PROGRAMS

The focus areas of programs of TiE are designed to cover the activities related to the Five Pillars of TiE viz; MENTORING, EDUCATION, NETWORKING, INCUBATION, FUNDING. These are categorized as monthly programs, quarterly programs, half-yearly and annual programs besides certain flagship events and special global initiatives. While following the above trend, TiE Kerala however, always maintains distinct character in the form and content of its programs for their intensity, creativity and eagerness to follow hitherto uncharted course. The series of seminars on SMEs (Family run Businesses), Women Entrepreneurship, Farm related Industries, Formation of Kerala Support Group, launching of TiE Kerala Seed Fund, etc are few examples of such programs.

TiE Kerala Awards 2020 was handed over by Hon’ble Governor of Kerala, Shri Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday, 29th March 2021 from 4:30 pm onwards at Taj Gateway Hotel, Marine Drive, Kochi.

Award Winners
» Start-up Entrepreneur of the year – Thomson Skariah, Rapidor
» Emerging Entrepreneur of the year – Vimal Govind, Genrobotics
» Business Model & Process Innovation award – Jabir Karat, Green Worms Eco Solutions
» Next Gen Achiever – Mithun Chittilappilly, V-Guard Industries
» Ecosystem Enabler award – Shilen Sagunan, MiZone
» Entrepreneur of the year – V Jyothish Kumar, Luker Electric
» Lifetime Achievement Award – P K Ahammed, Peekay Group

TiEcon is the most widely known global event that TiE hosts and is the largest professional networking conference of entrepreneurs. TiEcon Kerala – Kerala’s largest Entrepreneurs convention with a global perspective, features leaders from across geographies. TiE Kerala launched its first TiEcon in 2012, which was a phenomenal success. So much so TiE Kerala came to be recognized as TiEcon Kerala by the general public of Kerala. This was followed by six TiEcons till 2018.

At TiEcons eminent speakers and iconic personalities from across the business spectrum were being invited to present their thoughts and share their experiences at sessions on subjects like Tourism & Hospitality (Adventure/Farm/Eco Tourism), Healthcare & Wellness including Ayurveda, IT & ITeS, Innovation, Design & Product Packaging, Women Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Education, Life Sciences & Biotech, Agri-tech and Food Processing, etc. This two day conference sees more than 100 speakers, over 40 concurrent sessions in 5 parallel tracks with a participation of over 1000 delegates. TiEcon Kerala could be an entrepreneur’s Biggest Opportunity to network with the ‘who’s who’ of the business world. TiE believes in the immense power of networking for growth & change and this conference lets delegate be seen at the right place at the right time. Besides, TiEcon conducts Pitch Fests & Mentoring Sessions for Startups as separate tracks on both the days which was a star attraction for young entrepreneurs.

TiE Kerala organised the Grand Finale of ‘Capital Cafe 2019’ a Start-up Pitch Fest on 21st August 2019 at Hotel Le-Meredien, Kochi. 20 Start-ups were shortlisted, from more than 150 applications received through Regional pitch fests. Finalists were mentored by TiE Kerala Charter Members and Senior Entrepreneurs before pitching in front of a 20 investment firms including prominent angel networks and VC funds across India.

TYE is a TiE Global Initiative designed for high School students (grades 9 to 12 or equivalent) integrating Classroom Sessions, Mentoring and Business-plan Competition with the aim to teach them Entrepreneurship, Leadership skills and to groom them as Entrepreneurs and future Leaders.

One of the most important events of TiE Kerala which, is central to our Plans & Programs, is TiE Kerala Charter Member Retreats we organize periodically. In these forums the Charter Members indulge in group activities like reviews of plans and programs, informal discussions on development issues of Kerala, introspective sessions, family get-to-gathers, sports & games, etc which helps to create bonding amongst our Charter Members & families.

TiE Kerala conducts CM Retreats at least once in every quarter.

TiE Kerala regularly conducts workshops organized by Special Interest Group which operates in domains like IT/ITes, HR, Legal & Regulatory Aspect, Finance, Social Entrepreneurship, Women Entrepreneurship, Retail, Tourism, Wellness & Health Care etc.

Programs are conducted with the help of professional organizations like Deloitte Haskins & Sells, Ernst & Young, KPMG, ISB, etc and above all our own CMs.

We conduct few programs every year, showcasing some of the most successful entrepreneurs of Kerala.

Coffee Pe Chrucha is a new initiative of TiE Kerala which seeks to help young entrepreneurs & startups to interact with successful businessmen/icons in their chosen field in an informal and unstructured setting. The event being hosted by one of our Charter members for the benefit of our members and selected non members has been a big hit and attracts a large cross section. The monthly event, is in it’s 16th edition as of now.

