Subhash Nawani

Subhash Nawani the co-founder of SpiralDev Apps. He has worked in Fortune 500 companies leading their operations and Strategy across the globe. He played a vital role in startups, helping them acquire more customers and defining their roadmap in sales. In his current organization, he looks after marketing and Strategy. SpiralDevApps develops high-quality consumer-facing products – the most famous of these is A1Office – A suite of apps allowing users to edit, view & manage their documents. Out of all the products A1Office major focus tool is its online pdf editor which provides its users to edit pdf online for free. The tool can be accessed from any device and on any browser, without any installations and subscriptions. Being a bootstrapped startup, it’s a major part of the story.

Where did the idea for SpiralDev Apps come from?

We always wanted to lead a startup that was profitable and bootstrapped on its own. Our journey started from failing a start-up in AI/ML domain which we figured out is not sustainable on its own. From there we become more adamant not to raise any VC money but should focus on unit economics from day one. That is how our second entrepreneurial experiment started in the form of SpiralDev Apps where we launched several apps in the android domain to test the market and ultimately found our niche in the Office productivity space where we became the user’s number one choice on the android domain in Office suite category. Catapulted by strong demand and ever-growing A1Office has DAU of (1mn currently), our plan now is to become an alternative to office suite from India.

SpiralDevApps develops high-quality consumer-facing products – the most famous of these is A1Office – A suite of apps allowing users to edit, view & manage their documents.

A1 Office consists of the following products which are available on the web & android for now –
1. DOCX Viewer & Editor
2. XLS Viewer & Editor
3. PPT
4. PDF Viewer & Editor
5. Document Scanner

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

There’s no typical day at entrepreneurship. Every day is different, and that’s what makes it so productive. Some days I’m up at the crack of dawn, working on my latest project. Other days I’m up all night brainstorming new ideas. No matter what, I always make sure to stay productive.

How do I make it productive? Well, first I start by setting some goals for the day. That way, I know exactly what I need to accomplish. Then I break down those goals into smaller tasks, which makes them easier to complete. And finally, I make a schedule and stick to it as best as possible.

How do you bring ideas to life?

It depends on the idea and the person bringing it to life. For some, inspiration comes easily, and all they need is a little push to get started. Others need more structure, and more guidance in order to find their way.

But whatever your process, one thing is always essential: feedback. You need feedback if you want to know whether your idea is good or not, whether it’s worth pursuing or not.

What’s one trend that excites you?

There’s something about the current trend of minimalism that really excites me. I love the simplicity and the focus on function over form. It feels like a breath of fresh air in our often cluttered world.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Every entrepreneur has their own tricks and habits that help them stay productive. For me, one of my key habits is to stick to a routine. By creating a schedule for myself and sticking to it as closely as possible, I know that I’m always working towards my goals. This helps me stay focused and motivated throughout the day.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If I could go back and give myself some advice, here’s what it would be:

1) Take your time – don’t rush through life trying to achieve things before you’re ready. There’s no need to hurry; enjoy the journey, because it goes by quickly.

2) Don’t be afraid to ask for help – we all need guidance at times, and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t know everything. Seek out people who can teach you what you need to know

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

A lot of people think that you need to have a ton of money to start your own business – but that’s not always the case. You can start a business with very little money, and there are plenty of ways to do it.

Another common misconception is that you need to be an expert in your field to start a business. That’s definitely not true – in fact, most successful businesses are started by people who are new to the industry.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

As an entrepreneur, the one thing I do over and over is network. I attend events and meetings where I can meet other entrepreneurs, as well as people in industries that could be beneficial to my business.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

There are many strategies that can help businesses grow, but one of the most important is to always be learning and growing. Constantly expanding your knowledge and skillset will help you stay ahead of the competition and continue to succeed. Whether it’s taking courses or reading up on new trends in your industry, there are always ways to improve. So don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and keep pushing yourself forward!

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I’m not sure where to start. There have been so many failures over the years, it’s hard to pick just one. But if I had to choose, I would say that my biggest failure was when I first started my business.

I was young and inexperienced, and I didn’t know how to run a company. I made a lot of mistakes early on, and it almost cost me everything. But fortunately, I learned from my mistakes and eventually turned things around.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

This business idea is perfect for anyone who wants to start their own business without spending a lot of money. And best of all, it can be started with very little experience or knowledge. So what is this amazing business idea?

It’s called a home-based pet sitting service. This is a great way to make some extra money while taking care of the animals you love. All you need is some basic supplies and a willingness to take care of other people’s pets.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I’m not sure if there is one single best $100 I’ve spent recently, but there are a few that stand out. Earlier this month, I treated myself to a new pair of shoes after finally hitting my goal weight. They’re really comfortable and make me feel confident, so I think they were definitely worth the money.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

There are many pieces of software and web services that can help you be productive. For example, I use the Google Drive suite of tools to manage my work. It helps me keep my files organized and accessible from any device. I also use the Google Calendar app to keep track of my schedule. The reminders feature is especially helpful in keeping me on task.
Though not marketing my startup tools here but A1Office is something that we also use for our document editing and reading online.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The one book that our community should read is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye is a novel about a teenager named Holden Caulfield who is kicked out of boarding school and becomes a wanderer in New York City. This novel has been praised for its realistic portrayal of teenage angst and its ability to capture the zeitgeist of post-World War II America.

What is your favorite quote?

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world
– Nelson Mandela.

Key Learnings:

• A failing startup can be your new growing journey ahead.
• Startups can be profitable even if bootstrapped on its own.
• Take your time – don’t rush through life
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help – we all need guidance at times