A tech startup from Kerela has recently won a challenge to create a video conferencing platform similar to Zoom and has received Rs 1 crore.
Since there is a drastic demand for video conferencing apps due to the pandemic, the government came up with a challenge of creating an Indian substitute for the popular video conferencing platform, “Zoom”. Joy Sebastian’s Techgentsia Software Technologies Pvt Ltd took on the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology’s Digital India (MEITY)’s “Grand Challenge” that was rolled out on April 12.
There have been several security-related problems that people have been facing with using Zoom. “Security has been pointed out as a problem with Zoom. Vconsol has addressed it with tighter measures. Each participant will have a different password. And, to ensure that only those expected or invited can join the video-conference, an OTP verification code will be sent to mobile phones of participants,” Joy Sebastian said. Techgentsia will now be provided with the financial support of Rs 1 crore, and an additional Rs 10 lakh for operation and maintenance for the next three years, according to the IT Ministry.
Joy Sebastian left his career as a tech consultant in Kochi and moved to a village near Alappuzha, took a leap of faith with one dream – starting an R&D center for video conferencing solutions. “I started Techgentsia in 2009 with a friend, Tony Thomas… We have been focusing on R&D in video-conferencing solutions from the beginning, and have a few clients from the US, Europe, and India for our B2B model. We have grown over the years, and now employ 65 people,” Joy Sebastian, who completed his MCA from TKM College of Engineering in Kollam, The Indian Express reported.
Sebastian looks at the government challenge come as an opportunity to showcase his dream to the world. “We decided to develop a product for the country. Now, that dream has materialized,” he said.
It is a great move to be more self-reliant (atma-nirbhar) since the border tensions with China led to a ban of several Chinese apps, but Zoom; since masses depend on it, even now, for their e-learning platforms and teaching.