Sharad Srivastava, who recently left Western Digital, has launched a unique business development service.  Grassroots Channels will partner with global companies looking for an easy entry to the lucrative Indian market.  Leveraging his vast experience of working in market development and channels in the region, first with Seagate and then with Western Digital, Sharad Srivastava is offering companies a unique promise of build-operate-transfer  - under which he will set up the complete distribution business for companies which are hesitant about committing direct resources to enter the market, operate with for agreed period of time with ownership of company sales/revenue target and transfer the working business at the end of contract period 

“Grassroots Channels will help bridge the gap between analysts/ consultants and agencies, helping companies execute plans as per agreed parameters. What is unique with Grassroots Channels is its ability to match the problem with the most workable solution enabling the vendor companies to connect with their potential customers in the shortest possible timeframe”, elaborates Srivastava.  “The concept has been well received by companies and I am hopeful that we will shortly bring in a varied portfolio of innovative products that are well suited to Indian needs”, he adds. 

Grassroots Channels will not only plan entry strategy for its customers but will actually help jump start their market engagement, covering a wide array of services: conduct Market Research & Analysis, undertake Direct/Viral Marketing, building the Brand, organizing Product Launches/ Marketing, identifying and setting up of Distribution Network/Sales Channel, building Tiered Sales Coverage Model, planning Concept Selling campaigns, running day to day sales, coordinate Customer Relationship Management, recruitment & management of Manpower as well as setting-up of their Legal Entity. 

Grassroots Channels will offer turn-key support to setup local distribution, including distributor and channel selection and will actually run the business for a specified time-period, till the client is confident of the returns and is willing to commit full time resources to the operation. “Since we are proposing a success fee based remuneration package, the companies are showing interest, inspite of the tight business environment”, informs Srivastava. 

Srivastava will be dividing his time between Singapore and India and is also looking to offer similar services to Indian companies looking to launch their products/solutions in the region or globally.