India Enters Innovation Decade with Rs 1 Lakh Cr DeepTech Fund, 6x Capital Surge

At a time when India’s capital landscape is being reshaped by shifting global dynamics and rising domestic conviction, TiE Delhi-NCR hosted the second edition of Capital Connect 2026 at the Leela Ambience, Gurugram. With 300+ curated participants, including investors, policymakers, family offices, LPs, global funds, regulators, and HNIs, the forum brought together the key drivers of capital in India. The discussions centred on capital allocation trends, deeptech opportunities, and the growing importance of domestic and sovereign capital in the innovation ecosystem.

Featuring a strong lineup of leaders at the forefront of India’s capital and innovation ecosystem, the second edition included Manoj Mittal (CMD, Small Industries Development Bank of India); Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (CEO, Anusandhan National Research Foundation); Sanjeev Aggarwal (Co-Founder, Fundamentum Partnership & Helion Ventures); Mohit Dhawan (President, Hero Enterprises); Sudhir Rao (Senior Partner, Celesta Capital); Vikram Gupta (Founder & Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures); Sandeep Sinha (Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Oister Global); Jyoti Sharma (Department of Science & Technology, Government of India); Padmaja Ruparel (Co-Founder, Indian Angel Network), among others.

Speaking on India’s evolving capital landscape, Shri Manoj Mittal, CMD, SIDBI, said, “We are witnessing the foundations of India’s next growth era being laid, where domestic capital is not just participating, but leading. With a 6x rise in domestic capital since 2016 and transformative instruments like Fund of Funds 2.0, the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund, and targeted SME growth capital, the scale of ambition is unprecedented. Yet, to fully unlock this opportunity, the ecosystem must evolve in tandem. We need a significant expansion in AIFs, stronger and more capable incubators, and a robust talent pipeline to power the next wave of innovation. As AI, spacetech, deeptech, and defence emerge as defining sectors, this moment calls for coordinated action. This is more than momentum; it’s the beginning of India’s innovation-led growth decade.”

Capital Connect’s second edition brought together conversations that matter, from decoding where smart capital is flowing and how top investors are allocating in a shifting market, to exploring emerging sectors, new fund strategies, and the evolving role of family offices. The agenda delved into policy signals, institutional capital trends, and founder–investor alignment, offering a clear lens on how India’s investment landscape is being reshaped, and what it means for the road ahead.

Highlighting the role of institutional innovation in deeptech growth, Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman- CEO, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) said, “ANRF is being built as a catalyst for India’s rise as a Research and Innovation powerhouse, creating the field where deep science discoveries happen, deep tech ideas emerge and these can to be funded and scaled via an ecosystem of investors. As a statutory body of the Government of India, ANRF is not just a grant-making institution but an institutional innovation designed to aggregate academia, industry, and startups with autonomy and neutrality.

Through a dual approach, early-stage de-risking and deep science, mission-mode programs and early translation funding via grants and patient capital deployment through mechanisms like the RDI fund to spark an asset class and ecosystem for research-intensive innovation financing, we are building a pipeline from deep science to investable opportunities. With mission-mode MAHA programs, translational initiatives such as ATRI centres, and catalytic partnerships contributing 10–20% of funding to create new non-government research institutions, what we have seen so far is only a trailer of what lies ahead,” he added.

A key highlight of the forum was the Exclusive Startup Showcase at Capital Connect 2026, featuring Talkfever, Olbrain, and Gabify. Three early-stage startups pitched to a curated room of active investors, including VCs, family offices, angel investors, and HNIs, followed by sharp Q&A and focused engagement. With curated introductions facilitated by TiE Delhi-NCR, the showcase enabled meaningful investor-startup connections and set the stage for potential growth partnerships.

Speaking on advancing India’s research and innovation landscape, Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Head – RDI Cell, Department of Science & Technology, GoI, said, “The RDI Fund represents a significant step towards strengthening India’s deep technology ecosystem, with a proposed outlay of ₹1 lakh crore. It is designed to support high-risk, high-impact projects and to help de-risk early-stage and deep-tech investments that often face constraints in accessing capital. By providing support of up to 50% of project costs, the Fund aims to crowd in private investment and accelerate the progression of technologies from research to deployment. Early traction has been encouraging, with multiple projects at advanced stages of consideration and a strong pipeline under review.”

Capital Connect 2026 marked the unveiling of the GP Watchlist 2026, a curated recognition in partnership with Oister Global, honouring India's most promising fund managers. Mitin Jain of India SME Fund has been announced as a honouree, building on last year's cohort spanning deeptech, SaaS, and growth-stage investing.

Speaking on the significance of the platform, Geetika Dayal, Director General, TiE Delhi-NCR, said, “Capital Connect 2026 reflects a clear shift in how capital is engaging with India’s innovation ecosystem, moving beyond short-term momentum to back long-term institutions, deeptech, and founders solving complex global problems. At a time when India is entering a decisive decade for innovation, such platforms enable meaningful dialogue between investors, policymakers, and founders.”

The event was supported by SIDBI and Khaitan & Co. Through curated discussions, investor-only sessions, and founder showcases, Capital Connect 2026 reinforced the expanding role of private capital in shaping India’s startup ecosystem.

About TiE Delhi-NCR: Fostering entrepreneurship for over two decades, TiE Delhi-NCR stands as one of the most dynamic and impactful chapters of the global TiE Network. Renowned for its marquee events, high-impact mentoring programs, prestigious entrepreneurial awards, and powerful investor pitch platforms, TiE Delhi-NCR plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s startup landscape.

Piyush Goyal Urges Deeptech Innovation for India’s Technological Sovereignty at TiEcon Delhi

Policymakers, industry stalwarts, investors, founders and startup leaders converged at TiEcon Delhi to celebrate India’s accelerating deeptech revolution. TiEcon Delhi, organized by TiE Delhi-NCR, a two-day summit kicked off on an inspiring note, setting the stage for powerful conversations, visionary ideas, and collaborations shaping the future of technology and entrepreneurship in India.

The highlight of the opening day was the Grand Keynote by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industries, Government of India, where he outlined Government’s Vision for Building a Vibrant Deeptech Ecosystem Driven by Innovation and Youth Engagement. He observed that India’s digital journey has been integral to its economic rise, from becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy to being on track to reach the third position within two years, and achieving the vision of a USD 30–32 trillion economy by 2047. He stated that the foundation of India’s growth rests on the power of technology and innovation.

“Over the last decade, India’s remarkable digital transformation has created unprecedented possibilities for the millions of Indians from the bottom-of-the-pyramid to millions of our innovators. Programmes like the Jan Dhan bank accounts, Aadhaar identity, Direct Benefit Transfer, the growth of the UPI payments ecosystem, expansion of 4G networks and now 5G across the country, all these have shifted India from coverage to access, from access to usage, from usage to outcomes.As we move towards becoming a global engine of deep-tech innovation, through AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, emerging technologies, the entire ecosystem of talent, institutions, investment, start-ups is aligning with this vision. Happy to see platforms like TiEcon Delhi-NCR bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who embody the spirit of inquiry and enterprise that drives India forward. Together, we must aim not just to participate in the global technology revolution but to lead it with confidence, creativity, and conviction,” said Shri Piyush Goyal, Honourable Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Government of India.

The sessions covered diverse themes from startup profitability to AI innovation and research commercialization. The Power Panel “Mission 2047: What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There” saw participation from STPI, DPIIT, BIRAC, and NSIC leaders discussing India’s roadmap to becoming a global tech powerhouse. A series of fireside chats and keynotes followed, including “Quantum Leap: Accelerating India’s Tech Sovereignty” with Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, and Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR, and “How India Can Win the Global AI Race” featuring Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, and Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder, Info Edge.

“The Honourable Minister Piyush Goyal’s remarks on the need for Indian startups to focus on deep tech inspired us to take decisive action. We shifted our focus and the 25th TiECon Delhi has now become India’s largest deep tech conference. In a world where technology and trade are increasingly being weaponised, technology sovereignty represents national sovereignty. As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, investing in deep tech and research is essential. This vision now defines TiE’s mission” said Dr. Saurabh Srivastava - Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi -NCR.

