Nov, 2002:
After graduating from Stanford in MS in Electrical Engineering
and a stint at Apple Computer where he spent two years. Frustrated
by a corporate e-mail system which did not allow them to communicate
privately, Sabeer started working on new ideas for the Internet
and he teamed up with Jack Smith, a colleague from Apple Corporation.
The two came up with the concept of a web-based database entitled
Javasoft. While pursuing this idea, they subsequently realised
the potential of a web-based e-mail system and thus decided to
create one called HoTMaiL (the uppercase letters spelling out
HTML - the language used to write the base of a webpage).In order
to attract attention, the e-mail service was provided for free
and revenue was obtained through the advertising on the website.
Draper Fisher Ventures invested $300,000 on the project and the
service was launched on July 4, 1996.
In less than six months, the website attracted over 1 million
subscribers. As the interest in the web-based email provider increased,
Microsoft eventually took notice and on December 30, 1997, Hotmail
was sold to Microsoft for a reported sum of $400 million.
Arzoo Inc
After selling Hotmail, Bhatia worked at Microsoft for about a
year and in April 1999, he left the company to start another website,
Arzoo Inc, which was shut down when the dot-com bubble burst.
In 2006, he relaunched Arzoo as a travel portal.
He started a new website trying to capitalise on the emerging
blogosphere - BlogEverywhere with co-founders Shiraz Kangla and
Viraf Zack.
He also pushed for a project enabling access to the internet
through cable television in Indian homes. However, due to bureaucratic
problems it is very unlikely that this will reach completion.
Nano city
Future plans of his include the development of a new city in
India by the name of Nano city. The aim of Nanocity is to replicate
the vibrance and eco-system of innovation found in the Silicon
Valley.
Awards
