Pune : The Pune chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) welcomes its newly elected Chapter President, Ajay Bhagwat, who officially took office on January 1, 2024. Succeeding Vineet Patni, Bhagwat brings a wealth of experience and a vision that extends beyond the realm of start-ups.
TiE Pune, in line with its global counterparts, is poised to continue fostering entrepreneurship under Ajay Bhagwat’s leadership. Bhagwat emphasizes the importance of assisting companies of all sizes, not just emerging start-ups. The chapter aims to bolster entrepreneurship through its five pillars: Inspiring, Teaching, Mentoring, Networking, and Funding.
Ajay Bhagwat, a founder of TiE Nurture—an intensive mentorship program that has garnered success and expanded globally—stresses the need to support companies that prioritize profitability over mere growth metrics. Despite the current funding landscape, Bhagwat notes, “Money chases profits, not just topline or downloads.” TiE Nurture has played a crucial role in supporting over 300 start-ups, with several success stories, including Early Salary, Altizon, WalnutApp, FlytBase, and SunShot Technologies.
Beyond start-ups, TiE Pune is committed to engaging the student community and inspiring them to pursue entrepreneurship as a career. The Biz QuoTiEnt program encourages students to showcase their business plans, fostering a spirit of innovation. Last year, Shalmali Kadu from Cummins College won the Best Women Student award under the TiE University Program.
Dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs, TiE Pune hosts a Global Contest annually, offering mentoring opportunities with global business leaders, networking platforms, and cash prizes. Notable participants include Parul Ganju (Ahammune) and Anuya Nisal (Serigen Medical Products), who secured recognition in the contest.
Apart from his TiE leadership, Ajay Bhagwat has actively contributed to the creation of the MCCIA Electronic Cluster Foundation—a 70 Cr project supported by Central and State Governments. This initiative establishes a common testing facility of global standards for local companies, providing a cost advantage.
While manufacturing gains momentum due to the “Make in India” initiative, technology remains a focal point in the business community. Bhagwat acknowledges the prolonged timeline for the manufacturing sector and its connected ecosystem to establish, grow, and dominate.