“India is witnessing an exciting phase in its artificial intelligence journey, powered by our strong technology ecosystem and exceptional talent base. Through the India AI Mission, we are focused on building an inclusive and innovation-driven framework that provides access to compute infrastructure, quality datasets and AI skills for startups, researchers and enterprises. In this, TiEcon Delhi NCR play an important role in fostering collaboration among industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers, helping translate India’s AI potential into real-world impact. Our collective goal is to make AI accessible, responsible and transformative for every citizen, driving sustainable and equitable digital growth across the nation,” said Mr. Abhishek Singh, Addl. Secretary, MeitY India AI Mission.

The event also marked the unveiling of SPF 100 Desi Deeptechs, a first-of-its-kind showcase celebrating India’s most promising homegrown Deeptech ventures. Engaging sessions such as ‘AI Unlocked: Innovation, Scale & Competitiveness’ and ‘Deeptech on the Move: AI Innovations Powering Mobility 2.0’, powered by MG Motor, further reflected the vibrancy and depth of India’s Deeptech ecosystem, emphasizing the collective efforts of government, investors, and entrepreneurs in shaping a future-ready innovation economy.

In another key highlight, TiE Delhi-NCR announced the launch of the DeepScale India Accelerator Program at TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025, a national initiative designed to fast-track the commercialization and scaling up of MVP-ready DeepTech startups. Supported by SIDBI as the Investment Partner, DST as the Ecosystem Partner, and AWS as the Technical Partner, the program will empower early-stage innovators across AI, robotics, quantum, biotech, spacetech, and semiconductors through mentorship, funding access, and masterclasses, culminating in a Demo Day at the TechSwaraj DeepTech Summit 2026.

Alongside the accelerator, TiE Delhi-NCR also introduced Lab2Scale, a DeepTech bridge designed to move TRL 4–7 research from proof-of-concept to pilots and commercialization. The Lab2Scale session at TiEcon featured rapid 5-minute pitches by select innovators, followed by curated Founder–Industry Huddles that enabled pilot discussions, partnerships, and opportunities for technology validation.

About TiE Delhi-NCR

Fostering entrepreneurship for over two decades, TiE Delhi-NCR stands as one of the most dynamic and impactful chapters of the global TiE Network. Renowned for its marquee events, high-impact mentoring programs, prestigious entrepreneurial awards, and powerful investor pitch platforms, TiE Delhi-NCR plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s startup landscape. With a mission to empower entrepreneurs at every stage, TiE Delhi-NCR offers access to industry experts, seasoned mentors, and global networks, helping founders scale their ventures beyond imaginable limits. Through consistent efforts to expand, explore, and elevate, TiE Delhi-NCR continues to evolve as India’s most credible and influential platform supporting entrepreneurial growth and innovation.

TiE Launches Mission 1x10x100 to Ignite Entrepreneurship Across India’s Tier-2 to Tier-4 Cities

• From Raipur to Rajkot, TiE New Chapters focuses on Tier-2/Tier-3 Cities

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), which has played a pivotal role in creating over $1 trillion in global entrepreneurial wealth, is now turning its focus to India’s Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 cities as part of its ambitious Mission 1x10x100. TiE currently has 30 Chapters and over 8000 members in India alone.

With the vision of fostering one million entrepreneurs in the next decade, generating over 10 million jobs and contributing more than $100 billion to the global GDP by 2035, TiE is expanding its footprint by launching 20 new potential spoke chapters across India to mentor aspiring founders, connect them with global partners, and provide the training and exposure needed to scale.

“To achieve this, TiE, which currently has 62 chapters globally, plans to increase the number to 100 by the end of this year. Of the 38 new chapters, at least 20 will be in India, across Tier-3 and Tier-4 cities such as Raipur, Rourkela, Madurai, Salem, Amravathi/Vijayawada/Nellore, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Amritsar, Rohtak, Ranchi, Ludhiana, Jamshedpur, Warangal, Jammu/Srinagar, Goa, Kozhikode, Guwahati, Belgaum, Nasik/Jalgaon, and Rajkot. On the global front, we will also expand into cities like Seoul, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City,” said Vijay N Menon, Executive Director, TiE Global.

Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair of TiE Global Board of Trustees 2025, said, “India’s next wave of entrepreneurship will come from its heartlands. Our expansion into Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 cities ensures that entrepreneurs outside the metros have the same access to mentorship, capital, and global networks. This is about igniting possibilities across Bharat and making entrepreneurship a truly inclusive movement.”

TiE is also partnering with various state governments to align with local startup policies and unlock state-level resources, collaborating with corporates and academic institutions to strengthen innovation pipelines, and engaging with global investors and ecosystem partners to give smaller city entrepreneurs access to international markets.

With India already home to the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, TiE believes that bold, inclusive initiatives are essential to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of smaller cities. “By strengthening its reach into new geographies, TiE aims to catalyze job creation, foster innovation, and inspire at least 35% of new entrepreneurs to be women, ensuring that the promise of entrepreneurship extends across every corner of the country,” Murali added.

TiE has built a strong legacy of mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting women-led ventures over last 25 years in India. Further, it will host the TiE Global Summit in Jaipur later this year, bringing in the global community. The summit will showcase India’s vibrant startup ecosystem, opportunities from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and TiE’s commitment to empowering the next wave of entrepreneurship across the country.

About TiE Global:

Founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley, TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship across industries and at all stages of the entrepreneurial lifecycle. With over 10,000 members across 65 cities in 15 countries, TiE empowers startups and entrepreneurs through mentoring, networking, education, funding, and incubation.

For more information, visit: https://tie.org

Over 50% of India’s Future Startups Will Rise Outside Metros, says TiE Bangalore’s New Report

At the 10th edition of the Matrix Global Summit, TiE Bangalore launched its flagship report, India as a Startup Superpower by 2035, A Strategic Roadmap, outlining a transformative vision for India’s entrepreneurial economy. Based on inputs from over 60 ecosystem leaders, including founders, investors, policy experts, and academic institutions, the report projects that more than 50% of Indian startups by 2035 will emerge from Tier 2/3 districts.

The report presents a roadmap that is intended to evolve as a living document, continuously shaped by insights and inputs from ecosystem leaders. As the landscape changes, this framework will be updated to reflect new priorities, challenges, and opportunities—ensuring it remains relevant and action-oriented.

Building on this foundation, the report lays out a long-term blueprint to shape India into the world’s most inclusive, innovation-led startup economy. It calls for a nationwide shift from "Startup India" to "Entrepreneurial Bharat", where entrepreneurship is no longer a metro-driven phenomenon but a grassroots movement embedded in school curriculums, regional economic clusters, and national priorities. It outlines actionable strategies to democratize access to capital, embed entrepreneurial education across academic institutions, and streamline regulatory policies to support high-impact founders across every Indian district.

This report is significant because it reframes how India must think about startups, not just as economic engines, but as tools for solving large-scale national challenges. With India expected to become the third-largest economy by 2030, this roadmap offers a framework to ensure that its startup ecosystem is not only high-growth, but resilient, inclusive, and globally relevant. The document also positions entrepreneurship as a core life skill, proposing its inclusion across 75% of secondary schools and 80% of higher education institutions by 2035, enabling over one million students each year to engage with startup culture.

“This is not just a report, it’s a strategic invitation to reimagine India’s innovation trajectory,” said Madan Padaki, President, TiE Bangalore & Trustee, TiE Global. “We now have the opportunity to architect an ecosystem that is inclusive by design and transformative by intent, where every Indian, regardless of geography or background, has the tools to build, scale, and lead.”

Covering themes across policy, capital, academia, talent, and deep tech, the report explores how India can create an innovation economy that contributes 15% to GDP, creates 50 million new jobs, and generates 100+ IPOs on global exchanges by 2035. It addresses key enablers such as domestic patient capital, national startup policy harmonization, regulatory simplification, deep tech leadership, and global integration. In doing so, it charts a path for India to lead not just in startup quantity, but in innovation quality, sustainability, and global impact. The roadmap is informed by TiE’s national roundtable series held over the past year and includes insights from academic leaders from IITs, IIMs, and other innovation-focused institutions.

About TiE Bangalore: TiE, which stands for The Indus Entrepreneurs, is a global non-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. TiE provides a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, investors, and other ecosystem players to come together, network, and learn from each other. With chapters in over 60 cities across 14 countries, TiE offers mentorship, education, funding opportunities, and other resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. The organization also hosts events, conferences, and competitions to support and celebrate entrepreneurship around the world.

