Gadget Expo promises to be a better fare this time

If you have noticed, we started our promotional campaign much earlier this time. We need our words to reach every Indian entrepreneur or techie that there is something for them happening and it is here. This one is going to be much larger and better

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.”

These words by Johnny Cash must certainly reverberate in the minds of the organisers of India Gadget Expo (IGE), for it is nothing less than rising from ashes, as they are about to host the second edition of India Gadget Expo.

To be really blunt, the first ever national gadget the country had ever witnessed was anything but a massive flop. Reasons include brands from gadgets and electronics industry ditching the event at the last minute, or even entrepreneurs from Hyderabad being least interested in it.

Also, lost in the huge catalog of exhibitors were Le Chal, the shoes that were meant to be used for blind, designed by a Hyderabadi and Dhanush, a chipset that would run as long as one month. Though the city-based firm which manufactured Dhanush had roped in Qualcomm and Samsung to invest 100 million dollars for the project to take off, the firm was least interested in showing its presence in the city.

Let bygones be bygones, for this time there is hope among everyone. Here the biggest stake holder is Skits Events which owns the India Gadget Expo. Interacting with the CityTAB, Sanjeev Kumar, the CEO of Skits Events, spoke about the homework they have done and how are they marching ahead to make IGE to India what CES is to Las Vegas.

“IGE 2014, was the first ever Gadget Expo that was hosted in the country. But above all, it was a humble beginning to something extravagant. And extravagant will be the IGE 2015. We have thoroughly worked out an action plan from where we had left.

If you have noticed, we started our promotional campaign much earlier this time. We need our words to reach every Indian entrepreneur or techie that there is something for them happening and it is here. This one is going to be much larger and better,” says Sanjeev.

He continued, “With IGE2015, we are aiming to create a platform for the consumers to not only get a first-hand experience of the latest gadgets available in the global markets, but also get a glimpse of the next gen technology.

This edition will be bigger and better with the launch of a wide range of gadgetry that will be showcased for the first time. While the consumers will be in for a gadget treat, manufacturers and innovators will get a great opportunity to showcase their gadgets and obtain firsthand feedback from industry biggies and target groups.”

The event will include a series of seminars on current, engaging and much talked about topics. The ‘Knowledge Conclave’ will have nine sessions covering Smart Cities, mobile technology, future gadgets, gaming among others. The ‘Master Class’ will showcase pioneering technologies and products to the audience.

The ‘Inspiring India Innovation (I3)’ will provide a platform to startups to showcase their innovative gadgets to a wide audience that include both consumers and angel investors. The event will also include the presentation of ‘NDTV Gadget Guru Awards’ - the much awaited annual gadget awards of the country.

Special events like 5@5 will have five product launches every day at 5 pm with an allotted time of five minutes which will provide an opportunity to exhibitors and manufacturers to launch their latest gadgets / products. The flash sale by e-commerce between 1 pm and 4 pm will offer massive discounts on the featured products from top brands.

In the battle of gadgets, brands will participate to take on the rival products in a combat to outsmart each other. The four-day event is expected to witness an enormous footfall of around one lakh visitors and participants across the world from varied segments including global investors, CEOs and managing directors, technology professionals and enthusiasts, dealers/ distributors, government officials, consumers and students.

Talking about the myriad gadgets which will be displayed at the event, Sanjeev adds, “Smart watches, other wearables – glasses, oculus rift; robotics, 3D printers, will be there at the expo.” Raspberry pi ,Intel Galileo, home automation – Nest, Virtual Reality and Gesture Recognition related gadgets (SoftKinetic etc), Bendables, strechables and insertibles, Tesla cars, BMW i8 (as there is a category called automotive this time), can remain in our wishlist for now, and prepare to be surprised as the event commences on September 18.

By Augustin Kurian