Hyderabad/Bangalore, September 6, 2024 – The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in India today announces the launch of the TGS100 Showcase, a prestigious annual competition recognizing exceptional early-stage startups globally. This initiative offers startups across various sectors unmatched exposure and growth opportunities, with the final event to be held at the TiE Global Summit 2024 (TGS ’24) in Bangalore. This 9th Edition of TiE Global Summit, scheduled from 9th December to 11th at BIEC and 12th December in Mysore, is anticipated to host over 20,000 delegates, including 5000+ startups, 750+ investors, 300+ corporates, 150+ speakers, and 10,000+ Futurepreneurs from India and beyond. Registration for the TGS100 Showcase opens on September 5, 2024, and closes on October 15, 2024. To be eligible, startups must be privately held, aged between 2 months and 5 years, and aiming to raise funds between INR 1-10 crore.
The TGS100 Showcase will spotlight startups from across sectors. This showcase offers immense visibility to a community of global venture capitalists, angel investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs, presenting a unique opportunity to elevate their businesses.
Ravi Narayan, Chair of TGS100 and Board Member, TiE Bangalore highlighted the significance of the initiative said, “The TGS100 Showcase are more than just a celebration of exceptional startups; they represent a strategic effort to forge a global community of visionary innovators and support them as they scale their impact. At TiE, our commitment extends beyond mere recognition; we aim to empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. This year’s theme, ‘Putting Entrepreneurship First,’ underscores our dedication to advancing a dynamic global entrepreneurial ecosystem. The TGS100 Showcase is a crucial step in this journey, offering startups not only visibility but also the opportunity to engage with a network of over 750 investors, collectively managing over USD 3 billion. This exposure is vital for securing the funding and mentorship necessary to scale groundbreaking ideas and drive meaningful change in the marketplace.”
Venk Krishnan, Founder, and CEO of Nuventures, an early supporter of TGS100 Initiative emphasized the TGS100 Showcase as a catalyst for startups, saying, “The TGS100 Showcase offer a unique and impactful platform for startups aiming to establish themselves globally. The rigorous selection process and the chance to pitch before a distinguished audience of investors, industry leaders, and experienced entrepreneurs provide invaluable feedback, visibility, and potential equity-free funding. This competition is designed not only to recognize startups but also to furnish them with the essential tools, mentorship, and connections needed to scale and excel in a competitive market. For early-stage ventures, the TGS100 Showcase present a rare opportunity to accelerate growth and secure crucial resources for success.”
The competition is structured to thoroughly evaluate startups with the highest potential. A global jury of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will select the top 100 startups through a rigorous three-step process, allowing them to present at the semi-final round on December 9, 2024. The Top 10 finalists will then pitch on the main stage at TGS ’24 to a Super Jury which includes Vani Kola (Kalaari Ventures), Prashanth Prakash (Accel Partners), Sudhir Sethi (Chiratae Ventures), Venk Krishnan (Nuventures) among other stalwarts.
Winners will be chosen based on criteria such as their ability to scale, the strength of their team, product differentiation, external validation, and market potential. The top three startups will share a prize pool of INR 50 lakhs in equity-free funding, with INR 25 lakhs for the winner, INR 15 lakhs for the runner-up, and INR 10 lakhs for third place. Additionally, the top 10 startups will gain extensive visibility, including the opportunity to present their products to over 750 investors and mentors, and an audience of more than 3,000 attendees, along with significant exposure through print and digital media.
TGS100 Start-ups will also gain access to specialized programming at TGS2024 including impactful masterclasses by experts and an opportunity to participate in the TiE Nurture program, which provides 6-9 months of mentoring by TiE’s network of Charter Members.