Matrix Forum, a Thinktank initiative of TiE Bangalore, mentors, evangelizes, and engages 3000+ start-ups with Corporates, Domain Enterprises, Investors, and Policy Makers, to grow the ecosystem of Matrix Technologies (IoT, DeepTech, AI, Quantum included), in India. The Forum was founded in 2014 as the IoT Forum and has evolved continuously to the present.

TiE Delhi-NCR Concludes 1st Edition of Student Entrepreneurship Summit 2025 on a High Note, Showcasing Youth-Led Innovation and Startup Spirit

“Rules of sportsmanship also apply to entrepreneurship : Having self confidence and giving your 100%, blurring out the noise to achieve the goal"- Nehal Wadhera, Indian Cricketer, Punjab Kings (IPL Cricketer) at TiE Delhi-NCR’s Student Entrepreneurship Summit

TiE Delhi-NCR, at the forefront of India’s startup ecosystem and a flagship chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), concluded the inaugural edition of the Student Entrepreneurship Summit 2025. The event emerged as a powerful celebration of student innovation and ambition, bringing together over 400 students from more than 50 leading schools and colleges across India.

The summit served as a dynamic launchpad for aspiring entrepreneurs — a space where classroom learning met real-world experience. The full-day event featured keynote addresses, fireside chats, panel discussions, startup showcases, hands-on masterclasses, creating an immersive experience that inspired and empowered the next generation of changemakers.

“Two high-energy days packed with ideas, innovation, and inspiration — from proudly hosting the TYE Global Finals to launching the maiden Student Entrepreneurship Summit and showcasing brilliant prototypes at the Startup Showcase. At TiE Delhi-NCR, we’re proud to be the torchbearers of a national movement to nurture tomorrow’s founders through mentorship, exposure, and opportunity", said Upasana Sharma, Executive Director, TiE Delhi-NCR.

A standout moment of the day was a fireside chat with Indian cricketer Nehal Wadhera, rising star of the IPL Team, Punjab Kings, who offered compelling insights on resilience, ambition, and mindset drawing parallels between sports and entrepreneurship. Speaking at the event he said- "Rules of sportsmanship also apply to entrepreneurship: Having self confidence and giving your 100%, blurring out the noise to achieve the goal”

The speaker lineup brought together an eclectic mix of founders, investors, professionals, and creators. R. Satya Narayanan, Founder & Chairman, CareerLauncher; Aurnob Godinho, Director of Brand,Bombay Shaving Company, Anoushka Jolly, Founder, Kavach App, Pankaj Bansal, Assistant Manager at National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI); Vineet Sagar, Managing Partner at Venture Garage & many more.

Throughout the day, students engaged directly with startup founders, venture capitalists, educators, and policymakers gaining valuable exposure to the inner workings of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Another major highlight of the day was TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Global Finals— TiE’s flagship global program for high school students, designed to nurture future founders through hands-on learning, leadership training, and startup building.

This year, TiE Delhi-NCR proudly hosted the TYE Global Finals, bringing together 16 top teams from TiE chapters across India. These student innovators pitched their business ideas to an esteemed jury, with the top 6 teams selected for the final round. All participating teams also showcased their working prototypes in a dynamic startup showcase, followed by rapid-fire Elevator Pitches that captured the essence of their ventures in minutes.

TiE Delhi-NCR's Team Syncora Wearables proudly secured a spot among the top 6 teams at the TYE Global Finals. Joining them on this prestigious list are Team Key Beauty and Team Kymavi from TiE Seattle, Team The Japa Store from TiE Udaipur, Team Fibre Flow from TiE Houston, and Team OOMI from TiE Rajasthan. These exceptional student-led ventures showcased the remarkable innovation and entrepreneurial talent emerging from TiE chapters across the world.

The TYE Global Finals featured a wide range of awards recognizing outstanding student ventures. Track Awards were presented across key categories for both India and USA tracks, including Best Customer Validation India TiE Ahmedabad (Breeze Power), TiE Rajasthan (OOMI), TiE Ahmedabad (Pellet Nova), Best Customer Validation US TiE Carolinas (Focus Drive), TiE Sillicon Valley (PAW SCAN), TiE DC (Safe Bytes) Best Business Model India was TiE Bangalore (Florascent), TiE Hyderabad (Familiar Faces) TiE Rajasthan & TiE Chennai (Stubblet & Watt Works), Best Business Model US TiE Boston (Inventrack), TiE Seattle (Key Beauty), TiE Tampa Bay (Slip Shield+) Best Execution India TiE Kolkata (Solayr), TiE Udaipur & TiE Vizag (The Japa store & Brainstorm Brigade) TiE Chandigarh (Intellilock), Best Execution US TiE Atlanta (Drive Quest), TiE Carolinas (Zone) Fiber Flow (TiE Houston) and Best Teamwork India TiE UP (Get My Team), TiE Kerala (S.M.A.R.T & isafe), Best Teamwork US TiE Seattle (Kymavi), TiE Houston (Step-In), TiE Dallas (Zen Buddy).Special Recognition Awards included the Winner of Maker Faire India TiE Rajasthan(OOMI), Winner of Maker Faire USA- TiE Carolinas ( Zone), and the Best Elevator Pitch Winner TiE Udaipur (The Japa Store) and Fibre Flow (TiE Houston). The event concluded with the Final Awards, announcing the 2nd Runner-Up TiE Rajasthan (OOMI), 1st Runner-Up TiE Seatle (Key Beauty), and the Winner of TYE Globals 2025 TiE Seattle (Kymavi).

The event concluded on a high note, leaving behind a renewed sense of purpose — to empower students to think boldly, act bravely, and build ventures that address real-world challenges with creativity, confidence, and compassion. This impactful initiative was made possible through the steadfast support of Amity University as the Academic Partner, co-powered by Sparkl and Gold sponsor - Career Launcher.

TiE Young Entrepreneurs Grand Finale Tomorrow

14 students in the age groups of 9 to 12 divided into four teams will present a prototype/business plan to the jury.

The Winners will be nominated for the TYE Global Competition.

TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TiY) Grand Finale will be held on Saturday at Club Botanica at 5 pm. TYE (TiE Young Entrepreneurs) is a TiE Global initiative dedicated to chapters integrating classroom sessions, mentoring and business plan competitions aimed at High School students from grades 9-12 or equivalent college students are allowed.

This year TiE Hyderabad has selected 14 students and formed them as 4 teams. These young innovators have undergone boot camps/workshops, led by successful TiE Hyderabad entrepreneurs in November, December - 2022 & January - 2023. These 4 teams are ably mentored by TiE Hyderabad Charter Members. Tomorrow these young entrepreneurs who were groomed in all aspects of entrepreneurship are now prepared to present their prototype/business plan to a stellar panel of jury members. The Winners of this competition will be nominated for the TYE Global Competition.

TYE is designed to teach high school students entrepreneurship and leadership skills. The TYE program is designed for a 16-week period, which includes design thinking workshops, and mentoring support for business plan development and culminates with a business plan competition.

About TiE Hyderabad: TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is a go-to network of 15000+ global entrepreneurs across 61+ cities in 14+ countries, and Hyderabad is a vibrant and most awarded chapter worldwide, each year TiE Hyderabad impacts over 1100 start-ups and 6400+ students, conducts numerous activities under 20+ themes viz. TiE Grad, TiE Young Entrepreneurs, Open Mic, Mentor Advisor, Investor Connect, Thursday Night Talks, Leadership Series etc. to encourage, and nurture next-generation entrepreneurs.

For more details, please get in touch with Vamsi Krishna J, Associate Director, 7799439281 or visit hyderabad.tie.org

TiE Mumbai Organizes a Think Tank Event With Amitabh Kant Where Unicorns Will Deliberate on Corporate Governance in the Startup Space

As Indian unicorns and startups are beginning to mark their presence in the world, corporate governance remains a critical imperative. Keeping this in mind, TiE Mumbai along with Nishith Desai Associates and the Indian presidency of the G-20 2023 is organizing an exclusive think tank event in Imaginarium Aligunjan, Alibaug on Saturday, April 29, 2023 (9.15 a.m. to 5 p.m. IST). This event is also supported by Startup20. Over 30 unicorns and top venture capital funds are expected to gather for this private enclave.

This event will be conducted under the guidance of Amitabh Kant, Government of India- G-20 Sherpa and International lawyer Nishith Desai, Founder, Nishith Desai Associates & Board Member TiE Mumbai. This conference will be aimed at improving India’s corporate governance brand and create new benchmarks not only for India but also for G20 nations.

