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Event

 Artificial Intelligence Takes the Spotlight at TiEcon Delhi 2024

TiEcon Delhi 2024 flagship startup event by TiE Delhi-NCR was a roaring success, demonstrating the power of resilience and innovation in the startup ecosystem with the theme ‘The New Bharat: Confident | Bold | Inclusion’. The conference witnessed the celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, exclusive business networking opportunities, and the recognition of outstanding achievements through various awards.

The inaugural session commenced with a keynote address by Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman of SIDBI. He said “The Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS) committed Rs 9,500 crore for the promotion of new ventures in the country. The commitment of Rs 9,500 crore has led to over 100 AIFs raising Rs 56,000 crore more. In line with the Start-up India Action Plan, the FFS aims to support development and growth of innovation-driven enterprises, including facilitating the funding needs for start-ups through participation in the capital of SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds.” Acknowledging the need to recognize and measure women’s contributions to the economy, he further added, “The participation rate for women in states has been constantly dropping and to look for rapid growth there is a need for women to be far more active players outside the home.”

Speaking at TiEcon Delhi, S Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology (MeitY), highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He said “The government’s target is that artificial intelligence graphics processing units (GPUs) under the government’s Rs 10,372 crore AI Mission will be available in the next 18-24 months. Aligned with the broader vision of the India AI Mission, these initiatives aim to bolster India’s global leadership, foster technological self-reliance, ensure ethical and responsible AI deployment, and democratize the benefits of AI across all strata of society.”

The TiEcon Delhi 2024 event, also announced its support for the– ‘Startup Mahakumbh’, the groundbreaking new initiative by Government of India scheduled to kick-off on March 18th, 2024. It is a first-of-its-kind gathering, bringing together the key players in the startup ecosystem – from incubators and investors to accelerators.

In support of the Startup Mahakumbh initiative, Rajan Anandan, MD, PeakXV & Surge said “The Startup Mahakumbh is being brought together by the entire Indian ecosystem of startups, investors, incubators, accelerators, and industry experts across sectors. Several industry associations, such as TiE Delhi-NCR, ASSOCHAM and NASSCOM have all joined hands to put together the ‘Startup Mahakumbh’. With the aim of providing exposure to the upcoming startups, allowing them a platform to showcase their innovation.”

Vishal Dhupar, MD Asia South, NVIDIA further added to the vision of New Bharat. He said, “Let’s build the Intelligence in India and Export it. It will transform India from the Back Office of the world to ‘the Office’ of the World. India is a country of software engineers, and it is the time now for the country to start building its own AI models. The global data center industry is around USD 4 trillion which is going to double, and India has close to about 1-2 percent of the total global capacity. And we are going to take this whole world’s software into accelerated computing.”

TiEcon Delhi 2024 served as a platform for brands to share their insights with the larger ecosystem. Such as the Report by Havas Media Network India in partnership with Klug titled ‘Echoes from Social Media Influencers: In shaping the cultural narratives in Tier 2 & 3 cities in India’. The report delves into the pivotal role of regional content creators in driving local language content, transcending mere translation to foster deep resonance and impactful communication beyond metropolitan areas. As digital media penetrates every corner of India, granting content access to all, the regional influencer economy is firmly taking root in the deeper sections of the country. With a focus on tier 2 and 3 cities, the report offers comprehensive insights into how these influencers shape cultural narratives, amplifying voices and influencing consumer behavior and preferences. Understanding these dynamics is essential for brands and marketers seeking to effectively engage with diverse audiences across India.

TiEcon Delhi  2024 also recognized the power of resilience and innovation in the startup ecosystem with three award categories. TiE Delhi-NCR & Power2SME celebrated the 10th Season of the Spirit of Manufacturing Awards, honouring startups in the manufacturing domain for their remarkable achievements and innovations. The 16th edition of the TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards, recognized startups who have demonstrated resilience.  In addition to these, the conference marked the inaugural edition of the Startup CFO Awards in collaboration with Binary Semantics Ltd.

