Providing Internet Access to Developing Countries - Technology Thursday with Santosh Hari

Hello Tech Pros - Motivation, Soft Skills & Business Advice

Santosh Hari discusses the challenges with working with regulatory agencies to provide cell and internet access in developing countries, the benefits of building your platform on cloud technologies such as Microsoft Azure and the future of IoT.

Santosh Hari is a software entrepreneur with experience building products on the .NET platform since 2002 and over 15 years in the software industry. Before 2000, his claim to fame was working on projects that saved the world from the Y2K disasters.

Santosh Hari currently works for Spectrum Bridge, a wireless startup, where he leverages his software skills to help build high quality, affordable wireless broadband to the developing world. He also dons the volunteer cape and helps the Orlando .Net User Group (ONETUG) organize meetups and Orlando Codecamp. After hours, he helps out at Sand Dollar Technology, a joint tech venture with his wife.

Santosh is a public speaker in the areas of technology – cloud, G.I.S and startups. He has given talks at meetups, codecamps, barcamps and also at Ignite Tampa Bay in 2013. When not working on software projects, Santosh loves playing tennis, rescuing animals and rooting for his favorite sports team, the Florida State Seminoles.

Show notes at http://hellotechpros.com/santosh-hari-technology/

Key Takeaways

• In developing countries, it's a cash economy; how can we provide services without cash transactions?
• Respect the local cultures and standards
• Building software as a startup is more nebulas than as a consultant
• Train your mindset to be more adaptable
• Stop chasing shiny objects
• Look for 10x improvements before changing tech platforms
• Automate work where possible to free humans to achieve greater things
• CEOs should think like techies and tech pros should think like CEOs

Resources Mentioned

• Spectrum Bridge
• Microsoft Azure
• Orlando .Net User Group (ONETUG)

Sponsors

This episode of Hello Tech Pros is sponsored by

ScrumBrawl

ScrumBrawl is a fast paced, extremely chaotic board game where fantastical creatures vie for supremacy within the Arena, a 20x20 battle pit where dragons, hydras, golems and tiny tiny chickens score goals by maneuvering magical orbs into portals or fighting other creatures to the death. (Sorry chicken)

ScrumBrawl is the product of VicTim Games and you can listen to the backstory of this indie board game by going back to Hello Tech Pros episode 28 where I interview Tim Bugher, one-half of VicTim. We talk about the original concept, the product design and the upcoming expansion set. That’s Hello Tech Pros episode 2-8.

But wait, there’s more! I am giving away a copy of the game to one lucky listener. To qualify, leave a review for Hello Tech Pros on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (or both) and send me an email with the screenshot to chad [at] hellotechpros.com. At the end of the month, I’ll randomly select one entry and send them a copy of ScrumBrawl board game.

Once again, leave a review for Hello Tech Pros on iTunes or Stitcher Radio (or both) and send me an email with the screenshot to chad [at] hellotechpros.com.

ScrumBrawl. Fantastical, brutal, fun.