Nishith Desai

Nishith Desai, Founder, Nishith Desai Associates and Board Member- TiE Mumbai said, “Good Governance is a critical issue for Startups. This think tank will have Unicorns, soonicorns, investors and experts deliberating upon benchmarks and standards that India Startups should set and adhere to in order to succeed. Good Governance leads to trust, which is the hallmark of any good business. Indian startups and new age Tech businesses are globally renowned for their products and services; hence it is imperative that we position ourselves as a stickler for High Standards of Corporate Governance as we strive to build a global brand.”

Amitabh Kant will be addressing the gathering on shaping the standards of corporate governance for India Inc. to go global and set benchmarks for other members of G-20 group. Chintan Vaishnav, Chairman- Startup20 Engagement Group under G20 and Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, AVSM, NM would also be sharing their views and experiences on Inculcating culture of creativity and discipline in Corporate Governance. Vivek Pandit, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co will be joining them and will speak on the New Bar for Governance in Private Markets. This will be followed by a square table discussion where leaders would express their views, ideas and experience on how to position Indian unicorns as a well governed corporate community.

To register for the event please click here https://nishithdesai.in/29April2023/Registration.aspx

About TiE

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. Since 1992. TiE has been supporting entrepreneurs by offering education, mentorship, networking and funding opportunities. The mission of TiE is to foster entrepreneurship globally through the 5 pillars of TiE : mentoring, networking and education, funding and incubation. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community. TiE’s focus area is to generate enable the next generation of entrepreneurs. There are currently 11,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 60 chapters across 17 countries. TiE’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, networking, and education. Dedicated to the virtuous cycle of wealth creation and giving back to the community, TiE’s focus is on generating and nurturing our next generation of entrepreneurs.

50% Reduction in Time to Reach Unicorn Status - BCG & TIE Report States

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in association with Times Bridge and the Delhi Chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE Delhi-NCR) today, unveiled a report titled, ‘Road to Hyperscaling in India’.

Key Pointers from the Report

• The startup ecosystem in India has seen massive growth over the years, producing ~58,000 startups
• 8 key themes that have helped late-stage startups in their hyperscaling journey
• 110 unicorns in India by 2022: an indicator for India's growing startup maturity, though the overall impact is far wider and deeper
• 40,000 active startups in 2022, indicating rising aspirations among Indian entrepreneurs
• 130 Bn raised since 2014 by Indian start-ups; growing faster than China and USA (49% YoY growth)
• 65% share of this funding attracted the by top 3 sectors: Fintech, eCommerce, and Enterprise tech
• 50% reduction in time to reach unicorn status, indicating faster scaling and a stronger belief in future growth potential

The entrepreneurship and startup landscape in India has witnessed breakout growth over the last few years, transforming India into the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, just behind USA and China. Last few years witnessed the rise of 100+ unicorns – a valuation milestone, which has often been celebrated by founders, investors, and media. The impact, however, has been much deeper and broader, with 40K+ active start-ups till FY22.

In the last decade several late-stage companies managed to ride the coveted ‘hockey stick curve’, while many more failed, while trying to grow too fast too soon. The report shares learnings from hyperscaling journeys of successful late-stage startups in India. In the context of the evolving macroeconomic environment and the resulting funding winter, the report also provides a framework for emerging startups to align their priorities and hyperscaling aspirations to the new realities.

Key highlights from the successful late-stage start-up journeys

Leveraging conversations with leading startup founders and investors, the report shares stories of successful Indian and global late-stage startups along eight key themes, that helped them hyperscale in India. While there is no one-size-fits-all pathway, the leading founders and investors have uncovered strategies and tactics from setting up the right business model to expanding the target customer groups and harmonizing the unit economics objectives with hypergrowth. For instance, some stories and examples covered in the report include:

• How Meesho deployed a creative customer acquisition strategy via their reseller business model to target the less trusting and less tech-savvy tier 2/3 city consumers. While many Indian startups struggled to replicate big city success in small towns and had to scale back, Meesho successfully rose with 70% share from Tier 2/3 towns.
• For Policy Bazaar, finding and nurturing mini-founders within organization was key to unlocking scale and creating leverage for the founders. This allowed them to not just setup and grow new businesses (e.g. Paisa Bazaar), but also build a culture of entrepreneurship, with different business unit owners driving growth and constructive experimentation within their own business scope.
• For the SaaS startup - Icertis, strategic partnerships with top-tier software and professional services players unlock a rapid pace of growth, which they would have never been able to drive alone. Those relationships enabled the start-up to leverage well-established B2B sales ecosystems quickly and, at the same time, add immense value to their partners’ portfolios of offerings.
• Many Indian start-ups have attempted but struggled to scale up businesses successfully in other major international markets. Report also shares inspirations from global leading startups – such as Uber and Airbnb, who managed to successfully adapt their business models to suit the specific local needs of Indian customers. While driving localization, they focused on not just leveraging existing strong global tech platform, but also exported successful local innovations for India back into the global platforms and playbooks.
• …and many more similar stories that emerging startup founders could learn from!

The report not only highlights the success stories of these start-ups but also cautions against the potential pitfalls at the time of hyperscaling. In euphoria of scaling up, one may attempt to grow too fast too soon, loosen governance and controls, and miss scaling critical tenets that helped them succeed in the first place.

The path forward

Overall, while picking up learnings from the good-to-great journey of startups in the last decade, one must adapt them to the new market realities and own context as well. Venture funding for startups suffered a 40% drop in 2022. No new unicorn emerged in last 6 months, a first in India in the last xx years. To add to that, only 18 out of 100 start-ups are profitable in India, as per 2021-22 estimates. Silicon Valley Bank failure and associated events have further added to the volatility and uncertainty in the near term. The tendency to ‘scale fast’ by burning cash always backfires, if done without clear sight of long-term customer value and unit economics. Survival and extension of financial runway must the top priority for startups in these times.

There is however a silver lining. Many India focused funds are sitting on large amount of unallocated dry powder to be deployed at an opportune moment. The younger promising start-ups will continue to attract capital, and so would the well-run late-stage start-ups. Founder may have to be more flexible on valuation in the near term though, as well as be open to alternative sources of funds, such as venture debt. As a leading venture capitalist expressed “This is the best time to build your business if you have sorted out your basics. The worst thing you can do is to want to keep to your old valuation because of ego and lose your market share.”

Sidharth Madaan, a Partner at BCG, opined, “Time and again, we have seen the well-run start-ups emerge significantly stronger with reduced competition out of a crisis. In the current volatile environment as well, start-ups with stronger business models, unit economics, customer retention, and sharper growth focus will be not just be able to stay afloat, but also consolidate their lead and emerge as leaders on the other side of the crisis.”

“How ephemeral can time be. When we started our interviews and research for this report late last year, funds were aplenty, valuations were skyrocketing, and growth was the only objective in one’s mind. And within a few months, while growth is still the holy grail, other parameters like strong business models, customer retention and above all, unit economics, have assumed centre stage. Those start-ups that will be able to juggle all of these without dropping any balls through this period of crisis are the ones that will come out stronger and as leaders from the current volatile environment,” says Rajiv Gupta, MD, Senior Partner and Leads Technology, Media and Telecom for BCG India.

Rohan Joseph, VP, Head of Global Investments and Corporate at Times Bridge, said, "India’s entrepreneurship and technology landscape has seen enormous growth in recent years, making it the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. This report showcases the innovative strategies deployed by leading startups and global companies as they scale up in India’s dynamic business climate. At Times Bridge, we enable purpose-driven companies to enter India, and this report reaffirms our conviction in the market’s potential for entrepreneurs across all sectors."

“The Indian Startups story has entered a new era with a focus on creating scalable yet sustainable startups with the clear path on profitability. Hyperscaling is integral to this journey.

For over 2 decades at TiE Delhi-NCR we have witnessed the rise and rise of the startup ecosystem in India and have played a key role in its development. The report shows our commitment to fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship for the new economy," said Alok Mittal, Co-Founder & CEO, Indifi Tech and Board Member TiE Delhi – NCR.

The founders and leaders need to ensure survival as well as keep one eye on the future. While managing burn will be critical on one end, one must capture opportunities smartly to invest and grow in the long term.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

About TiE Delhi-NCR:

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global organization fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking and education. TiE was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, & senior professionals. There are currently 15,000 members, including over 3,000 charter members, spread across a vast network of 58 Chapters in 14 countries.

