He is referred to as a serial entrepreneur. Primarily, because setting up new business venture is his passion and envisaging fresh entrepreneurial projects, his hobby. While most of us put in a good amount of effort to leave aside our work life, Raghav Kher admits that, when he has time, he enjoys the experience of thinking about work and putting together blueprints for future ventures.
Seventymm, a movie rental service based in Bangalore, was the result of yet another ambitious desire to cash in on a business opportunity. “Food, movies and cricket (in that order), I realised, are an integral part of a large section of Indians. Something in the lines of movies was more appealing to me than the other two options. After some contemplation, the concept of creating a medium where movie buffs can deliberate on any topic relating to films, apart from providing an option of renting movies online, was decided upon and bang! Seventymm was conceptualised and launched in March 2006,” shares Raghav who shuttles between his home in Seattle and his work in India.
The website offers space for discussions on almost any thing ‘filmy’, option to upload pictures of favourite movie stars, a list of movies available at the Seventymm library. One can rent movies online and the service includes delivering the requested film at your doorstep as well as picking it up once it has to be returned. All for Rs 50 per movie.
After success in Bangalore, he took his business to five other cities — Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh. “Set up keeping in mind the three Cs — convenience, choice and community — Seventymm has over 15,000 titles in 10 languages — Indian and foreign (mostly English),” he says, adding, “The focus is on any movie, any time.”
But probing further, Raghav does admit that he absolutely loves movies and has many favourites. Of the recent ones, The Namesake and Lage Raho Munnabhai, are among the top Bollywood flicks in the list. He also enjoys being with the family and finds ways to involve everyone in some group activities.
“I find bicycling and aerobics to be a great way to relieve stress. With my family, I enjoy a game of racquetball, board games and find skiing a great way to bond with my sons. I also enjoy a bit of cooking and dish out some good Italian and Indian food.”
May be an Indian restaurant in Seattle then? (Laughs) “I haven’t thought about that. But for now, I am happy cooking for family and friends.”
An enterprise, that Raghav says, rents out nearly 500 movies per day in Bangalore alone, the idea sure has picked up. “Entertainment is a booming industry and is going to grow skywards in the next five years. The future of movies is going to go beyond DVDs, expanding the portfolio of entertainment as a whole,” sums up the entrepreneur.
