~ Road to GES was a global initiative to raise awareness on the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, 2017, and to create a strong network of investors and entrepreneurs across India ~
~ Wadhwani Foundation was a Knowledge Partner to the Niti Aayog for Road to GES- Jaipur ~
~ These events are enhancing and making more vibrant the entrepreneur-friendly environment in India ~
~ Road to GES is a precursor to the mega Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017, at Hyderabad [Nov 28-30], being held in South Asia for the first-time ~
Jaipur: The world’s biggest entrepreneurship event, the eighth Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES 2017) is being held in Hyderabad [Nov 28-30]. Bringing citizens closer to this mega entrepreneurship Summit, NITI Aayog’s Road to GES event in Jaipur, on Friday, with Wadhwani Foundation as a Knowledge Partner awarded a Golden Ticket entry to the winning startup.
Presenting a unique opportunity to Startups, this Road to GES event was a live investor pitch competition, where the winning Startup with the strongest pitch won a golden ticket entry into the prestigious Summit.
The GES will bring together entrepreneurs from over 160 countries pitching their ideas, building partnerships, securing funding, innovating, and finding their target customers. The summit will be inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in the presence of the advisor to the US President, Ms. Ivanka Trump who will be leading a high-profile US delegation.
Hundreds of Startups registered online with a potential pitch to investors for the event. Of the numerous applications from fifty-nine cities, ten startups were shortlisted through a rigorous selection process. These Startups were also given pre-event mentoring and invited to pitch live at the event to a jury of investors. On-the-spot mentoring was also provided by the same group of mentors.
After much deliberation,Ramakrishnan M from Intello Labs who is from Bangalore won a coveted Golden Ticket to attend GES 2017 at Hyderabad. This was in line with the objective of enhancing entrepreneurship and innovation in the ecosystem and providing startups exposure to investors, entrepreneurs, mentors and prospective partners.
One among a range of ‘Road to GES’ events being held across India, today’s event at Jaipur’s Vivekananda Global University (VGU) was organized by NITI Aayog with Wadhwani Foundation as the Knowledge Partner. The event witnessed participation of leading investors, mentors, entrepreneurs, startups, students and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Setting the context for the gathering, Punit Shukla, Young Professional to Mr. Amitabh Kant, the CEO of NITI Aayog spoke at length about GES and its achievements over the last seven years. Senior members of the Wadhwani Foundation, Mr. Atul Raja, EVP and Mr. RK Kalluri, VP were also present at the event.
Ms. Anna Roy, Adviser NITI Aayog said, “I would like to congratulate Wadhwani foundation for supporting NITI Aayog and hosting this pitching competition as a Road to GES event. Competitions like these serve as a great platform for budding entrepreneurs to excel and find able mentorship. It is NITI’s endeavour to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in tier 2 cities through such events as we move closer to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017. We hope this event inspires the culture of innovation and boosts it further in Jaipur and beyond.”
The 400+ strong audience was also witness to an insightful panel discussion with investors on the theme, “Is funding always available for deserving startups?”. The discussion focused on ways and means to open funding opportunities for deserving startups and the need to create a strong framework for the same.
Says Ramakrishna “RK” Kalluri, VP, Wadhwani Foundation’s National Entrepreneurship Network [NEN], “We at NEN are excited to partner with NITI Aayog’s initiative to bring the ‘Road to GES’ pitching event to Jaipur. This gives great opportunity for startups to pitch their business plans in front of an eminent jury of investors and a large audience. We hope this event brings a lot of awareness and learning in the ecosystem generating ideas and innovations that could get the backing of the investors. Jaipur is a very vibrant and emerging startup ecosystem and we are very excited to be working with the local high growth startups, mentors, investors and other partners. Our heartfelt thanks to NITI Aayog for bringing a global event to Jaipur”.
For more details on Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), please visit www.ges2017.gov.in
About Wadhwani Foundation
Wadhwani Foundation was founded in 2000 by Dr. Romesh Wadhwani with the primary mission of accelerating economic development in emerging economies through large-scale job creation. The Foundation is present in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, East Africa and Latin America operating in association with governments, corporates, mentors, investors and educational institutes. Its four Initiatives are driving job creation through entrepreneurship, skills development and innovation.
National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN) inspires, educates, and supports student entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs for creating high-value jobs. NEN has also ventured into creating city-based entrepreneurial ecosystems consisting of mentors, investors, and incubators supporting startups and SMEs.
Global Innovation Network (GIN) aims to create world-class research institutes addressing challenges in emerging economies that also lead to creation of global organizations.
Global Skills Network (GSN) aims to equip non-college-bound high school graduates with sufficient work-skills to command family supporting wages.
Policy Research Network (PRN) provides data-driven research inputs for informed policy action focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and employment aimed at accelerating economic growth.
ABOUT Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES)
GES is the world’s biggest entrepreneurship-led event convening emerging entrepreneurs, investors mentors, and leading thinkers from around the world. GES 2017 will create an environment that empowers innovators, particularly women, to take their ideas to the next level. Through two and a half days of networking, mentoring, and workshops, GES empowers entrepreneurs from over 160 countries to pitch their ideas, build partnerships, secure funding, innovate, and find their target customers — creating new goods and services that will transform societies. Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate GES 2017 along with the advisor to the US President, Ivanka Trump who will be leading a high-profile delegation.