The prestigious TiE Women Regional Finals 2024 took place on Tuesday evening at The Club Botanika in Jayabheri Enclave, Gachibowli, shining a spotlight on women-led startups. Out of 142 participants, 10 exceptional women entrepreneurs reached the final round, where they presented their innovative ideas to an esteemed jury.
The competition's top honor went to Kriash, a startup founded by Dr. Neetika Ashwani, which focuses on improving health outcomes for premature babies through a non-invasive, wireless medical device that tracks vitals and encourages skin-to-skin contact. Dr. Ashwani was awarded Rs. 25,000 and will represent the region in the upcoming global pitch competition in Bangalore this December.
EasyLife Mobility Innovations, led by Dr. Nalluri Hima Bindu, secured the first runner-up position with a Rs. 15,000 prize. The startup manufactures electric wheelchairs, offering greater mobility solutions. The second runner-up spot went to OsteoForge Medtech, co-founded by Dr. Ramya, which focuses on medtech innovations. She received Rs. 10,000 for her efforts.
In addition to the main awards, Raga Shailaja, founder of Gravy Stories, was honored with the elevator pitch award, further recognizing her entrepreneurial vision.
The event underscored the significance of women in business, with Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, addressing the audience through a video message. He highlighted Telangana’s pioneering role as the first state to establish NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) chapter, offering critical support to women entrepreneurs. "This platform will resolve various challenges and provide opportunities tailored to foster entrepreneurship," he noted.
Adding to the conversation, Mahankali Srinivas Rao, CEO of T Hub, shared compelling insights, emphasizing that women own 21% of the 63 million registered businesses in India, and noted the potential for creating 130 million jobs if more women-led startups employ at least five people.
Murali Bukkapatnam, Vice Chair of TiE Global Board of Trustees, lauded the trillion-dollar impact TiE creates globally and affirmed, “Women are the best entrepreneurs one can ever come across.” TiE Hyderabad President Srinivas Chandupatla echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the critical role women entrepreneurs play in shaping the future economic landscape.
The TiE Women Global Pitch Competition is a vital platform for women to showcase their business ideas, gain exposure, and contribute to economic growth—both regionally and globally.
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