TiEcon Delhi 2024 was supported by acclaimed business and industry partners such as Startup India, Maruti Suzuki Innovation, Havas India, SAP, AWS, PeakXV, Microsoft, STPI, NETAPP Excellerator, and many more, reflecting the collaborative spirit driving India’s startup ecosystem forward.

About TiE Delhi-NCR:

TiE Delhi-NCR is among the most active and 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, marquee events, and focused workshops throughout the year, TiE Delhi-NCR conducts a wide range of programs to help entrepreneurs. These include TiEcon, India Internet Day, Sustainability Summit, HR Summit, and TiE Young Entrepreneurs along Special Interest Groups (SIGs) across sectors.

For more details visit:  https://www.tiecon-delhi.org/

by Vivek Kumar

W7Worldwide proudly announces that Abdulrahman Inayat has been recognized as PR Leader of the Year at the prestigious Athar Festival 2025, in a category presented in association with the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) — the global representative body for PR associations and consultancies. Representing the world’s leading PR consultancies and national associations across more than 80 countries, ICCO serves as the global voice of the public relations industry. This recognition underscores Inayat’s exceptional leadership and W7Worldwide’s continued contribution to advancing the communications landscape across Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and international markets. “This achievement is not only personal; it reflects the collective dedication of our W7Worldwide team and the transformation we are witnessing across the Saudi communication landscape,” said Abdulrahman Inayat . “We are proud to contribute to shaping a globally competitive PR industry that mirrors Vision 2030’s ambition and creativity.” This honor adds to a recent series of distinctions recognizing Abdulrahman Inayat’s leadership in the communications sector. He was previously elected Chairman of the Regional Board of the International Public Relations Network (IPRN) for the Middle East and North Africa. He also made history as the youngest board member of PRCA MENA and was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award, further underscoring his influence across the regional marketing and communications landscape. Meanwhile, W7Worldwide has received over 30 awards in recent years across local, regional, and global platforms, being recognized among the leading communications consultancies in the region. “Abdulrahman’s recognition as PR Leader of the Year exemplifies the excellence and ambition driving the Middle East’s creative marketing and communications community forward,” said Ian Fairservice, Chairman of Motivate Media Group and Festival Co-Founder. W7Worldwide has evolved into one of the region’s most respected homegrown communications consultancies, earning international acclaim for its strategic thinking, innovative storytelling, and deep cultural understanding. The agency continues to lead the way in positioning Saudi and MENA communications excellence on the global stage. About W7Worldwide W7Worldwide is a homegrown, award-winning communications consultancy known for its strategic insights, thought leadership, and culturally grounded storytelling. With a proven track record of partnering with more than 100 clients across diverse sectors, the firm has built deep expertise in reputation management and strategic communication, helping organizations strengthen trust and visibility. Operating across the MENA region and international markets, W7Worldwide continues to elevate Saudi communications leadership on the global stage.

