TiEcon Mumbai 2025 wrapped up triumphantly, igniting entrepreneurial fervor with its “Dhanda First” ethos. From N. R. Narayana Murthy’s call for compassionate capitalism to Ritesh Agarwal’s OYO turnaround tale, the summit blended inspiration with strategy. Mumbai’s startup pulse beat strong, driving India’s vision for a $35 trillion economy by 2047.
Mumbai, March 20, 2025 – TiEcon Mumbai 2025, the Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit hosted by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Mumbai, concluded with a powerful celebration of business innovation and resilience under the theme “Dhanda First.” Held on March 12 at the Jio World Convention Centre, the event drew a dynamic mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders, offering a platform to explore strategies, trends, and insights driving sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship.
The “Dhanda First” mantra championed a back-to-basics approach, urging businesses to prioritize adaptability, customer focus, and ethical decision-making amid rapid economic and technological shifts. Ranu Vohra, President of TiE Mumbai and Co-founder & Executive Vice Chairman of Avendus, highlighted Mumbai’s unique position as a catalyst for India’s startup ecosystem. “Mumbai’s blend of financial expertise, technological strength, and entrepreneurial spirit positions it to drive job creation and innovation, advancing India’s vision of Vikshit Bharat by 2047,” Vohra said, stressing the need for startups to tackle societal challenges using the city’s robust infrastructure and talent pool.
Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, President-Elect of TiE Mumbai and Co-founder of Venture Catalysts & 100Unicorns, called for a massive boost in early-stage funding to unlock India’s potential for global tech giants. “India needs $5 billion annually in early-stage investments to create 1,000 unicorns. We must tap large-ticket investors from family offices and the stock market,” Sharma noted, underscoring TiE Mumbai’s role in bridging this gap.
The summit featured a rich lineup of keynote addresses and panel discussions, delivering actionable insights. N. R. Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys and Chief Guest, advocated for “compassionate capitalism,” urging businesses to prioritize fair wages and employee dignity. “AI should assist, not disrupt,” Murthy said, explaining its potential to enhance productivity through machine learning and deep learning without replacing human roles.
Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO of OYO, shared his company’s turnaround journey, moving from a ₹1,000 crore loss in FY21-22 to a projected ₹1,100 crore profit in FY25. “Customer proximity and adaptability are key,” Agarwal said, reinforcing the summit’s focus on profitability and resilience. Meanwhile, T. V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, proposed a $1 billion annual investment in deep-tech fields like AI and biotech to position India as a digital powerhouse, calling for stronger industry-academia-government collaboration.
Other highlights included Arvind Kumar, Director General of STPINEXT, who praised the “Dhanda First” theme and emphasized Digital Public Infrastructure as a growth driver, and Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico Ltd, who stressed embedding growth into a company’s DNA while balancing sustainability and profitability. Atul Nishar of Hexaware Technologies offered a poetic take on the stock market’s volatility, predicting an optimistic rebound, while Shaleen Sinha of Boston Consulting Group projected India’s GDP doubling in seven years, driven by quick commerce, D2C brands, and fintech.
Key takeaways from the event included the rise of Navi Mumbai as India’s data center hub, the transformative role of AI in education and governance, and the need for streamlined regulations to ease doing business. Speakers like Tarun Mehta of Ather Energy emphasized quality and brand trust, while Amrit Acharya of Zetwerk highlighted diversification as a strategic advantage in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
With over 3,000 attendees, including founders of India’s leading unicorns, TiEcon Mumbai 2025 reinforced its status as Western India’s premier entrepreneurial conference. The event sparked critical conversations on governance, competitive advantage, and the Free Intelligence Era, positioning India for global economic leadership. As Trivikraman Thampy of Games24x7 noted, “AI and data science are now the backbone of innovation, propelling India toward a trillion-dollar digital economy.”
TiE Mumbai’s summit not only celebrated entrepreneurial success but also set the stage for actionable steps toward India’s ambitious economic goals, leaving attendees inspired and equipped to lead with a “Dhanda First” mindset.
