Seizing the Opportunity by Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

first biopharmaceutical company, in a garage in 1978 with a capital of Rs. 10,000.

Starting with industrial enzyme manufacturing, Biocon has morphed into a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company and a research focus on oncology, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Of the initial challenges, she explains: “It wasn’t easy to convince conventional thinking brewers and distillers to adopt enzymes but over time, I was able to get them to use and benefit from enzymes.”

The strategy Biocon adopted then was to customize enzyme cocktails for many industries. Then, Kiran Mazumdar spotted an opportunity that took Biocon to what we know it today. She elaborates: “Biophar-maceuticals caused me to make a major transition from industrial enzymes in 1998.” In transitioning to biopharmaceuticals, Biocon had

to adapt to radically different regulatory and quality system, not to mention gestational timelines for developing biopharmaceuticals being an order of magnitude different to enzymes. This helped Biocon grow!

Kiran Mazumdar points out that “scaling up home grown technolo-gies, addressing international regulatory challenges, bringing a novel cancer drug to the market, going public, divesting our enzymes business and most recently, divesting our first overseas acquisition in Germany which was something that we recognized as a error of judge-ment in hindsight but which the markets appreciated when we exited” were key business challenges.

“My vision for Biocon”, in Kiran Mazumdar’s words, “has always been about creating global impact through products and services that make a difference to patients and healthcare systems the world over. Affordability and accessibility are core to this mission.”

She believes, “TiE has become an internationally recognized resource for entrepreneurial talent and provides an incredibly diverse network-ing platform that allows young and aspiring entrepreneurs to reach out to mentors and successful entrepreneurs across the world.”

For Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, oppor-tunities did not come her way. She went after them.

She wryly says, “I was rejected as a brewer owing to my gender so I decided to become a biotech entre-preneur.” An accidental encounter with an Irish biotech entrepreneur led her to founding Biocon, India’s

Taming the Sea of Certainty by Gopal Srinivasan

Drawn from across TamilNadu, they realise that they operate in uncertain times, and that their challenges are double-fold. Not only must they forge ahead and penetrate the local markets, but also educate the market, expand it, and in some cases, go beyond the boundaries. And for this, their only mantra is innovation. Whether small, medium or large, they are not here for the sole purpose of making their venture a success. They have a larger socio-economic agenda, of seeing ‘Made in India’ respected again.

It is with pride that we announce the TiE Chennai Entrepreneur Awards at TiECON Chennai 2011, on November 24, 2011, where great minds meet and share ideas.

This year’s TiECON list of nominees,are all entrepreneurs who whether young in age or not, are young at heart. For they still dare to dream – dream of making an impact, of bringing in a change and a lasting revolution that changes the face of the industry.

President’s Message by Lakshmi Narayanan

Innovation has taken centre stage yet again and since the last TiECON, we have had several products and ideas to celebrate. The revolution in hand held devices, the growth of Auto and Component industry in India and the rapid fall in the cost of generating power from alternate sources are some examples of new enterprise. In addition the whole new consumer space is beginning to explode, driven by innovation in retailing and e-Commerce. We have also seen some fascinating growth in the transfor-mation of the unorganized sector into an organized sector. Notably security and care services, as well as quick service restaurants as a category. Driven by the expanding middle class and the aspiration high millennial, the market opportunity is showing signs of break neck speed and we have seen some very interesting stories of entre-preneurial success. The mentors and angel investors are in great demand by the first time entrepreneurs, who exhibit the much needed hurry and energy. Mentors at TiE and The Chennai Angels, who provide Smart Capital, have great many stories to share. We are also beginning to see investors of all hues – Angel, Venture, Private Equity, chase and hunt down interesting ideas, a very different scenario compared to entre-preneurs politely demanding time from the investors.

We in TiE believe that it is better for capital to chase ideas and entre-preneurs than the other way. We welcome you to see such a chase as TiECON presents Opportunities.

