurs and SHGs. 8. Bottled Spring Water or Juice Plant You can bottle mountain spring water or locally grown fruit juices (like apricot, plum, or apple) for domestic and tourist markets. 9. Beekeeping and Honey Production Himachal’s natural forests support beekeeping. Organic honey has good local and export demand. 10. Digital Marketing & Freelance Services Cities like Shimla and Dharamshala have educated youth. Starting a freelance or digital service business (web design, content writing, SEO) is viable even from remote towns. City-Wise Guide to the Best Business to Start in Himachal Pradesh Shimla Homestays, handicraft stores, cafés Fruit processing & bottled water businesses Manali Adventure tourism, bike rentals, trekking Wellness spas or yoga retreats Dharamshala & McLeodganj Tibetan craft shops, meditation centers Café or hostel for foreign tourists Solan Mushroom farming, herbal cosmetics Fruit juice and food packaging units Kullu Woollen garments, shawl weaving Tourism-related photography, souvenirs Mandi Dairy, goat farming, beekeeping Retail stores or local grocery delivery services Kangra Tea production, craft exports Online coaching or tuition centers Chamba Art and embroidery, tourism services Organic farming and forest-based products Government Schemes for Business in Himachal Pradesh To support entrepreneurs, the state offers: Mukhyamantri Swavlamban Yojana (MMSY) Up to 35% subsidy on project cost for youth (aged 18–45) to start a business. MSME Policy (2020) Interest subsidies, power tariff rebates, and land assistance. Startup Himachal Support for innovation-driven businesses through funding, incubation, and training. KVIC & PMEGP Central schemes for setting up micro-enterprises in rural and semi-urban areas. Skill Development & Industrial Training State-run institutes offer free training in food processing, crafts, agriculture, and digital services. Tips to Succeed in Himachal’s Business Environment Understand local culture and seasonal trends (especially for tourism and farming) Promote your business digitally (especially via WhatsApp, Google Maps, and Instagram) Build partnerships with local artisans, farmers, and youth groups Take advantage of MSME registration and subsidies Focus on sustainable, eco-friendly packaging and marketing See More : Food Packaging Business Conclusion From fruit farming to adventure tourism, and handicrafts to herbal products—Himachal Pradesh offers countless business opportunities that align with local strengths. By choosing the right city, taking advantage of government schemes, and offering value to locals and tourists, you can build a profitable and long-term business in the state. So whether you’re a local entrepreneur or an investor from outside, there’s no better time to explore the best business to start in Himachal Pradesh. Contact Us