We are publishing an interview of Mr. Pawan Kumar Irukulla, Founder & CEO of Smart Fabrics – A Warangal based startup which is trying to solve security problems of working women especially working in night shifts.
About the founders:
- Pawan Kumar Irukulla ( Founder & CEO ) has a lot of experience in programming. He loves to do programming all the time. He has invented two techniques in programming one is sorting and the other is searching.
- Anil Mudulakar (Co-Founder) has 12 years of experience in circuit designing. He has worked for many real time projects and has lot of depth knowledge in embedded systems.
We both met together accidentally and we started company. It was really a tragedy story how we met and started the company.
What is the problem you are trying to solve? Can you share with us any insights that led you to believe that this is a big enough problem?
We are trying to solve security problems to women especially working in software industries in night shifts. Four years back there was a brutal incident in Delhi called “Nirbaya”(2012). Very recently there was a mass molestation on the streets of Bangalore (2017) on new years eve. And day-by-day due advancement in technology accordingly global warming is also increasing like anything due to which the temperatures are burning like anything everyday not only in summers.
So we thought of a fabric that has a lot of technology embedded in it to keep full stop to these burning problems in the society. Just imagine wearing a smart fabric with all kind of features on your finger tips its such an awesome feeling you cant even express in words. Finally, “Fabrics covers your body but smart fabrics protects your body” and now its your turn to choose what???
What is the uniqueness about your Startup?
We are developing the smart fabrics with lot of advance technology where as no other company is making these kind of smart fabrics in the world probably.
Why do you choose crowdfunding?
Crowd funding is an excellent platform for idea validation and also pre-sales of the product and it one of the most best ways of funding for startups.
Why should anyone or investor back you?
Because my startup/idea has a huge potential and can sustain for longer period in the global markets not only restricted to Indian markets. In coming next 3 years smart fabrics gonna revolutionize the entire fashion industry.
Where can people back your project?
Catapooolt.com can visit the website to support my startup
What would you do after raising funds?
We will work on the complete project development and will come to markets as soon as possible.
What is the revenue model? What is the logic behind it? What is the model you are following – Free / Freemium / Premium etc. ? Explain your thought process.
We are charging Rs.5000/- for each device and Rs.3000/- for each fabric. We would like to promote our brand in markets rather than concentrating on making money. Because we are a startup we need to create awareness in the people that we are a company that produces only good and useful products. of course the price what we kept is includes making cost and profit.
Who are the consumers that you are targeting? How is this going to affect them?
Every working women, politicians, celebrities, reputed officials in the society, traffic police officers,every upper middle and middle class people because it is the fabric that has two excellent features i.e 1) It protects you when you are in danger 2) It keeps you cool even in burning temperatures.
What is the big picture of your startup? Will it lead to something bigger? If so, how?
Firstly we would like to conquer Indian markets and take our company globally. Yes, it has a huge potential because security and global warming are most burning problems in the society not only in India but globally.
What is the success story of your startup in your own words?
Four years back it was just an imagination at that time. I asked many experienced people and technicians to help me financially but no-one has encouraged me. After lot of hard work and struggle and after creating lot of prototypes we are here now. I went and asked many investors and companies in Hyderabad but no-one has supported me. After four years of struggle I met my co- founder accidentally and shared my idea and now we have prototype ready and testing the final product. We have applied for patents and got selected to this crowd funding event from Hyderabad.Very soon will be into markets to rock.
Any other information about your startup that you would like to share with us.
Give me one chance you will see another bill gates from India.
Thanks Mr. Pawan. Best wishes.