TIECON 2011 - Opportunity Abounds by R (Naru) Narayanan (TiECON Chairman)

the total project. The balance 95% that goes into the planning and implementation is what a project is all about. A convention is a good place to talk about your project and invite criticism and thoughts. And that usually happens during the various networking opportunities that you get at TIECON. We encourage you to boldly talk about your startup to virtually anybody who will listen. Exchange visiting cards with anybody who shows the slightest willingness to listen. Follow it up with a call, if they are agreeable. Remember to show an eagerness to get some feedback on your project.

This is a good place to get new ideas.As others talk about their projects, you will find that that several ideas that they are implementing could be equally workable in your own project. Show an eagerness to understand and a curiosity and you will go back a wiser person, with several fresh ideas for consideration. Getting fresh ideas happens when you network and show as much curiosity about others as they show about you. One day is barely

enough to achieve all this, but we promise you that in the future, we will increase the time duration of TIECON.

This is a good place to meet mentors.What do they look like, these mentors? Charter members of TIE are usually over the age of 45 years, and several of them would be walk-ing around with some badge or the other. Try and catch them when they appear less busy and see if you can get their attention. We advise all our charter members to make themselves both visible and avail-able. But they also carry several responsibilities during the conven-tion. So, unless you catch them at a time, when they are attending to something urgent, they are most accessible. Please do not hesitate to accost any or many of them and try and catch their attention.Have a 30 second elevator pitch on your project that you have rehearsed and are sure is very easily comprehensible.

This is a good place to meet investors.We do understand that you are not looking for investment today. But you will tomorrow! Conventions don't come around when you want funding. So, it is always a good idea to be on the radar of investors. Several of our TIE members are also members of the Chennai Angels. There are several independent angel investors around as well. And of course, there are the Venture capitalists. Expect to see at least a dozen of them at TIECON. Feel free to walk up to any charter member, and request him to introduce you to a couple of investors. And don't forget that 30 second elevator pitch. Network, network and network. We look forward to seeing you at TIECON Chennai 2011!

This is a good place to talk about your project. Quite often entrepreneurs are reluctant to talk about their project, perhaps somewhat shy or even fearful that their idea will be stolen. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is, that the idea usually constitutes 5% of

Ramanujan IT Cit y, TR IL Infopark L imited,Raj iv Gandhi Sala i (OMR), Taramani, Chennai 600113.

Tel: +91-44-6461-2670 | w w w.ramanujanitc it y.com

This project is developed by Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited (TRIL), Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO).

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24th Nov 2011 @ Chennai Trade CenterCHENNAI 2011

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TiED Up! The Giving Entrepreneur by Jayaram K Iyer. Prof. LIBA

Contrary to my earlier perception that entrepreneurs are rational, self-benefit maximising and little capable of altruism, I find many TiE Chennai members, all extremely busy in their business, contributing selflessly to TiE Chennai, and in turn to the entrepre-neurial ecosystem.

What all do they do? Here’s a sample:• Organise innumerable knowledge building sessions, educa-tional programs, unconferences, etc., for young entrepreneurs and start-ups. • Judge business plans from LIBA-TiE Chennai Business Plan Com-petition “Espire” and other competitions. • Play key roles in organising the mammoth TiECon, the flagship conference. • Identify and manage Entrepreneurial Awards that celebrate and recongise successful entrepreneurs. • Mentor and support entrepreneurs/enterprises that face inevita-ble long and lonely days • Help find suitable investors either one on one or through specific events

Why do they do it? I recall the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.’ I think our TiE Members have chosen to walk in the light. If you ask them, many of them say simply, “It is a social call. This is my way of giving back to society

What adds to the unique flavour of TiE? TiE Chennai is the only forum that focuses on entrepreneurship issues and it is only here that get to promote several businesses. It is a band of like-minded people. The combined energy makes for more meaningful activi-ties and results in individual and collective fulfilment.

People such as Ramaraj (ex-Sify), Lakshmi Narayanan (Cognizant) and Gopal Srinivasan (TVS) are role-models for several others. “It

is addictive” says Lakshmi Narayanan; “if we are in some way connected with others’ successes, it is all the more joyful. I get joy out of seeing success and therefore help in creating success.” Ramaraj “I am so happy that so much has been accomplished here in TamilNadu; it also provides me a great optimism to think how much more can be done. It is magical.”