TiE Delhi-NCR is among the most active & vibrant chapters across the vast TiE network. In the last two decades, it has continuously taken the lead in creating an increasingly positive ecosystem for entrepreneurs and investors. With a strong mentor support base, various events throughout the year covering various aspects of entrepreneurship and multiple opportunities to showcase and network, it has emerged as one of the biggest platforms supporting entrepreneurship. TiE Delhi-NCR conducts a wide range of programs to help entrepreneurs, these include TiEcon Delhi, India Internet Day , Startup Expo, TiE Institute, TiE Young Entrepreneurs along with Special Interest Groups (SIGs) across sectors.

For more details about TiEcon and registration: https://www.tiecon-delhi.org/. For more info about TiE Delhi-NCR: https://delhi.tie.org/

About Times Bridge:

Times bridge is the global investments and venture arm of The Times Group, India’s oldest and largest media and digital company, whose mission is to ally with the world’s most purposeful companies to enable their entry, scale, and impact across India. Its current portfolio includes Airbnb, Canva, Coursera, Girl Effect, Headspace, Houzz, Luminary, Malaria No More, MUBI, Smule, Stack Overflow, Uber, and Wattpad, among others. By providing unmatched market leadership to its select global partners, Times Bridge accelerates growth and immersion across the Indian subcontinent for leaders and companies who believe in winning in and learning from India. For more information, visit https://timesbridge.com

Rashida Adenwala, the 1st Woman to Take Over As President of TiE Hyderabad for the Year 2023

TiE Hyderabad, the global entrepreneurial network, announced Rashida Adenwala as new President, the first woman to occupy the chair for the year 2023.

Rashida Adenwala

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley is a nonprofit organization devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation, throughout the entrepreneurial life cycle. With a global reach and a local focus, the heart of TiE efforts lies in its five foundational programs, – Mentoring, Networking, Education, Funding, and Incubation.

TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is a go-to network of over 15,000 global entrepreneurs across 63 cities in 14 countries, and Hyderabad is one of the most vibrant and renowned chapters worldwide.

The new president, Rashida Adenwala has taken over reins today from Suresh Raju. Rashida Adenwala is the Founder Partner of R & A Associates, an integrated Corporate Secretarial & Legal Services Firm, offering a full range of corporate law services.

The new board comprises Rashida Adenwala, Founder Partner, R&A Associates as President, Srini Chandupatla, Co-Founder, Manjeera Digital Systems as Vice President, Suresh Raju, Founder & Partner Jupiter Alternative Investments Fund as Immediate Past President TiE Hyderabad, The other board members for 2023 include Venkateswara Rao Annapragada, Investor & Business Mentor. Dr. Balaji Bhyravbhatla Managing Director, HyLasCo Bio-Technology (India) Pvt. Ltd. Ravi Chennupati Chairman and Managing Director Ezone Security Solutions, Sharlin Thayil Co-Founder & CEO, Business Director View360 Technologies, Carnegie Technologies, Raj Samala, Founder & CEO, Revalsys Technologies, Raveendra Nalluri, Partner, Orpine, Inc, Dr. Nandita Sethi, Founder & MD, The Entrepreneur Zone (TEZ), (A Unit of Zen SkillProc Pvt Ltd), Bhanu Prakash Varla, Partner & Director, Graylogic Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Jayesh Sanghvi, Office Managing Partner, Hyderabad, Ernst & Young LLP, and Abhijit Banerjee, Managing Partner, Upwisery Capital Advisors LLP - Zauba Corp

Welcoming Rashida Adenwala as the new President of TiE Hyderabad, Suresh Raju, Founder and Partner of Jupiter Alternative Investments Fund said, “TiE Hyderabad recently hosted the TiE Global Summit which has witnessed many firsts to its credit, astounding success with global delegate participation crossing 3000+ registrations from 48 cities, 200+ speakers covering 69 Sessions, 9 Masterclasses, 32 Round tables, 3 Conclaves (SME Conclave, TiE Japan Conclave, TiE Africa Conclave), Expo stalls for 105 Companies, TiE Nurture Lounge enabling 1000s of Mentor-Mentee conversations, launch of TGS 100 as a new platform to identify top start-ups, Incubators Showcase, TiE Global Women Finals and University Pitchfest of over 40 teams from across the world -- all of this was spread across two and a half days.. The Chapter looks forward to Rashida’s contribution to further TiE’s mission in fostering entrepreneurship.”

Setting the agenda for TiE Hyderabad in 2023, Rashida Adenwala said, “The new leadership will continue the momentum with a focus on impact-based initiatives, cross-chapter collaboration and building corporate partnerships.” Commenting on how TiE Hyderabad plans to impact startups during her tenure as President, she said, “TiE will continue to nurture the startups through structured mentoring programs, help startup entrepreneurs connect with domestic as well global investors by collaborating with various investment platforms, provide market access through the TiE’s global network as well as focus on fostering entrepreneurship in the tier 2 cities of Telangana.”

About TiE Global & TiE Hyderabad

Each year, TiE Hyderabad impacts over 1,100 start-ups and 7500+ students, conducts around 100 events and activities to encourage and nurture next generation entrepreneurs. Some of the well-known programs include TiE Nurture Accelerator, TiE Grad, TiE Young Entrepreneurs, Open Mic, Mentor Advisor, Investor Connect, Knowledge Series, Leadership Series, MemberMixer, & My Story, among others.

TiE Hyderabad steers over 100+ programs for chartered members, associate members, and other ecosystem partners and provides startups and its members access to about 3,000 successful entrepreneurs and professionals across the globe. Around 160 +charter members are Hyderabad-based and volunteer for mentoring, education, and providing access to customers and investors through the global network.

TiECon Surat 2022 Provides a Funding Platform for 25 Startups in Surat

TiECon Surat 2022 has announced concluding its first ever two-day annual flagship event hosted by the Surat chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) was organized on the theme of 'Empowering Futurepreneurs'. Further to the same, 25 startups received the opportunity to explore investment opportunities with leading angel investors and venture capitalists from across the country.

TiECon Surat 2022 concluded as a power-packed event for startups and futurepreneurs with over 30 speakers, more than 100 investors, and about 500 delegates from across the country and abroad, including TiE members from 11 chapters. TiE Surat also announced partnership with 11 Leading Corporates that expressed interest in supporting startups and innovative ideas. TiE Surat also signed an MoU with 6 Universities in South Gujarat Region to help them with startup incubation and mentoring support.

The inaugural ceremony witnessed engaging conversations with B. J. Arun – Chairman of TiE Global, Mahavir Pratap Sharma – Chair of TiE India Angels and an interesting panel discussion with 6 TiE Presidents from across India where they discussed how TiE is making a significant impact on their ecosystem. Mahavir Pratap Sharma elaborated about how startup investment is emerging as a serious asset class. Padma Shri Savjibhai Dholakia talked about his entrepreneurial journey from having a meagre INR 12 in his pocket while starting business and how he built his business with an annual turnover of over INR 12,000 crore. He also shared his experience about supporting startups and innovative ideas with high social & environment impact.

Kashyap Pandya – President TiE Surat said, “TiE Surat is working relentlessly to build a vibrant startup ecosystem in South Gujarat. TiECon Surat 2022 brought all the key stakeholders of startup ecosystem under one roof - startups, mentors, investors, corporate & academia. Surat is emerging as a Startup Investment Hub with a high-level of interest from HNIs & Family Offices to participate in the startup ecosystem as serious investors”.

Some prominent speakers included Harish Mehta, co-founder of NASSCOM, Sanjay Mehta, founder of 100X.VC; Padmaja Ruparel, co-founder of India Angel Network; Gireendra Kasmalkar, Managing Partner at Pentathlon Ventures, Suryaprakash Konanuru CTO of Ideaspring Capital, Abhishek Agarwal, Managing Partner at Rockstud Capital, Uday Sodhi - Partner at Founder's Room Capital, Dhruv Nath - Director of Lead Angels Networks, Jasmit Gandhi (Ex Clevertap), Vedanarayanan Vedantham (Microsfot), Ritesh Mehta (Ex. Facebook), Bhragavi V (Java Capital), Shubhangi Nagaria (LetsVenture), Mohammed Amaan (Ankur Capital), Tushar Agrawal (Dexter Capital), etc.

