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Darshan Somashekar,
Technology Director
Darshan and ImagineEasy Solutions, LLCBibliographies are like tax returns in the academic world: everyone has to do them, but no one wants to. Darshan Somashekar, 23, Technology Director at ImagineEasy Solutions, LLC has solved that nightmare, however. At EasyBib, the brain child of ImagineEasy, they know the arduous chore of compiling a bibliography: that's why they do it for you! With its success reaching all 50 states and Canada, ImagineEasy is on track to do bigger and better things by blending new technologies with traditional teaching and learning. It's this ingenuity – to drastically improve the most commonplace, tedious tasks in life – that separate successful from 'It sounded good at the time'. That's what makes Darshan this week's Young & Professional Profile.
Company
ImagineEasy Solutions, LLC
Founded
Feb 2001
Website
www.easybib.com
Name
Darshan Somashekar, Technology Director, 23
Hometown
Willowbrook, IL
Current residence
New York, NY
Education
Public Policy & American Institutions, Brown University 2005
Past companies
Google, Bain & Company(currently)
Ethnicity
Indian, Karnatakan
About the company
EasyBib is an automatic bibliography composer that helps students format their citations in their research papers.
Most notable milestones
Used by over 400,000 students a month.
Appeared in the Chicago Tribune and USA Today.
What's the niche?
We make the frustrating task of bibliography writing as painless as possible, and free of charge.
What's the biggest challenge?
Realizing that growth depends on continuous innovation. Our users are constantly pushing us to add new features and streamline the current program. If you stand still, you end up being eclipsed or duplicated by your competitors.
What's in store for the future?
We're going to allow the community of students we have now to start interfacing with each other. We're building ways for them to share their research with one another in a way that can make future essay writing even simpler.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
We're currently exploring ways to develop relationships between ourselves and advertisers targeting students.
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“You find out more by doing a lot of things and thinking less than by doing little and thinking a lot.” Best way to keep a competitive edge
You need to connect with the people that use your product – in our case, our students. That connection brings about innovation directly targeted to what your users want.
Yardstick of success
When people mention "bibliography," I want them to think "EasyBib."
Goal yet to be achieved
We want to build a community around students. Currently, we we have thousands of students using our service, but they're not in touch with each other. We want to develop services to involve them.
Best practical advice
You find out more by doing a lot of things and thinking less than by doing little and thinking a lot.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
My dad: "Don't work too hard." My mom: "It's good that you have a hobby and dream, but graduate from school first."
What motivated you to get started?
My good friend Neal Taparia and I initially thought of the idea, and he had just written a huge research paper with a gigantic bibliography. We thought there had to be an easier way, and if we created it students would use it.
What keeps you motivated?
The prospect of making the site into a full-fledged business. I've always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, having my own schedule, and having a major role to play in developing something others user.
Like best about what you do
The independence and ability to make immediate impact.
Like least about what you do
The stress associated with trying to fix things when they go wrong. In the end, I can't turn to someone and place responsibility on them. I'm the developer of the site, so I have to take full blame of something goes wrong, and also full responsibility to fix it.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An entrepreneur.
Biggest pastime outside of work
Web design is my hobby, but beyond that I'm a big fan of sleeping, reading, and wasting time.
Person most interested in meeting
Socrates, because he pushes us to find out what our lives are about.
Leader in business most interested in meeting
Steve Jobs, because of his innate ability to make consumer products into a "lifestyle."
One interesting fact about yourself
When I was a baby, I had a Polish babysitter who only spoke Polish to me. Apparently, I picked it up and was able to speak pretty fluent Polish when I was very young. But that's all lost to me now – I can't understand a word anymore.
Three characteristics that describe you
I have a poor memory so I can't tell good stories.
I am tall and lanky, but can't play basketball.
I prefer mini-series over movies, and magazines over books.
Three greatest passions
Web designing, singing to myself, drinking tea.
Favorite book
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper.
Favorite cause
Global warming.
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