Akshat Srivastava is the CEO of Alabot, an AI equipped intelligent platform that can be embedded in any instant messenger network and be used to fetch information or book tickets, serve information about local deals, and do a precise search without opening Web pages.

It is a tough task indeed to pen down my dreams for Alabot. From the very beginning, we did not get bogged down by who to sell to, what the size of the market was, etc. This was something I was told was the first thing a start-up should plan around. I wanted the product to take shape first and evolve into something that all of us in the team would be proud of.

Even now, the goal is not to blindly follow the herd and copy ideas. Our ethos is based on innovation and will always be the bedrock of whatever we do.

The first thing that innovation needs is an atmosphere of absolute freedom--the freedom of expression, the freedom to create and, most importantly, the freedom from the fear of failure.

The moral of our story is simple--believe in your idea, work hard to turn the idea into a reality and create a collaborative ecosystem, both within your company and across the industry as a whole.