We normally conduct 3-4 “showcasing startup entrepreneurs” sessions where we gave a platform for startup entrepreneurs to share their stories with our members.

We conduct workshops on Women Entrepreneurship. Trained professionals exposed educated unemployed women to the concepts of entrepreneurship/ self-employment/empowerment. Experiences sharing by successful women entrepreneurs were a source of motivation for the participants. We have a fairly active SIG on Women Entrepreneurship.

More than 50% of the Keralites are engaged in some form of agriculture related activity. Yet, it is unfortunate that agriculture as a profession is looked down as a last alternative for an average educated Keralite unlike in Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, etc. TiE Kerala felt that it is high time that Keralites viewed their “farm as an Enterprise and farmer as an Entrepreneur”. We have therefore chosen Farm Entrepreneurship as one of the thrust areas.

We conducted the following programs connected with Farm Entrepreneurship during the last five years:-

1. ‘Agripreneur 2019’ – a one day conference was conducted on 31st August 2019 at Hotel Windsor Castle, Kottayam.
2. TiE Kerala conducted a three-day workshop for farmers where expertise/information in areas like Green House Farming, Organic Farming, Floriculture, Fruit & Vegetable Farming, Food Industries, Farm Tourism, Fish Farming, Herbal/Medicinal Plants Farming, Production of Organic Manure, Farm based Souvenir Industry, Organic Spices & Essences, etc. The papers presented in the workshop were edited and published as books titled ‘Karshika Samrambhangal’ and ‘Harvesting Money’ in Malayalam and English respectively.
3. Three day workshop on Farm Entrepreneurship on 23, 24, 25 June 2005 at KMA Hall, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi.
4. One-day Workshop on “Marketing/Export of Farm Products” on 24th Feb’ 07 at KMA Hall, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi.
5. India International Agri Expo 2008 on 31st Oct, 1st & 2nd Nov at Town Hall, Kochi.
6. India International Food & Agri Expo 2009 is scheduled for 19th to 21st Nov’ 09.
7. TiEcon Kerala 2012 from 25th Oct to 26th Oct at Le Meridien, Kochi

TiE Kerala organized conferences jointly with Asian School of Business (ASB) Kerala Global Support Network (KGSN) and Stanford Center for International Development (SCID) on “Kerala’s Economy – Opportunities & Challenges”. The proceedings of the first conference were edited and published in the form of a book titled “Kerala’s Economy – Crouching Tiger, Sacred Cows”. We have decided to have this conference to be held every year as an annual feature.

Our mentoring journey commenced from October 2004 when the first Mentoring Clinic was launched in which twelve of our Members representing medium and small enterprises participated. The mentors were drawn from our senior and experienced Charter Members. Follow up sessions are being conducted regularly. Mentoring is a continuous and ongoing activity. Mentoring Sessions organized at TiEcon are star attractions for young entrepreneurs.

The first ever business delegation by a TiE chapter was organized by TiE Kerala to TiE Singapore. This was followed up by another delegation to Sri Lanka. We also organizes large number of our CMs as delegates for the Annual TiE Global Charter Member Retreats. Our delegation to Athens in the year 2013 was named as the largest delegation for the year.

Member Mixer is great way to meet fellow members, Charter Members, discuss ideas, exchange business cards and expand your network.  It is an excellent opportunity to build potential business relationship and partnership.

We started this initiative for the benefit of student community in which Charter Members of TiE Kerala used to visit the colleges and give inspiring talks on their entrepreneurial journey. This still continues as a popular program.

State Entrepreneurship Day is conducted every year for Educating and empowering the young and talented Budding Entrepreneurs. This initiative have created a mindset shift in the younger generation who are now more confident in staying back in Kerala and venturing into a path of entrepreneurship to create employment, knowledge and wealth in the society. Now this event is renamed as Young Entrepreneurs Summit (YES). As a precursor or Run-up to the YES, TiE would be organizing a “Road Show” (Interactive Sessions between Students and Successful Entrepreneurs) at several educational Institutions (over 70) across the state to instil the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the younger generation, especially the college students.

TiE Kerala is one of the first TiE chapters to promote Women Entrepreneurship in Kerala and showcase few of the successful and upcoming Women Entrepreneurs as early as in 2006. Subsequently we conducted several “My Story Sessions” as part of our initiative to support Women Entrepreneurs. Also at TiECon’s, we celebrate and promote Woman Entrepreneurship by instituting the best Woman Entrepreneur Award since 2012.

Kerala State is the first to launch a highly successful Startup support program by establishing Startup Village as early as in 2012 in association with TiE Kerala as a Knowledge Partner which has now transformed in to a Startup Revolution with the participation of State Government. We also initiated our programs in supporting startups from almost same time and continue it on top priority.