by Vivek Kumar

The inaugural edition of CARE (Climate Action, Renewable Energy & Sustainability) forum series by Trescon, is set to become the MENA region’s most influential platform for sustainability investment and climate innovation. The forum will unite regional and global leaders driving the Middle East’s clean energy transition. Co-located with DATE, a Digitization, AI & Emerging Tech Summit, CARE MENA will take place on 26-27 November at the iconic Madinat Jumeirah. “With the GCC committing billions to renewable infrastructure, CARE MENA offers a unique, action-oriented platform where capital meets climate ambition,” said Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon. He continued, “From solar and hydrogen to green finance and industrial decarbonisation, the series will spotlight investable opportunities that support net-zero goals and drive regional climate action.” Talking about the series, Jens Y. Zimmermann, President, Orios Venture Partners, said, “Looking forward to CARE and learning more about new developments, trends & investment opportunities in climate & renewable energy.”  For start-ups, scale-ups and climate tech ventures, CARE MENA is a launchpad and a great opportunity to secure investments.  “I’m looking forward to CARE as a platform to uncover investment opportunities in climate tech and renewables,” said Kevin Holliday, CEO, Venturebeam. Ahmed Refaie, CEO & Global CIO, G.P.I. Global Partners Investments Limited said, “CARE gives an opportunity for climate finance and investment practicing professionals to deploy capital in an environmentally impactful and responsible way.” Whether seeking Series A investment, strategic partnerships or market access, participants will gain direct exposure to venture capital firms, institutional investors, family offices, and sovereign funds. Backed by some of the region’s most prominent investors — from the Royal Group and Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq) to ARM Holding, Venturesouq, Plug and Play, and others — CARE MENA is set to spark high impact collaborations. Talking about the opportunities at CARE, Sofia Kostiunina, Managing Director, 100VP commented, “From the VC perspective, I see CARE as an excellent platform to identify breakthrough opportunities in renewable energy and climate tech.” Flagship initiatives include: CARE ESG Awards, hosted by Trescon and supported by ESG MENA, will also spotlight and celebrate the “Responsible Investor of the Year” and the “Young Sustainability Pioneer of the Year”. Sessions at the summit will explore regulatory reform, capital flows and technology deployment, with a sharp focus on commercial viability and regional scalability. With the help of its sponsors including Emtribe, Cero Hero, Enjazponic, S&P Global and others, CARE MENA will also feature investor roundtables, pitch sessions and partnership forums — ensuring that conversations lead to commitments. For founders, it’s a chance to pitch to decision-makers. For corporates, it’s a front-row seat to the next wave of green innovation. And for investors, it’s access to the region’s most promising ventures and infrastructure projects.

by Vivek Kumar

TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025, India’s largest deeptech summit, set the tonefor one of the nation’s most significant science and technology developments — the launch of the ₹1lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund by Prime Minister Narendra Modi atthe Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025. At the two-day TiEcon Delhi-NCR, a keynote fireside conversation titled “Quantum Leap: AcceleratingIndia’s Tech Sovereignty” brought together Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science& Technology (DST- GOI), and Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR. Thediscussion highlighted India’s focus on strengthening deep-tech capabilities through collaborativeR&D, private sector participation, and startup-led innovation – a vision that aligns closely with theobjectives of the newly launched RDI Fund. Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, GOI said, “India stands at adefining moment in its deep-tech journey. The Research, Development and Innovation Fund is afirst-of-its-kind initiative to empower corporates, industries, and startups across sunrise sectors suchas quantum, AI, semiconductors, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. With liberalized norms and atwo-tier fund management model, it aims to catalyse private sector R&D, promote IP creation withinIndia, and strengthen our path toward technological sovereignty. The government’s role is to enable,not control – fostering risk-taking and long-term R&D investment that builds India’s innovationstrength.” Sharing his perspective, Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Chairman Emeritus, TiE Delhi-NCR, said, “India’sambition to achieve tech sovereignty depends on uniting scientific excellence with entrepreneurialexecution. By deepening collaboration between academia, research, and startups, we can turncutting-edge discoveries into world-class products. TiE Delhi-NCR continues to be a catalyst for thisecosystem, connecting innovators, investors, and policymakers to drive India’s next wave oftechnological breakthroughs.”The session followed the inaugural keynote by Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister ofCommerce and Industries, who emphasised the government’s vision to build a deep-tech ecosystempowered by innovation and youth engagement. Organised by TiE Delhi-NCR, TiEcon Delhi-NCR 2025 brought together policymakers, investors,founders, and global thought leaders to discuss India’s next growth frontier in technology andentrepreneurship. For over 25 years, TiE Delhi-NCR has been a driving force in India’s innovationlandscape, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and investment that continue to shape the country’stransformation into a global innovation powerhouse.About TiE Delhi-NCR TiE Delhi-NCR is one of the most active and vibrant chapters of TiE Global, dedicated to fosteringentrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, and funding. With a legacy spanningover two decades, TiE Delhi-NCR continues to empower innovators and founders, driving India’stransformation into a global innovation powerhouse.