Chennai, October 19, 2011: TiE Chennai today announced a new programme aimed at fostering and further accelerating innovation among entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu. The programme is an attempt to bridge the gap between the increasing number of new product/service ideas being developed and the lack of skills, resources or guidance to convert it into a profitable business venture. The first of its kind holistic programme, it includes a slew of initiatives to provide mentoring, incubation and funding support to entrepreneurs, such as ‘Start Up Super Saturday’, partnerships with leading educational institutions and organisations to identify promising business ideas by aspiring student entrepreneurs and  awards to help showcase successful innovations.

As an initial step, TiE Chennai announced that the fourth edition of TiE Chennai’s flagship event and among the largest entrepreneurial events in India - TiECON CHENNAI 2011 will have an increased focus on identifying and showcasing entrepreneurial innovations. With its theme as “Opportunity - See it, Size it, Seize it! the conclave will be held on November 24^th at Chennai Convention Center, in an enhanced format. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and Ashok Soota, among India’s eminent business leaders, recognised for innovations in their respective fields will deliver the keynote address. The conference includes new programmes such as ‘Opportunities on the road less travelled’, ‘Opportunities to get awestruck’, ‘Lightning Buzz’, etc. which provide a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to showcase new innovations. In addition, a series of parallel sessions for VC funding and mentoring and a networking forum for early and growth stage companies to network with potential mentors, service providers, investors and peers will be organised. TiE Chennai will also give away its annual awards to recognise success across areas such as social and women entrepreneurship, family business, start ups, etc.  

Elaborating on the new initiative and the importance of nurturing innovation among entrepreneurs, at a press briefing today, Lakshmi Narayanan, President, TiE Chennai said, “In an increasingly global and dynamic business environment, it is important for entrepreneurs to think out of the box and leverage technology to develop innovative solutions that help address current gaps and needs. Being one of the most active organisations supporting entrepreneurs in this region, TiE Chennai has increased the breadth and depth of mentoring by being the Mentoring partner for entrepreneurial initiatives and educational institutions. We are focused on creating opportunities not only for entrepreneurs in fast growing sectors such as technology but also relatively untapped ones such as agriculture, social sector, infrastructure, healthcare, education, etc. The new programme will be a unique platform and a hub for collaboration among diverse participants that would include successful entrepreneurs, mentors, industry bodies and regulators. The programme aims to play a pivotal role in creating success stories in TamilNadu.”

Detailing the programme at TiECON CHENNAI 2011, R.Narayanan, Chairman of the organising committee, said, “This year’s event will celebrate the spirit of innovation among entrepreneurs. Over 1500 entrepreneurs, business students and service providers are expected to attend the event that will dwell on opportunities in largely untapped sectors such as food, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, social sector, education, etc. The TiE Chennai Entrepreneur Awards will be presented across 10 categories including Dronacharya award for mentoring, award for social entrepreneurs, entrepreneur of the year award and lifetime achievement award. We look forward to engage with entrepreneurs and successful business leaders at the event.”

TiECON CHENNAI 2011 has multiple, parallel panel discussions and forums catering to different interest groups, planned in an innovative format:

• ·         Opportunities Abound– The India Vision: Would cover what’s hot, what’s not, among the opportunities that emerging India presents.  
• Catalyze Market Opportunity Through Capital: Speakers would focus on getting ready to attract investment, the availability of capital from various sources, at different stages of the business, and the timing to access capital to build on opportunities.
• Opportunities on the Road Less Travelled: This session would focus on offbeat/unique businesses and how entrepreneurs who have walked away from the crowd have built successful ventures through their creativity and innovation.
• Opportunities to Turn Up Trumps:  This session would feature visionary entrepreneurs who have made successful exits, encashing the long term value and potential that they built into their businesses.
• Opportunity to get Awestruck – A lightning buzz round that would feature 15+ entrepreneurs presenting unique business models that created exciting opportunities in non-traditional domains.

Speakers at the event include Dr Sumantran of Ashok Leyland, Nissan, Marc Llistosella of Daimler Commercial Vehicles, Lakshmi Pratury of TED fame, Mahadevan, founder, Oriental Cuisines, Ananya Bubna, Sosasta.com, Lakshmi Nambiar, Avendus Capital Advisors, Phanindra Sama, RedBus and Vamshi Reddy, Apalya Technologies, among others.

About TiE Chennai: TiE Chennai is a part of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), a global non-profit organization that helps budding entrepreneurs by way of advice, guidance and assistance from successful and experienced entrepreneurs and professionals. Founded in Silicon Valley in 1992 by successful entrepreneurs and professionals with roots in the Indus region, today, TiE has 57 Chapters across 14 countries, spread across 5 continents. The TiE ecosystem comprises 13,000 members and over 2,500 charter members, who are the top entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, lawyers and management professionals in their chosen field. TiECON CHENNAI 2011 is the current edition of the chapter’s flagship annual event which is also the largest congregation of entrepreneurs in the state of Tamil Nadu. For more information visit: www.tiechennai.org