Successful alumni present college lecture

November 2008

Brothers Ketan and Manish Kothari inspired the Fulton College’s budding entrepreneurs on Nov. 6, presenting a lecture entitled “An Entrepreneurial Journey: Lessons from the Trenches.”

The brothers were invited to share their experiences in relation to AlphaSmart, Inc., an educational technology company which they co-founded in 1993, and grew to a $40M company before selling it in 2005.

Above all else, their advice to the students was centered on gaining experience, taking risks, and having fun.

“You’re here to learn,” said Manish Kothari. “But be sure to have fun, make great friends and get out there and explore the world while you are learning.”

The lecture appealed to all interests, from the financially savvy up-and-coming entrepreneur amazed by their business acumen to the most technical of engineers who were thrilled to see an AlphaSmart computer power back on and work flawlessly after being thrown across the stage.

“A lot of the business strategy covered today is something many of us students haven’t thought much of yet,” said Kevin Currey, a senior majoring in civil engineering. “With me starting my own business right now, I found it invaluable; so much of it applied directly to my situation.”

The Kotharis warned students of the rigors involved in starting a successful company, of the dozens of times you fail before you finally succeed. They encouraged those in attendance to take risks and leaps of faith, but to not be too stubborn to retreat and try something else when their first tactic failed.

Ketan Kothari told of numerous business ideas which flopped before AlphaSmart finally proved a winner. Some of the ideas never came to fruition; others made it to the market just after a competitor had stolen the available market share.

“It was amazing, all they had was a goal in mind, and they just kept pushing for it,” said Sean Self, a junior in the construction management program. “It just shows you what persistence and will power can do.”

“Whether it’s in India, China, or somewhere in this country, take the time to go out and get experience through work-study and internships,” Manish Kothari told students during the lecture. “It’s invaluable.”

As part of the Advancement Council for Engineering and Technology (ACET), the Kotharis are working with the globalization committee to establish an internship program in India for Fulton College students.

The Kothari brothers came to BYU from India in the mid-1980’s. After graduating with degrees in electrical engineering they continued on to graduate school. Ketan Kothari received an MBA from BYU, while Manish earned a MSEE from the University of Wisconsin and then an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Successful alumni present college lecture

College News October 2009

College News
October 2009