TiECon Surat had more than 10 sessions covering topics including “Startup as an Investment Class”, “Women in Startup Ecosystem”, “What VCs want”, etc. and a Startup Pitching Session where 25 selected Startups pitched their ideas in front of 100+ investors. TiECon also highlighted how the IT landscape has changed over the last 20 years in Surat through a panel discussion on “TechPreneurs of Surat”. Special emphasis was given to the value creators of Surat from non-textile & non-diamond industry who have made a significant mark on national and international levels in various sectors including Pharma & Chemicals, Medical Equipment, Solar Manufacturing, Engineering, Waste Management, Packaged Food, etc.

About TiE

TiE was established in Silicon Valley, USA, in 1992, and it is a global non-profit organisation with the sole mission of fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, incubation, networking, and funding. TiE focuses on generating and nurturing futurepreneurs, and its activities are present in 14 countries with about 58 chapters, over 3,000 plus charter members, and over 15,000 members worldwide. Over the last 30 years, TiE has supported 25,000+ Startups through various programs & initiatives.

TiE Hyderabad to Host the World’s Largest Entrepreneurship Meet ‘TiE Global Summit 2022’

B.J Arun, Murali Bhukkapatnam, Suresh Raju seen addressing the press conference of TiE Global Summit 2022

To focus broadly on Future Tech, New Age Entrepreneurship and Sustainability

TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Hyderabad Chapter, the local chapter of TiE Global to host Tie Global Summit 2022(TGS-2022), the world’s largest entrepreneurship meet in Hyderabad.

TiE Hyderabad is fortunate and proud to be hosting the 6th edition of the TiE Global Summit

TiE Global Summit (TGS) 2022 scheduled on 12th - 14th December is to be held in person in Hyderabad.TGS-2022 will broadly focus on Future Tech, New Age Entrepreneurship and Sustainability added Mr B.J. Arun, Chairman - TIE Global Board of Trustees.
The participants can expect is -

• Future Tech: Metaverse, Web3.0, Composable Apps/networks, Digital Humans,
• Multi-experiences, NFT, Data Fabric, Implanted Sensors, Decentralized Finance/Identity, Pharma, Health-tech
• New Age Entrepreneurship: Startups on Steroids, Alternate Funding, Unicorns
• Sustainability: Focus SDGs majorly on Agriculture, Water & Energy

With this primary focus on FutureTech, TGS 2022 will witness a footfall of 2000+ global entrepreneurs bringing together the entrepreneurial ecosystem spanning 6 continents in Hyderabad, Mr B. J. Arun added. Mr BJ Arun heads TiE Global, the largest entrepreneurs' not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship.  

Mahavir, Praveen, B.J Arun, Murali Bhukkapatnam, Suresh Raju seen formally announcing TiE Global Summit 2022

This summit will be well attended by 500+ charter members from across the globe, delegates comprising 1500+ entrepreneurs, 200+industry experts, 150+ speakers, 100+ venture capitalists, 100+ angel investors, 250+global mentors, government officials and world leaders informed Mr Suresh Raju, President TiE Hyderabad who is also the Co-Chair for the Global SummitThe summit, Mr Murali. Bukkapatnam, Vice Chairman - TiE Global Board of Trustees and Co-Chair for the Global Summit said will host global competitions like

• TiE Young Entrepreneurs (High School) / Finalists from 20+ TiE Chapters to compete
• TiE Grad Plus (College/University) /  Finalists from 20+ TiE Chapters to compete
• TiE Women (Women Entrepreneurs) / Finalists from 20+ TiE Chapters to compete
• TiE Social Enterprises / Showcase of top 20 social enterprises from the global entrepreneurial ecosystem
• TiE Chapter Showcase / Best entrepreneurial programs of TiE Chapters

TiE Global Summit is the annual flagship conference of TiE Global where each year TiE Chapters collaborate to bring the best in a class of content - from speaker sessions to mentoring sessions, marquee keynotes, and fireside chats and thought-provoking discussions on entrepreneurship. TiE Global Summit remains to be a one-stop marquee destination for every entrepreneur globally to attend, meet and interact with the next generation of entrepreneurs or their counterparts. 

Over the past 5 editions, TGS has attracted 30,000+ delegates from corners of the globe along with 300+ exhibitors, 600+ speakers, 200+ sponsors and innumerable sessions speaking about the future of employment, sustainability, and Indian startups and its global footprint and breaking all barriers. 

Some of the past speakers include Bill Gates, Gautam Adani, Sadhguru, Ramcharan, NR Narayana Murthy, Nikki Haley, Kiran Mazumdar, KT Rama Rao, Vinod Khosla, Dr Krishna Ella and others.  

TiE Hyderabad is one of the most vibrant and recognised chapters in the network of TiE Global. TiE Hyderabad plays an important role in building the ecosystem across the state of Telangana through its activities conducted with about 20+ themes on fostering entrepreneurship. 

 It has over 150 successful Charter Members. It is vibrant and the most recognized chapter worldwide. Each year it impacts over 1100 startups and 6400+ students and conducts 131+ events & activities under 20+ themes. It is also a proud host of TiE Global Summit 2020 and TiE Sustainability Summit 2021, the world’s largest Sustainability Summit.

TiE Global was founded in 1992 by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives and established business leaders from the Indus region, through TiE Global Summit, TiE is a not for profit organization building its ecosystem of entrepreneurs through chapters across the globe. 

In the last 30 years since it is founded, it is spread across 14 countries, 58 cities duly called chapters with around 3000+ Charter Members and 15000+ members. A recent study led by KPMG in December reported that: over the past 30 years TiE has created a wealth of opportunities and went across the borders to help and nurture the future generation of entrepreneurs. 

15 Women-led Startups Pitched to 11 Investors in 3rd Edn. of TiE Women Pitch Competition

Santhoshi Sushma of Autocracy Machinery seen pitching at TiE Investor Connect at Bisness Women Expo

TiE Hyderabad organised the TiE Women Pitch Competition - 2022, an initiative by TiE Global to Embrace, Engage and Empower women entrepreneurs across the globe. It was held on Saturday at the Hitex Women in Business Expo 2022. TiE Hyderabad also successfully conducted the TiE Investor Connect - Women Special Edition!

TiE Investor Connect is a platform that enables curated start-ups to present their business venture to top Indian PE/VC/Seed/Angel funds across the industry. This was the first session of TiE Hyderabad Investor Connect -2022 with a new approach and vibrancy and focused on Women Entrepreneurs. 15 Startups led/Co-led by Women Entrepreneurs, from the Early & Revenue stage from various sectors pitched to 11 Investors.

Out of the 80 applications received from women-led start-ups, a panel of the Investor Committee curated and lined up 15 Women Entrepreneurs from various sectors who presented their ventures to 11 Investors. For deeper dialogue, investors have shown interest in at least 10 startups and will further engage with them one on one. Sectors represented were Manufacturing, Technology, Education, Fashion, Food, Health & Wellness.

Dr. Varsha Prabala of 365veda seen pitching at TiE Investor Connect at Bisness Women Expo

Srusthi of B Arm seen pitching at TiE Investor Connect at Bisness Women Expo

The startups selected for the pitches include: 365veda (365 Wellness and HealthTech Pvt Ltd) represented by Dr Varsha Prabala; Autocracy Machinery Private Limited by Santhoshi Sushma Buddhiraju; B Arm by Srusthi; Eat Confetti by Niharika Gollapalli; Innomet Advanced Materials Pvt Ltd by Saritha Chilakapati; Involute training by Bala Mukkamala; Kriyo by Sucharitha Dasireddy; Snackerstreet Pvt. ltd by Divya Medar; Nextgen Property Adviser Private Limited by Anju Yadav; Nutrizzo Naturals Industries Pvt Ltd by Sindhu Saithi; Rev Your Soul by Sandhya Nagavarpu; Six Yards Plus by Mrinalini Shastry; Starbuzz (Krisattva Pvt Ltd) by Krishna Priya; WhatIsMyGoal by Humera Nishat.

