Indus calls for innovation in business

The Chandigarh chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) organised a day-long session today to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the region.

The Chandigarh chapter is part of the 42 that TiE has globally. The event focused on themes like innovation in business and the role of inspiration and aspiration in entrepreneurship.

TiE Global President Sridar Iyengar said, "While the region has always looked to be a potential area with the right blend of good infrastructure, good education, and an excellent quality of life, lack of entrepreneurial zeal was felt. This is where the role of TiE comes in; it helps the entrepreneurs with advice, guidance and assistance."

The session included presentations by the winners of the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Ludhiana and Chandigarh. The winners were selected by the Chandigarh chapter of TiE, through a competition in about 100 colleges, where students had to submit a business plan that could be realised in practice. The best two ideas were awarded a cash prize of Rs 15,000 each.

It was attended by a large number of entrepreneurs from the IT, health and manufacturing sectors in the city. TiE Chandigarh has been adopted by TiE Austin to foster entrepreneurship and nurture entrepreneurs.

Some of the other participants included Sanjeev Agarwal of Daksh, Manoj Tandon of Nucleus Software, Sachit Jain of Vardhman, Pradeep Gupta of Cyber Media, Satyendra Rana of Inventes Austin, Gurmeet Singh Chawla of Master Trust Group and Partap Aggarwal of Indo-Dutch Systems.

TiE, in collaboration with the national entrepreneur network, is coming with a 13-part television programme, which will be telecast by the end of the year. "We have completed two programmes and the filming of 11 entrepreneurs is taking place," said Iyengar.

Iyengar said with a tie-up with the BizWorld Foundation they would introduce the concept in schools in India. "We have done field testing in Bangalore and in Delhi and plan take the programme all over the country," he added.

The eight-hour programme will have four modules of two hours each, with the core concept based on business and money Management.

Giving details Iyengar said in the BizWorld programme, students work in teams to start and run their own small, taking on different leadership roles, students learn the basics of money management and entrepreneurship, as they apply for jobs, and design, manufacture, market and sell their products in the BizWorld marketplace.