Goa has always been synonymous with sun, sand, and celebration. Of all the equations in existence, Goa as an IT hub would never factor. True, we are about two decades too late to lay out the red carpet for the big wigs like Wipro, Infosys , IBMs and others of their ilk, but the winds of change are gently blowing through the state.

The Goan landscape makes it an ideal location to start up a business. Ease and accessibility quickly become the biggest aces up any sleeves. Within a 1.5-hour drive from North to South, one can easily get to anywhere quicker than a shorter distance in most metros.

If your venture belongs to the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME) community just like most startups in Goa, you will feel right at home here. Various Govt. schemes, supportive institutions like DITC, EDC, MSME to name a few will help you get on your feet in no time. For any industry to survive, finance needs to be free flowing. And the entrepreneurial scene here is poised to receive a shot in the arm with various policies that are making it easier to get funds.

But you’re wondering still, how does this apply to IT companies? Let’s take a look at some of the key carrots. Being one of the best known international destinations, Goa has its share of not only tourists but also businesspeople. Fondly referred to as a ‘soft launching pad’ for foreign small businesses to make a foray into India, Goa ranks high on the destinations here not only because of its logistical access but also its hospitable people and international culture.

Why would companies come here though? Is there a high-end quality workforce akin to the metros of Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune or Hyderabad? Bluntly put, no. Where Goa scores high is on the quality of design and creatives. Purely mechanical coding, servicing and software development doesn’t have its by-the-minute churn out workforce. Instead, Goan programmers score high on design and UI’s rivalling international counterparts. Yes, Goa churns out international level development from its own humble backyard. One of the top ten games on the IOS was developed in Goa.

Companies like Karma films, Zedo’s, DCCPER and Next Big Thing, to name a few, deliver to clients across North America, South America, Canada and Europe. Frederick Noronha, a noted journalist muses that Goa has been an unsung destination for the IT scene.

Most IT firms are unregistered, which is why less than 100 approximately are in existence on record. Unofficial estimates peg this number to be over 250. And it does not include the hardware sales contingents at all. Web designers, coders and developers work either independently or in conjunction with counterparts either out of Goa or abroad.  Since working out of the intangible ethos, the constraint of space is not binding. Remote and satellite teams can create through the electronic channel without having to operate out of one fixed location.

Some of the players who exist currently are Persistent Systems, Present soft, Powersource, Genora and Synapse. But what of those unsung heroes who have paved the way with their initial forays so to speak? Ryan de Souza of Zedo’s, the 4th largest IT firm in digital advertising worldwide with a client based among the top names across industries set up shop in Goa. The same with Ashank Desai of Mastek, an enterprise applications specialist who graduated from GEC. These guys have put Goa and the Goan IT scene on the world map. And there are many more like these. As an offshoot to IT, Goa’s 1st robotics company Inventrom was recently awarded with the most promising business idea in Bangalore. Kallows which invented a low cost ECG machine too has a Goan on its BOD and is a winner of an FICCI innovation award.

Looking at the multiple contributions to the IT sphere such as workforce, infrastructure, markets, enterprise, financial resources and education, Goa has the right mix going for it. This is why it is looked at as an emerging destination for more than just a vacation. A place where you can create, develop and design, being right in the epicentre of a creative conducive environment, positions Goa as an ideal locale.

Is the world outside looking at Goa as a potential prospect? Mozilla’s Firefox bus stopped by in Goa recently to visit some of the engineering colleges and GITIC. They have plans to host a number of hackathons in Goa. Not to be outdone, IOS and Android are geared to do high level training programmes in the near future too. Batches in attendance in the hundreds are quickly requesting these programs in the thousands. Students today know the value of being able to learn quick selling skills of designing mobile apps and stay ahead of the curve before graduation. The more we think about it, the more we need to host large scale IT fairs to promote Goa as more than just a tourist destination.

Speaking of IT community groups, one of the most popular is the Google developers group, a vibrant tech community with the basic motto of providing students, tech entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts, exposure to the latest and hottest open-source technologies globally. The group is a part of the global community which consists of 545 such groups spread out across 104 countries. Jonathan Pereira is drives this Group in Goa, which has frequent online and offline discussions to deliberate over the latest Google technologies and products. (The latest being Inbox by Gmail, for which everyone is requesting invites). The group also has massive monthly events which are attended by professionals from IT companies and startups as well as students and lecturers from engineering and computer science colleges across Goa.