The investors who these start-ups pitched include---Murali Krishna Gunturu from Inflexor Fund; Rathnakar Samvedam from Hyderabad Angels; Abhiram Katta from Endiya Partners; Srikant Tanikella from Pavestone; Shyam Penumaka from Dallas Venture Capital Prashanth Menon from Stratcap Advisory; Dr Ramakrishna Nalluri from Smileline Dental; Gaurav Mathur from Arteans; Ms Ravuri Lakshmi Reshma from Meenakshi group; Chandran Krishnan from Chennai Angels and Zaran Bhagwagar from Anthill Ventures

TiE Women 2022 Initiative Unveiled

Rashida Adenwala, Srikanth T G, Suresh Raju, Bhanuprakash, Poornima, Vandana Maheshwari at the launch

TiE Hyderabad unveiled its TiE Women 2022, a global initiative at the ongoing Business Women Expo 2022 on Saturday. The initiative was launched by Suresh Raju, President of TiE Hyderabad; Srikanth T.G, Business Head, HITEX; Purnima Kamble, Chairwoman of CII-Indian Women Network(IWN) Telangana; Ms Rashida Adenwala---Vice President, TiE, Hyderabad and others.

Addressing the gathering immediately after unveiling it, the TiE Hyderabad President Suresh Raju said, the pandemic paved the way for counting in more women into the workforce by providing work-from-home opportunities and nearly 26% of women workforce work from home. Women's workforce is contributing 17% to our GDP and 28% of enterprises are managed by women. The government is playing its role, so also the corporates in encouraging more women to get into work. TiE Hyderabad has a big role to play he said

Speaking further, Suresh Raju added that 100 plus women entrepreneurs from different countries are expected to participate in the TiE Global Summit to be hosted by the local chapter in December in Hyderabad.  

Rashida Adenwala said it is a leading initiative of TiE across the globe. It is a pitch competition. It is launched to showcase Women Entrepreneurs from the state of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to a stellar global team and build a climate of inclusiveness. This is the only program serving as an opportunity for Women Entrepreneur to represent the two states to compete at Global Scale. 

Outlining the program she said it will be held in two phases. Phase one, the local chapter level goes up to August 31st. Phase two, the global level programs run through September. It will kick start in August. Phase -1 is Regional Pitch Competition. Each chapter selects one winner and four runners up. 

The winner goes to the global finale to be held in Dubai. And three runners-up are entitled to a Bootcamp in India. The Pitch Competition was created to provide opportunities, access to investors and VCs, she shared.

TiE Women over the past two years impacted 200 plus women entrepreneurs. And added 126 women to its network, Rashida shared. 30 mentors are dedicated to this initiative. A couple of these women were selected to pitch in SharkTank and got funded to the extent of Rs 56 crore she said. Shark Tank is a reality show that facilitates entrepreneurs making business presentations to a panel of investors or sharks, who decide whether to invest in their company. 

150 women-owned business are showcasing their products and services in the three-day Business Women Expo 2022 which is currently underway at Hitex. Business Idea Competition finals are held during the Business Women Expo. More than100 entries are received for the same.

Madhu Tyagi, Vice President of COWE informed that B2B Meetings are being held in 4 industry verticals like Hospitality, Health Care, Retail and Manufacturing. Through these meetings, businesswomen are connected to potential customers

A job drive is also conducted by Qentelli and Progress. The expo has a food entrepreneur pavilion, which is a platform for food entrepreneurs and food innovators. The foodpreneur pavilion has 30 stalls. 

The Dharavi Dream Project Wins the TSS Women Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the TiE Sustainability Summit

Asia’s largest school of hip-hop was bestowed with this distinguished honour for creating tangible socio-economic impact and solving problems defined by the UN’s SDGs

The Dharavi Dream Project (TDDP) has won the prestigious TSS Women Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award was presented to co-founder Dolly Rateshwar at the 2021 TiE Sustainability Summit, a venture by TiE Global — the largest non-profit organisation devoted to enabling entrepreneurship in the sustainability ecosystem. Under Rateshwar’s innovative leadership, TDDP has evolved from a small room of 5 students to a bustling hip-hop school (the largest in Asia) of 133 artists in Dharavi, Mumbai. The institute scaled operations even further in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, solidifying its presence in 6 countries virtually (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Dubai and Canada), while also taking all its classes online. Since then, 847 students from around the world have attended the lessons in session at TDDP’s virtual school. This number only keeps growing.

Says Dolly Rateshwar, “Entrepreneurship is the epitome of vulnerability and courage; Dharavi, as a place, personifies both. The TSS Social Enterprise Awards recognise businesses that focus on social impact by creating a tangible change in society and communities, as well as those that set an example by leading from the frontlines — social entrepreneurs who’ve leveraged their business processes, innovation and technology to solve problems defined in the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). I’m grateful TDDP was awarded under this category as managing and growing an organisation in Dharavi is no mean feat. You can expect to deal with many unplanned physical and emotional challenges here where daily life is defined by varied human struggles. The TSS Women Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award is hence special for each one of us at TDDP as it validates years of hard work, resource-building and resilience.”

Rateshwar, the co-founder of TDDP, was bestowed with this distinguished honour on October 6th. At the TiE Sustainability Summit, Rateshwar spoke of the linguistic diversity of Indian hip-hop that’s particularly reflected at TDDP, alongside the resilience and grit of the artists sparking a revolution in the country. She also shared at length about her experience at the MIT media lab; how there she spearheaded the discovery of young innovators and here, the discovery of young talent. The former MIT, Google, LinkedIn, Deloitte and Tesseract alumnus received the honour on behalf of TDDP in the presence of 25,000+ global entrepreneurs from 50+ countries and other dignitaries including global policymakers and government representatives.

Adds Dolly Rateshwar, 

“I would like to dedicate this award to TDDP’s co-founder, Samir Bangara’s, memory. His vision for TDDP has come full circle and we hope to continue to build on the visionary blueprint he laid down. I would also like to dedicate this award to MC Heam. He’s been a lighthouse of strength and guidance to all TDDP, especially for each talent. He’s taught us all so much without expecting a single penny in return. Needless to say, each and everyone involved to date — be it behind the scenes or on the frontlines — has our immense gratitude for their contribution to TDDP. Universal Music Group has also been one of the strongest pillars at TDDP, particularly Devraj Sanyal, who has been a rock to the team and empowered every artist at the school. Each talent of ours is a testimony to the collective spirit and grit of Dharavi; they’re changemakers in their own right who’re revolutionising the ongoing history of hip-hop! Thank you for supporting us.”

Since its inception in 2013, TDDP has rendered 50+ live showcases, including performances at prestigious platforms such as Rolling Stone India and Qyuki’s Haq Se Hindustan concert, the MAMI film festival, the Ziro Festival, the YouTube Music Launch and many more. 50% of these gigs were paid as TDDP also aims at enabling a sustainable future for their talent. A school for under-resourced hip-hop artists, TDDP is often touted as constituting the future of Indian hip-hop. The students of TDDP continue to carve their mark in India’s diverse hip-hop scene — an expansive space that sees artists from all walks of life put their truth to words, throwing open the gates to a once elusive music landscape — with landmark releases such as the COVID-19 anthem “Kar Dikhaya!” and the 2020 version of “One Love,” Bob Marley’s iconic song that was reimagined by the Marley family, featuring TDDP, in support of UNICEF’s response to the pandemic. Empowered by the TSS Women Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, TDDP will continue to nurture and support a sustainable and historic Indian hip-hop landscape.

Recruiteen Emerges as Winner of the Grand Finale of Tie Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) 2021

The Grand Finale of TiE Young Entrepreneurs(TYE) 2021 held

Recruiteen team wins the competition

The Grand Finale of TiE Young Entrepreneurs 2021 held virtually on Sunday evening.

Recruiteen team emerged as the winner of the competition. Their business plan, a platform that allows primarily senior citizens in a need or desire to learn new skills or improve them with a teacher as adjudged as the best pitch by the jury who comprised of Sarada Jayakrishnan, DGM, Terumo Penpol Pvt Ltd; Isaac Raajlunar, MD of India Senior VP Engineering at Open Text and Sreedevi Devi Reddy, VP Startup Ecosystem, xelpmoc design & tech.

The team comprises of Pradhyumn Varma, The Future Kids School; Aashi Agarwal, Chirec; Zeanne Maria Martins, Potdar Intl School; Charvi Toklas, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan ARR School and Atharv Tapadia, Future Kids School. It was mentored by Dr Balaji Bhyravbhatla.

 

Charvi, Pradhyumn, Zeanne, Aashi Agarwal, Atharv Tapadia of Recruiteen the B-Plan Competition Winners of TiE Young Entrepreneurs 2021 Virtual Grand Finale

ProTeens team for their Business Plan got runner up prize.

ProTeens bagged Best Elevator Pitch Prize.

