KOCHI: “An entrepreneur should always believe he is running a successful business. If the business manages to pay monthly salaries and foot the bills, it can be counted as successful,” says Abdul Manaf, founder of Easysoft Technologies, a Kochi based company which had run popular social media campaigns such as ‘Addicted to Life’ and ‘My Tree Challenge’.
An ardent fan of APJ Abdul Kalam, Bill Gates and NR Narayana Murthy, Manaf says, “Entrepreneurs should think big and set the bar high, but, they should also focus on small achievements and milestones.”
Abdul Manaf and his friend Shamal Chandran started the company in 2006 after they dropped out of Computer Science and Engineering(B Level) in Kochi.
“In 2007, we moved to a home/office space and started marketing software products developed by other companies. By 2008, we moved to a full-fledged office with the capital generated from the business and started focusing on web and web application development services. Soon, leading companies joined us as clients. “In 2009, the big moment for the company came when cine actor Mammootty joined as a client. We developed and re-launched his official website, Mammootty.com, which was an instant hit. After three years, I co-founded MovieGear, an exclusive social media company for celebrities and movies with Mammootty. Recently, the social media team of the company executed Addicted to Life and My Tree Challenge campaigns with huge success,” says Manaf.
Of late, the company received an Excellence Award from chief minister Oommen Chandy for successfully executing the ‘Addicted to Life’ campaign for the government.
The company now provides web and web application development services, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media Marketing, Web and Email Hosting Services.
Easysoft has also developed a CRM Software for Realty firms which is widely used by leading builders in Kerala.
“I conceived the name Easysoft back in 2002 while I was in plus-two. My inspiration was Microsoft, the only IT company I knew then.
“Interestingly, I didn’t have an idea about what IT companies were really doing,” says Manaf.
“Entrepreneurship is always a great feeling. An entrepreneur always need to stay motivated. Hanging out with kindred spirits, reading inspirational books and attending seminars on the subject of interest will help an entrepreneur to stay positive,” says Shamal Chandran.
“Never compare your daily achievements with the big goal and dream you have set for yourself as it might bring frustration,” adds Shamal.