Kumbh of budding entrepreneurs

I often come across young and budding entrepreneurs who are keen to know how they can benefit from participating  in TiECON.Manoj,a  young and innovative entrepreneur  is one of them whom i happened to meet at recently organised IPR Seminar by FICCI in Delhi.He had traveled all the way from Dehradun to attend the seminar.He told me that he was an innovator duly recognised and appreciated by his state government.Inspite of the recognition he was struggling to get his innovation patented and also facing problems raising funds for his prototype.I told him about TiECON.He registered the very next day.Likewise many more aspiring young entrepreneurs are expected to gather at TiECON Delhi sometimes referred to as Kumbh  of budding entrepreneurs.

Each year,entrepreneurs-irrespective of their turnover,company size and years of existence,eagerly wait for the Maha Kumbh of all entrepreneurial events ie TiECON,Delhi.This year TiECON Delhi is being organised on September 30th-October 1st at Hotel Taj Palace.

My association with TiECON goes back to 2003.I was just about to leave for Bangladesh on the invitation of SWISSCONTACT to share my experiences of promoting entrepreneurship through media.I  was quiet excited to be at the Kumbh of entrepreneurship as i knew it would give me ample ammunition to share with budding entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.And i was right. 

I remember the keynote address by late C K Prahalad,the world renowned management guru.The venue was Kamal Mahal Hall of Maurya Sheraton and at 9 am in the first week of January month,people from different parts of Delhi had driven in the foggy & chilly  morning to hear CK Prahalad on "Entrepreneurship at the Bottom of the Pyramid".The hall was packed beyond its usual capacity of 1000  delegates and many of them could be seen standing at what ever space they could manage to stand in.I had never before seen such a large gathering of budding entrepreneurs at one venue.Everyone heard him with rapt attention in pin drop silence.I had purchased "Bottom of the Pyramid" an evening before to get his autographs.When we broke for tea,i rushed to the dais to get his autographs but than i realized that there were many more who had this smart idea and therefore there was a long 'Q' already.I had to wait for 15-20 minutes to get his autographs.No doubt i had to miss the much  awaited  tea on a winter morning but in return i got a memorable autographs from the management legend.

The TiECON 2003 had star speakers,VC's, succesful entrepreneurs,policymakers and who's who of the Indian industry including Montek Singh Ahulwalia, Kanwal Rekhi,Sam Pitroda,Sunil Mittal,S.Shiv Kumar,Naveen Jindal,Kiran Karnik,Saurabh Srivasatava and many more.Another star attraction was MENTORING opportunities with successful entrepreneurs and experts.Thanks to mentoring opportunity,I met  my mentor Pradeep Gupta (PG) ,CMD,CyberMedia Group.Later i had the opportunity to work with PG for almost 5 years.

Tell me where else could i have met,heard,interacted and even got the opportunity to be mentored by  such renowned,successful speakers and visionaries at one place.Since 2003,each year,i wait for TiECON eagerly and look forward to participating this year,too.

I have many more fond memories of my association with TiECON as well as TiE  Delhi .Thanks to my association ,i had the opportunity to attend television show recording of  two remarkable entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Nandan Nilkeni moderated by Prannoy Roy.Many of you must have seen the recorded episode run many times over on NDTV but soon i would share few interesting experiences of the event.

I am sure like earlier years,this year too TiECON would be a great opportunity to meet,learn,share and network and even get mentored.

See you at TiECON Delhi 2011!!