Four teams—Alohadrones; FarmersConnect; ProTeens and RecruiTeens shortlisted for the grand final and competed for the top honours.

Team Recruiteen B-Plan Competetion Winners

 
Each of the teams was given one-minute elevator pitch and ten minutes video presentation followed by jury question and answers sessions.

The parameters used to select winners include Business problem and strength of solution; Customer surveys and solution validation; Execution, Demonstration and Iterations; Business Plan and Financial Acumen; Team words, Coordination, presentation and question and answers handling and preparedness to answer questions.

TYE (TiE Young entrepreneurs) is a TiE Global initiative dedicated to chapters integrating classroom sessions, mentoring and business plan competition aimed at High School students (grades 9-12 or equivalent college students are allowed). TYE is designed to teach high school students entrepreneurship and leadership skills. The TYE program is designed for a 16 week period, which includes classroom instruction, design thinking workshops, mentoring support for business plan development, and culminates with business plan competition.

TiE Young Entrepreneurs 2021 was organised by TiE Hyderabad in partnership with EThames College of Business. Speaking of partnership Mr Kali Prasad G, Chairman of Ethames College of Business and Past President of TiE Hyderabad quoted the launch of ECombinator where students with business plans can get mentorship and support and student of TiE Young Entrepreneurs are directly benefitted.

Addressing the participants Mr Manohar Reddy, TiE Hyderabad Chapter President said, the quality of business plan ideas, pitches and participants confidence is increasing each passing year over the past 12 editions he said. Referring to the recently TiE Sustainability Summit, he told participants to keep watch on ‘Sustainability’, '17 SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals'), they are our future and opportunities.

The winners get eligibility to Participate in a similar global competition.

The TYE is aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among future generations. It is an endeavour to sow seeds of entrepreneurship at an early stage to be groomed as job creators rather than job seekers. It will also instil confidence to lead in a global environment.

Nice Foundation Bags TSS Social Enterprise Award for Saving Lives

The unique initiative “Not Well, Come to School!”it rolled out made its way to the 11th Five Year Plan and was accepted by the ILO countries of the world

Hyderabad, October 07, 2021... NICE Foundation, a two decades old Hyderabad based trust that has been serving society in the areas of Maternal, Newborn & Child care gets global recognition. It has been chosen by just concluded TiE Sustainability Summit, the world's largest summit in sustainable space and bestowed it with the TSS Social Enterprise award for saving lives for so many years.

It has impacted 42,000 Lives through direct primary health care delivery. Around 2,75,000 children have been covered by providing care through Preventive care. The novel initiative “Not Well, Come to School!” it rolled out helped perform more than 120 Cardiac surgeries and around 470 other surgeries.

All that it costs is 50 paisa per day per child to cover from common cold to cardiac surgery says the foundation. This program has made its way to the Eleventh Five Year Plan to be replicated in the country and also been accepted for the ILO countries of the world, informs the Nice Foundation.

NICE Foundation has received Philanthropic support to more than 200 crores to date.

“The mission of the organization is “Saving Lives” and we have been doing so through designing and implementing practical solutions to need-based issues in various regions of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh, informed Dr. Padmanabh Reddy, CEO, Nice Foundation. He further said, “This award is a reward for excellence, which we will cherish”.

Nice Foundation has been shortlisted out of 30,000 social enterprises from about 64 countries registered for the summit.

One of the key focus area is solving a critical social problem – Maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) through an innovative midwife-led program since 2004 in remote, hard to reach terrains to save precious lives of mother/child”, said Dr. Padmanabh Reddy, CEO, Nice Foundation. He further added, “We are delighted to have chosen as the TSS Emerging Social Enterprise of the Year Award. We are both honored and humbled and this recognition will go a long way in motivating our teams at the roots to work harder.

Our interventions have also led to a significant reduction of neonatal deaths to 25%.

Effective Intervention, London has been partnering with NICE Foundation since 2008 and has invested almost 28 crores into Maternal and Newborn projects. They are continuing to support the project with around 20 crores for a similar intervention in other regions of India. This program has the technical support of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London he/she added.

Mr.Suresh Raju, Co-Chair, TiE Sustainability Summit and Vice President, TiE, Hyderabad said, "We congratulate Nice Foundation and look forward to their continued good-work in impacting the society through innovative strategies."

TiE Sustainability Summit Concludes with the Presentation of the TSS Social Enterprises Awards

The three-day TiE Sustainability Summit (TSS) 2021 concluded on Wednesday night

It concluded with the presentation of the TSS Social Enterprise Awards. 115 social enterprises were recognized and felicitated. 22% of the award winners were women entrepreneurs.

The award winners include Jayashree Industries founded by Padman of India, Arunachalam Muruganantham, who has built world’s first low-cost machine to produce sanitary pads, Dharavi Market, iKure, Gen Robotics, Marut Drones, Drona Maps, Aunt Flow (USA), Naandi, NICE, Civics Unplugged (USA), Carbonlites, Bharat Rohan, Bamboo House, Sukarma, Vise Organics etc.

 
The TSS Social Enterprise awards were aimed at recognizing social enterprises worldwide that are focusing on creating a tangible impact on society, communities, as well as setting an example by leading from the front. The social entrepreneurs who use their business processes, innovation, technology to solve problems defined in sustainable development goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations including affordable and clean energy, agriculture, clean water and sanitation, climate change, education, healthcare, life on land, life underwater, livelihoods, poverty among others.

The criteria for selecting the award winners, according to Mr Kali Prasad Gadiraju, Past President of TiE Hyderabad was Current and Future Social Impact; Demonstration of Leadership, Alignment with SDG, Leadership Potential; Fundability, current funding; Vision and Growth so far; Revenue model and its long term sustainability; Value proposition, Differentiation and Intellectual Property etc.

These 115 were selected out of 30,000 social enterprises registered for the Summit. They were shortlisted in five different phases.

Awards were announced in five categories: TSS Social Enterprise of the year; TSS Transformational Social Enterprise of the year; TSS Innovative Social Enterprise of the Year; Emerging Social Enterprise of the year and TSS Women Social Entrepreneur of the year.

A certificate and a trophy will be door delivered to all award winners.

TiE Hyderabad is also planning to publish a small coffee table book highlighting the award-winning social enterprises and their journey. These coffee table books will be distributed to aligned partners, thus we will put them in front of the right partners, announced Mr Manohar Reddy at the concluding function.

The summit was included on a positive note. It was the world's largest event in the Sustainability space has saw 40,000 social enterprises, startups and entrepreneurs attending from 64 countries. 30,000 out of 40,000 registered were social enterprises. It was a record and distinction, no one can boast of anywhere in the world.

In the words of Mr Gautam Adani, in his keynote address, "it is the largest entrepreneurship conference, and the largest ever gathering of social enterprises in the world. This is indeed the greatest platform for entrepreneurs"

The theme was aptly coined, ....where entrepreneurship meets sustainability. It had six tracks, 65 sessions, 225 speakers. 200 investors participated.

It was organised by TiE Hyderabad. The theme of the Summit is "where entrepreneurs meet sustainability.

H.E. Dr. Claudio Ansorena, Ambassador, Republic of Costa Rica; Mrs RonyYedidiaClein, Deputy Chief of Mission of Israel; Ms VeredMivtzari, EM Director, Startup Nation Central (SNC), Israel; Shri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary of Industries & Commerce (I&C) and IT, Govt of TS graced the summit. Shri Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group addressed virtually. Ms Nikki Haley, Former US Ambassador to the UN give a video address

TiE Hyderabad and TiE Israel and Start-up National Central from Israel have entered an MoU for cooperation, collaboration and exchange on Agriculture, Water and other related sectors.

TiE, Hyderabad will be rolling out a $200 Mn to $300 Mn Social Impact Fund

TiE announced a rural innovators initiative. It is an initiative to nurture and to give a fillip to Rural Innovators and their Innovations. They have also announced Rs. 15 crore grant money to support the initiative. A significant amount of this fund is already tied up, Mr Suresh Raju and Mr. Kaliprasad announced. These funds will be deployed in rural areas, they added.

The TiE is always ahead of its time. We always work at a gross root level to make that much-desired impact. Towards this direction, the Rural Innovators program will go a long way, said Mr Manohar Reddy, President of TiE Hyderabad.

Mr Suresh Raju, Vice President of TiE Hyderabad announced that TiE Hyderabad will be hosting the "TiE Global Summit" next year in December.