I am tired of seeing startups boasting about being nominated for TATA NEN Hottest Startups Awards. When you marry a b-plan competition with a popularity contest, I have no problems with that. But when the voters are not the target audience for most or any of the services, there is a serious problem. In most cases, voters are just employees at the startup or their friends. The awards have become begging contests wherein the startup that stoops the lowest and begs best and most amongst their employees / friends / ex-colleagues / fellow alumni will win. In fact I would never invest in the startups that win this award because it would be a sure shot sign of a company that has nothing better to do. I have great respect for the organizers – TATA / NEN / Live Mint – but they have got it all wrong. One look at the companies leading these awards and you’ll be nodding your head in agreement with what I’ve just said.