Hyderabad is a charming city and the biryani more than lives up to its name. Unlike previous years, the Marriott, off the majestic Hussain Sagar, was the venue for TiE-ISB Connect 2009. The event has also gotten bigger. About 500-plus delegates were in attendance. But there was one key element missing this year. The Business Plan Showcase was not part of the schedule. The organizers, said Sateesh Andra, program convener and venture partner, DFJ India, are working on a revamp to give the showcase more teeth. This implies some kind of funding commitment to the winning startup, which has not been the case in the past.
The event started with the ‘Jumpstart Your Venture – Workshop’ and following are excerpts from some of the parts that I found particularly insightful:
Atul Phadnis, What’s On India
Phadnis founded What’s On India, a company that provides television electronic programme guide solutions, in 2005. It is backed by Nexus Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital and is based in Mumbai. Phadnis spoke about the importance of partnerships for startups. Edited excerpts: Read the full story
