Would like to make the world a better and more equal place: TeamIndus co-founder Dilip Chabria

Comedians are effective because they are wise. Robin Williams once said, “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” His words are apt for this category and its winner. Certainly, the outcome of TeamIndus’ Lunar project will encourage students and entrepreneurs to explore the next frontier — space. And that definitely counts for a ‘Trendsetting Idea’.

The Bengaluru-based company is one of the 16 shortlisted participants in the Google Lunar XPrize competition. Their immediate goal is getting a spacecraft to land on the moon. The TeamIndus co-founder Dilip Chabria gives a peek into his thoughts.

What does trendsetting mean to you?
India has been one of the front runners in the start-up revolution Our mission is to take this forward into deep technology and enable, catalyse and energise the ecosystem.

What was your aha! moment? When did you see your idea taking shape?
We chanced on the Google Lunar XPrize and immediately felt that this was something that we were meant to do. All of us have always dreamt of doing something that changed the world for the better.


The Bengaluru-based company is one of the 16 shortlisted participants in the Google Lunar XPrize competition. (Image: BCCL)

Who are the people and the ideas that you believe have set a trend?
Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Vikram Sarabhai and Sergey Brin.

One insight you unexpectedly chanced upon that made you rethink your way of looking at work or the world.
Two of the world’s biggest sportswear brands, Adidas’s ‘Impossible is Nothing’ and Nike’s’ ‘Just Do it’, put together form a formidable
formula that opens the world to you.

What is the one trend that has shaped or influenced you?
Look at Elon Musk. What he stands for is to dream the impossible and make it happen. That has been a huge influence.

What are the books that are a must-read for anyone aspiring to set trends?
Any book by Malcolm Gladwell.

Where do you think the next big trendsetting idea will be from?
To answer this question let me draw a parallel. The internet started out as a government project. But it really came into itself and changed the world as we know it when it intersected with people, ideas and enterprise. We expect the same to happen with space.

What kind of trendsetter would you want to be in the future?
We would like to shake up the established norms and make the world a better, a more equal place.

The new order
TeamIndus has space designations as job titles. Someone is a fleet commander. There are Jedi masters for structures and people capital. The mentors are called commanders. There also are ninjas, skywalkers and troopers in the team.