Hi Ray, thanks for being with us today and thanks for bringing Poken to Singapore! First, help explain what Poken is for those who have never heard of it.

Poken is your ‘social business card.’ it’s an easy way to share your contact details and online social network profiles with the people you meet in the real world. Just tap two Pokens together – high4! – and you’re connected.

Poken Explained from Poken on Vimeo.

Can you give us a bit of a background of how successful Poken has been and where?

Poken was first launched in Europe and Japan and later in the US. You can find people actively Poken-ing in events in these region.

Can you tell us a bit of your background?

My background is in mobile & internet technology. I joined Bubble Motion in 2003, a leader in providing “Bubble Talk” or VoiceSMS service to mobile network carriers. I was the first member of the Bubble Motion team. I built the first version of the VoiceSMS platform and integrated it into carrier network infrastructure and deployed the product in 8 different countries.

In 2008, me and Sunil Coushik (my partner) started working on various ideas and projects in Bluency. We looked at pokens in July 2009 and we were interested in the API development around pokens. In Nov 2009 we brought Poken into Singapore. We think Poken can change the way people exchange contacts between the online and real world. A great solution for both individuals as well as businesses

(Check out our interview with Ray’s partner, Sunil Coushik of Ogywawa.)

On your company, Bluency‘s website, it is written that you “build [your] own products”. Can you help us clarify your relationship and role in bringing Poken to Singapore?

Our plan is to look at interesting products like Poken and find ways to add value to them. We plan to develop interesting applications on top of Poken API.

What got you interested in Poken and why bring it here in the first place?

We have been thinking about contact information exchange problem for a while. Once we saw the Poken technology, we felt that it was very close to what we had in mind. Singapore is the ideal place for such a technology as there are frequent events and almost everyone here is online and has online identities on popular social networks.

Can you share with our readers what steps you took to getting involved in Poken?

Pickapoken worked with the Poken headquarters in Europe. We ran initial device testing and feedback with some end-users. Once we had the Pokens we had to get a regulatory approval for the sale in Singapore. With respect to product distribution, we just got started. We are working on several Poken events in Singapore and the region.

What was the most difficult thing you had to do in order to bring the product into Singapore?

We did not encounter any major obstacle. It is just that projects of this nature, specially the hardware ones take a longer time because of inventory issues and regulatory approvals.

Was funding an issue?

No, we are a well funded business.

Poken comes to Singapore. Image from Pickapoken.

Can you elaborate a bit more on how you are “well funded”? Did the founders self-fund, get investment or using revenue generated from other parts of the business to fund this Poken project?

The company is funded by founders.

Do you think Poken is a fad or something that is here to stay? And why?

There are two aspects to Poken. The first one is the physical device. The second aspect is the backend system plus Poken API. The key to longevity of the Poken systems is to keep innovating with the device design and at the same time the local partners such as Pickapoken offering interesting local solutions. Our solutions team is looking at the API and we will be building apps that we are sure the community will like.

Any expansion plans?

As highlighted above, Pickapoken is in the process of designing software services tied in to the Poken device. In terms of actual Poken device distribution, you will see Pickapoken active at events in the region.

What is the one advice you would give to first-time entrepreneurs?

Execution is everything.

Thanks, Ray! We look forward to the apps your team is building for Poken.

Sometime back, I was invited by Preetam Rai to attend the launch of Ogywawa, an interesting web service integrating with the mobile phone for users to buy drinks for friends. If this is not interesting, Sunil Coushik, the co-founder of Ogywawa, started the company BubbleMotion (funded by Sequoia Capital and based in Singapore). We managed to get him to come on board to talk about Ogywawa and the challenges ahead for this festive season if you are thinking of gatherings and meetings with friends from clubs to pubs.

BL: Hi Sunil, thank you for accepting an interview with SGE. Tell us about yourself and what have you been up to before Ogywawa?

Sunil: Hi – I have been an entrepreneur all my life. I started a newspaper when I was 15 – that’s how I got interested in ventures.

In 1999, we started a company called Ceasewire labs working on mobile messaging and collaborative filters for mobile networks. We started with 6 people and sold the business in 2000 to an internet consulting company based out of Santa Clara. I then started Bubble Motion with my partner in 2004.
In 2007, last quarter I decided to take a small break.

In 2008 – Ray Koh and I started working on ogywawa.com. We needed engineering help, so we decided to recruit our third founder – Sandeep back in Bangalore to help us scale ogywawa.com.

BL: What is the motivation behind Ogywawa? Is it just to give you ample supply of free drinks for chatting up ladies in bars?

Sunil: We just kept asking ourselves what friends buy each other – the answer was drinks. We organized an experiment with a group, earlier this year and received some encouraging feedback. We also felt that if we could approach a few things differently then the original idea would have a potential for business here. So we continued to work on what might make sense in Singapore. So in short ogywawa will be an interesting social network that people will use to find unique things to gift in Singapore.

BL: How does Ogywawa work for the customer who uses your services?

Sunil: With Ogywawa you can delight your friends with drinks, personalized “adventures”, beauty treatments, great food and other interesting stuff. On the website, you can decide the kind of gift you wish to give, fill in your details
Select the type of gift you wish to give. On the order page, you will be asked to fill in your and your friends’ details. Click on the “Proceed” button and then check out by paying using your credit card or PayPal. Your friend shall receive an SMS alerting them about your gift and a gift coupon number that can be redeemed at a partner establishment. Pls take a tour here: http://ogywawa.blogspot.com/

BL: What are the top 5 features which you want us check it out in Ogywawa?

Sunil: We think interesting features are:

• OGYME: Request your friend to buy any gift item you like from ogywawa store.
• OGYLIST: Allows you to add items to your wish list called Ogylist – and twitter the url / blog it or have it on Facebook status
• Mobile Coupon: A coupon is sent to the recipient. This can be redeemed at any of our participating outlets.

BL: One of the difficult parts of Ogywawa is that you need to coordinate with bar outlets, do you face considerable challenge in convincing them to try your solution? Any interesting stories to share?

Sunil: We do face issues coordinating with outlets, but we feel that as we make our presence felt our teething problems would slowly fade away and would make business sense in the long run.

One of the best things about Singapore’s businesses are they are always eager and open to try new ideas. The bigger challenge, however, is to build upon this ‘interest’ to bring about meaningful revenue. And in the end, it’s all about making people’s lives easier and fun.

BL: Are you planning to bring Ogywawa into online social networks in the form of app?

Sunil: Yes we are going to be on social networks shortly.

BL: What are the three attributes that an entrepreneur should have in your opinion?

Sunil: (1) Ability to understand and add ‘value’ in the context of the business, (2) Lust for money and (3) Lot of enthusiasm.

BL: So, when will I have the chance to buy anyone in any bar out there?

Sunil: We are in discussions with a lot of outlets and we promise that you will soon see the adoption of ogywawa by the outlets.

BL: Thank you for the interview, we wish you all the best with Ogywawa. Also to our readers: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.