The Global Startup Summit took place on September 28th, 2024, at the Radisson in Hitech City, Hyderabad, emerging as a remarkable success filled with excitement and dynamism from entrepreneurs. The event brought together startup founders, investors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. Spanning ten hours, the summit was packed with engaging panel discussions, startup pitch competitions, and essential networking opportunities, fostering growth and collaboration in India’s startup ecosystem. Key sectors discussed included HealthTech, SaaS and PropTech, with notable forums like the Asia PropTech Forum and the International D2C Conclave. Brand partners for the event included The Headquarters, Mojo Capital, 100X Brands, Global Startups Club, F For Finance, The Indian CEO, and SHK Global Ventures, while Intelinovex served as the Allied Partner specializing in process automation and business intelligence.
Pradeep Reddy, Managing Director of The Headquarters, in his keynote highlighted the rapid growth of Hyderabad’s startup ecosystem, emphasizing its emergence as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. He praised the courage and creativity of startup founders and credited the Global Startups Club and The Headquarters for fostering collaboration through key events and networking platforms. He also underscored Hyderabad’s advantages, including affordable real estate and a nurturing environment for talent and innovation. Reddy called for continued collaboration, breaking down barriers, and pushing boundaries to drive economic growth and create social impact within the global startup community.
Megha Dhanuka, as the moderator, and speakers Rupessh Goel, Suraj Bhansali, Mahesh Iyer, and Chenappa Naidu Darapaneni participated in the panel discussion titled “Leadership in Uncertain Times: How Founders Can Steer Their Startups through Challenges.” They highlighted several key strategies for helping startups navigate challenging times. One critical point was the importance of flexible planning and maintaining an open-minded approach to trying new ideas, enabling startups to adapt swiftly to unforeseen challenges and shifting market demands. They also emphasized the value of pivoting or repivoting products and services to better meet customer needs, ensuring the business stays competitive. Additionally, the panel discussed breaking down large goals into smaller, actionable tasks or bite-sized products, which not only simplifies execution but also helps create a self-sustaining revenue stream, ensuring financial stability and continuous growth even in turbulent conditions.
The summit featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers and panelists, each a leader in their respective fields. The group included Prady Kumar (Co-Founder & CEO, NP Digital India), Saurabh Gupta (Co-Founder & CEO, VeriSmart Ai), Amit Prakash (Certified Business Coach for SMEs & Startups), Gaurav Passi (Co-Founder & CEO, Upcore Technologies), and Rathnakar Samavedam (Investment Director & CEO, Hyderabad Angels). Other notable participants included Arvind Modi (General Partner, Sathguru Catalyser Fund), Rajeev YSR (CEO, Thunderplus | Angel Investor | Startup Mentor), Navneet Mishra (Startup Mentor, Wadhwani Foundation | Investor), Puru Modani (Founder & Director, The Marwari Angels), Shipra Bhutada (Founder & Director, User Research, User Connect Consultancy), Sangeet Hemant Kumar (Founder & CEO, SHK Global Ventures & WealthiGO), Rajeev Chhabra (Founder & CEO, PropFTX), and Vijaya Sai Meka (President, NAREDCO Telangana). The list continues with Prakash Tejwani (Aurum Analytica & BITS Alumnus), Rahul Joshi (Vice President, Gruhas), Vriin C. (The E-voIvement Coach, Mentoring Conscious Leaders), Amit Kumar (Founder & CEO, RAMP Global), Amit Agarwal (Startup Mentor | Ex Google & Unilever Marketing), Saumya Singh (Software Engineer | Tech Creator), Avani Rathore (Boston Consulting Group (BCG) | IIM Calcutta | IIT Kanpur | Content Creator | Mentor), Kanak Parihar (Founder, Linkvenza), Shivam Chhirolya (AI Engineer, Qualcomm), Kiran Chandra (Partner, Dallas Venture Capital), Raksha Shah (Corporate Trainer | 47k on LinkedIn), Dimpy Udhani (Founder, Polograd Academy Pvt Ltd), Parth Sanghvi (Finance Creator | 32k on LinkedIn), Mohit Sardana (Finance Creator | 28k on LinkedIn), Mansi Mittal (Product Manager, Microsoft | ISB (Dean’s & Merit List) | 11K+ Followers), Ravi Verma Chintalapati (Cluster Head, HDFC Mutual Fund), and Anil Kumar Siddu (Angel Investor, Inflection Point Ventures). These thought leaders shared valuable insights into their entrepreneurial journeys, offering inspiration and actionable strategies for emerging startups.
This edition of the Global Startup Summit highlighted the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape in India, driving growth by connecting startups with investors. Entrepreneurs, investors, and key players from across the country came together to form partnerships, creating new opportunities.
Following the incredible success of the Hyderabad event, the next edition of the Global Startup Summit is slated for December 7th, 2024, in Chennai. With growing momentum and an ever-expanding network of entrepreneurs and investors, the summit promises to continue being a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial growth in India.