Gnanam School of Business had organized its Annual Flagship Event STARTUP THANJAVUR 3.0 (Keep it Simple and Scale it Smart) in association with Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Thanjavur and StartupTN on 23^rd November, 2024. The programme had a registration of 140 CCI members, 30 external registrations, 6 stalls from StartupTN, 40 beneficiaries from StartupTN and participants from various startup entrepreneurs along with 214 MBA students from Gnanam School of Business itself.  There were totally about 375 participants took part in this programme. The venue of the programme is auditorium of Gnanam School of Business, Thanjavur.

The session begun with recitation of Tamil Thai Vazthu. Shri.M.S. Mohamed Rafi, Chairman, Startup Thanjavur and Past President CCI welcomed the audience and gathering. The event’s key opening remarks was presented by Shri. J Stalin Jacob, Associate Vice President, StartupTN, Chennai. He emphasized the importance of the present eco-systems and its development in a significant way. The smart-startup card was distributed to the 40+ startup smart card beneficiaries by Mr. J Stalin Jacob, Associate Vice President, StartupTN, Chennai. Later, theco-working space launch was unveiled by the guest to the forum and received by its respective founder and cofounder.

Dr. D. Senguttuvan, Co-Founder & ED, Kauvery Hospital decorated as the Chief Guest of the function and delivered an impactful speech to the select gathering. He shared his values, professionalism and a deep sense of entrepreneurship over the last three decades. He has urged the young entrepreneurs to dream big and achieve greatness in life. He has been felicitated by Dr.S.P.S. Arul Doss, CEO & Director, GSB. The session one was delivered by Dr. P. Uma Maheswari, CEO, TN-RISE Woman Start-up Council in the title of empowering women participation in entrepreneurship. She emphasized the importance of promoting the inclusivity, filling the gender gap and emphasis on encouraging entrepreneurial culture.

Later the 6 budding entrepreneurs were awarded with “Start-up Delta Award 2024” in the conference by the Chief Guest Shri. Dr. D. Senguttuvan, Co-Founder & ED Kauvery Hospital. The awardees were as follows;

1. Dr. Tamizh Inian, Founder & CEO, Frigate

2. Mr. Aadhan Yogi, Founder & CEO, Building Doctor

3. Mr. J. Praveen Raj, CTO, TechVoyager

4. Mr. Dinesh Baluraj, Founder & CEO, Yali Aerospace

5. Mr. T. Shiva, Founder, Cybernerds Solutions

6. Ms. Radha Rengachari, Founder & CEO, Spikra

After the refreshment break, the second session had commenced. It has handled by                Dr. Tamizh Inian, Founder & CEO, Frigate about his entrepreneurial journey, followed by Mr. Aadhan Yogi, Founder & CEO, Building Doctor about his entrepreneurial journey. Both of them shared their scintillating yet compelling story of theirs to the audience and cited their success as well challenging factors. The audience were engaged with the guest in the open forum question and answer session.

The third session is scheduled with the Panel Discussion moderated by Mr. R. G. Nawin Krishna, Founder, Startup Payanam Entrepreneur Community & Investor – Kongu Angel & Capital Investments along with the 6 awardees of Startup Delta Award, 2024. The panel experts shared their journey, market trend, startup eco-system, its dynamics and future in a detailed manner over an hour. After the lunch break, the key session of the Fireside Chat started with Chief Guest Shri.C.K. Kumaravel, Co-Founder, Naturals moderated by Ms. Archana Stalin, Founder and Champion, myHarvest Farms. The chat was very candid and lucid. The chief guest has shared his family background, his early days of loss, initiative to start entrepreneurship, intention to make difference and building a national level brand with substance and difference. He urged young entrepreneurs to try early and learn early for a long career of entrepreneurship. The session was opened at the end for the question and answer session. The audience had deeply dwelled in engaging the session by raising various questions with the chief guest.

After which, the fifth session was presented by Mr. Dinesh Baluraj, Founder and CEO of Yali Aerospace. He shared his novel experience of Aviation Sector Choice, his background and challenges associated with his journey. Later, Startup Payanam founder Mr. R. G. Nawin Krishna had presented his journey of startup Payanam.                                   

The valedictory session was decorated with Mr. Pratik Shah, CEO, Specksmakers who address the audience and detailed his owner-led store brand of eye ware over the last 15 years. He explained the boom of Indian retail industry in an impeccable manner how to gain benefit out of it as an entrepreneur. At the end of the session, CA. A. Guhaneswaran, Secretary, Startup Thanjavur proposed vote of thanks. The programme met its set objectives.