Some of the major events held in Goa include the DevFest 2014, which was held on November 1, 2014 at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) hall in Panjim, to celebrate all the developers in the community who are working on Google technologies. Similarly, the Google I/O Extended on June 25 at Acacia Palms in Colva was a satellite connection to the live Google I/O 2014 conference being held in San Francisco, US. With the time difference in play, the event in Goa began at 9 p.m. and went on throughout the night and had over 100 attendees, ladies and gents who were eagerly discussing the newly launched products throughout the night. Another event worth mentioning is the Women Techmakers which was held in March 2014 and focused exclusively on women in the tech field. With over 300 participants, various unexplored avenues that technology could provide for them were unveiled. IT groups also enjoy soaking in Goa when it comes to networking events. Recently one of the most noted names in the IT sphere held it semi annual meetup in Acacia resorts in Colva. They were keen to meet Goan technopreneurs, provide guidance and even finance for IT start-ups.

When it come to infrastructure, Goa has arguable the some of the best setups in the country. It was the first state in India to get internet to all villages, boasted of superior infrastructure and catered to locals and tourists alike. This was in 1999. Since then however, Goa, is still trying to keep up with the advent of the WiFi generation. Granted that our topography can cause telecommunications to play truant. With the leaderships’ vision to have students IT ready in a world where technological consumption far surpasses its supply, the issue is being dealt with on a war footing. Besides for those areas that are still affected despite best efforts, various other options from telecom providers are available. Remote operating stations that provide solutions from businesses to single day events are now just a phone call away, at affordable rates. The push for IT to be a contributing industry is beginning to bear fruit. And let’s not forget the buzz – we’re still reeling from when NASSCOM announced its plans in Goa to mentor 10000 startups programme.

The quality of education from the 1300 approx graduates that exit each year is comparable to the metros. Why do so many of our students migrate to other states for work and get employed? Brand Goa delivers a whole lot more punch than most of us give it credit for. Despite the lopsided perception, Goa has a high standard of quality, the right ethos and inspiration to propel its workforce to newer heights. Battling the odds of a syllabus that’s yet to be updated and made more industry relevant, Goa’s IT graduates are channelling their requisites through training programmes by other providers. Technical training is just as easily available as a click of a button.

GITIC, BITS Pilani, CIBA – Verna and Assagao and GEC all have active incubation centres that provide a nurturing ground for IT companies to take off. The initial year of starting a business is most crucial for an IT company to take off and these provide an environment where the critical components of Startup costs, rent, infrastructure, business networks and mentoring capabilities are provided at zero to low costs. In addition to these services, access to capital from Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists and Government Schemes are also provided so the incubated entrepreneurs can focus on his core deliverables.

Goa’s tech community has an active event calendar. GITIC hosts Tech Friday on the last Friday of every month between 6 and 8 PM. What’s unique about this is each get together is held every alternate month in either Panjim or Margao. The idea is to take the event to the participants’ backyard, and create a tech ecosystem out of networking. CIBA holds Startup Saturday which is held every 2nd Saturday each month at CIBA’s conference room in Verna. Aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, the format is a combination of education and showcasing businesses. Another interesting meeting which is also held alternate months is hosted by Startup Goa which is actively trying to keep the IT scene fresh. Everyone’s invited to these events – businessmen, technopreneurs, students, and tech enthusiasts who want to be part of the Tech ecosystem.

There has never been a better time to be part of the IT landscape. Goa is poised on the brink of a wave that can thrust its MSME’s as the way forward. Clusters of software teams are mushrooming around the state with nationwide collaborations coming into play. Space is not a constraint when working in the virtual world. So let’s start IT up! It’s only getting easier to do.

(Jervis Pereira, is the Director of GITIC and the Asst. Director at GCCI running the I Create Goa Programme.)

Tags: getting IT started, GITIC, Goa, guest blog, Jervis Pereira