Karandeep Chopra
CHANDIGARH: Setting the stage ablaze with a heady cocktail of real life motivation, commitment and success mantras, the much anticipated TiECON 2022 was inaugurated here today by Punjab Finance Minister Sardar Harpal Singh Cheema.
The one-day gala event witnessed an array of proven thought leaders including Shark Tank India judges billionaire Ashneer Grover and Ghazal Alagh mesmerizing the jam packed house in the inaugural panel discussion by sharing their invaluable learnings, skill sets and secret success recipe.
With an aim to rev up the existing start-up ecosystem in the region, the TiECON 2022 is the Seventh essay of the much awaited annual ritual held as an endeavour to provide immense thrust, synergy and incentive to businesses impacted by Covid.
Taking part in the panel dicussion along with his co-judge on the show Ghazal Alagh, the BharatPe co-founder who was expelled from the company unceremoniously said his next challenge is to not go to any investor now and strat his new venture with his own money only and to make that business fundamentally profitable from the word go. The judge who reviewed startup ideas seeking third party investments evoked a collective awe and exclamation from the full house.
"Meri itni tu-tu main-main ho gyi hai sabse, that i would not want to go to the investors again," he said in his typical brutally in the face manner to a question hurled at him by Managing Director NEWS 18 Punjab Haryana Himachal Jyoti Kamal Jyoti Kamal who moderated the discussion.
Refusing to be drawn into the question of alleged misconduct on his part in his controversy with BharatPe, Grover on Saturday stated that unfortunately media today had become the easy vehicle to settle all disputes be it corporate or private issues.
On being asked by the discussion about his image as an outrightly blunt and aggressive judge on the show, Ashneer said, "I am a digital guy who operates in a 0, 1 trajectory. There are very few shades of grey, he retorted with a loud applause from the audience. Terming all allegations against him as frivolous and motivated, he said all he was bothered was to be true in the eyes of his parents, and no one else.
Decoding the success secret for future innovation leaders, Women Entrepreneur of the year 2021 Co founder and CIO Mamaesrth Ghazal Alagh said it was heartening to witness the startup ecosystem thriving in India now. We have so many Unicorns now who have crossed that leap in a period of three to six years, she said adding that with the mentoring, education and incubation available now the timeframe for coming Unicorns would be even lesser.
I am sure the next heroes would be our startup leaders who cherish the idea of making change in customers' lives by offering them greater choice, the MamaEarth founder said.
Underlining that there is never shortage of funding for good ideas, Ghazal urged young minds to be fearless in their commitment to their purpose of achieveing success through public good. I faced alot of challenges when I first wanted to bring my idea into fruition. She had launched MamaEarth in 2016 and achieved Unicorn status in less than six years. It is always better to take risks for what you believe in today than to bear the pain of regret later on, she added.
Co-founder Pristyn Care Harsimarbir Singh during the discussion 'Demystifying the Unicorn Mantra' underlined that perseverance is the crucial factor for succeding in today's competitive scenario. Sustainable success is only nurtured through hard work and commitment, he added.
Earlier welcoming the Chief Guest, Charter Members, delegates and budding entrepreneurs TiE Chandigarh President and founder TT Consultants Jitin Talwar earmarked mentoring, networking, education, incubation and funding as core thrust areas of the flagship event.
The 3000 Charter Members besides 15000 strong members of TiECON globally have already contributed over a trillion dollars of wealth creation across economies, Tie Chandigarh Vice President and Director Learning Path School Robin Aggarwal said in their address.
Prominent amongst others present during the event included Punjab Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce Tejveer Singh, Secretary Industries and Commerce Sibin C, Director STPI Arvind Kumar.