Hyderabad: ASCENT, a non-profit, peer-to-peer learning platform founded by Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico Ltd, has seen a 55% rise in applications from Hyderabad as part of its All India chapter. ASCENT recently organized a roadshow event in Hyderabad with Archanna Das, CEO, of ASCENT, and Hyderabad cohort members Sneha Redla – VP, Aarvee Associates & CEO, Hyve Global, and Raghu Vasu Adusumilli., CEO, Trimurti Plant Sciences Pvt. Ltd. to emphasize the value of peer learning in entrepreneurial growth and also bring out its relevance specific to the leaders emerging out of Telangana. The event highlighted insights on how the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Hyderabad has grown in the past years and the impact of positive contributing factors such as access to risk capital, peer support, better networking opportunities, and closer global connections.
For the last two years, ASCENT has aggressively reached out to growth-oriented entrepreneurs in Hyderabad who require peer support. Hyderabad accounts for about 20% of the total All India chapter of ASCENT. The Hyderabad-based entrepreneurs come from a mix of manufacturing and service industries with a 52:48 ratio. The Hyderabad entrepreneurs in the ASCENT cohort consist of an aggregated turnover of over 14,500cr from various sectors including Agriculture, chemical/pharmaceutical, rubber plastic manufacturing, banking & finance, textiles, logistics, and technology. These entrepreneurs have gained access to a pan-India perspective, operational efficiency, and a diversified network through the ASCENT Trust organizations of like-minded future leaders. This has resulted in a perception of quicker adoption of the tough economy, increased peer support, and demonstrable company success. Consistent peer support is essential for capitalizing on the burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit in the Hyderabad market.
The entrepreneurial market in Hyderabad has always been thriving and with the right entrepreneurial mindset. Organizations must consider not only the economic well-being of the nation in which they operate but also its social fabric and the leader must believe in the importance of culture and values for them to permeate the organization’s personnel. The southern market, particularly the state of Hyderabad, has seen exponential growth of established enterprises and rising entrepreneurship among new business owners. This is the fundamental reason the ASCENT has spent more than two years focusing on this environment, lending a supportive learning and unlearning ecosystem to the uprising leaders from the area.
“Starting a business is not easy, and sustaining a growing business over generations is even more difficult and I can vouch for this as a second generation in our family business. The leadership journey can be a lonely one and having a group of diverse people in similar positions is great for peer learning and development. The ASCENT network has let me plug into a peer network from across the country, age groups and industries. This brings with it a lot of diverse thought, wisdom and perspective that one wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. Over time the group also becomes a strong support system that one can rely upon. This may enable leveraging the true potential of transforming the entrepreneurial spirit from becoming business owners to emerging as business leaders.” said Sneha Redla – VP, Aarvee Associates & CEO, Hyve Global
“The importance of agriculture in the Indian needs no explanation. Seed is perhaps the most important agricultural input. Telangana has emerged as the Seed bowl of India, with nearly 60% of the country’s seed production being done here. Companies here are engaged in production of all crops – ranging from cereals such as Rice and Maize, oilseeds, fodder, and vegetables. Hyderabad has now become the destination of choice for trained professionals to come and work in public institutions and private companies focused on R&D in developing seeds which are high yielding, and resistant to various biotic & abiotic stresses. Hyderabad’s role in the seed industry mimics its success in the pharma space, and companies here are evolving on the same trajectory from being producers into becoming R&D led enterprises with Intellectual Property as their main foundation. The ecosystem in Hyderabad is especially helpful as agri based companies seek to grow into digital led enterprises to seek better internal efficiencies and deeper stakeholder engagement.
Peer learning in a network such as ASCENT with a national footprint and leaders from diverse sectors with their rich and varied experience is beneficial for entrepreneurs to quicken their learning curve and benefit from each other.” contributed Raghu Vasu A. CEO, Trimurti Plant Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
MSMEs & startups will influence India’s future economy, which will in turn shape the global economy. Telangana is increasingly becoming a prominent entrepreneurial hub with growing number of entrepreneurs emerging out of the neighbouring tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Archanna Das, CEO, ASCENT mentioned “Peer learning can transpose into peer support if done right amongst a like-minded environment. ASCENT is aimed at creating an ecosystem for its entrepreneurs where they get access to a wider and more comprehensive viewpoint, experienced guidance, and peer comradery-based learning. For instance, ASCENT’s Hyderabad-based entrepreneurs manage approximately 10,000+ employees from the Hyderabad region. Peer learning opens a big opportunity to not just impact the leaders but also bring about a change in the attached workforce utilizing inducing the relevant, tested and suitable adaptations to not just manage businesses but also its people.”
ASCENT currently has over 850 entrepreneur members organized into 73 active trust groups in Mumbai, Chennai, and all-India chapters, with an annual turnover of more than 53,000 crores. The membership is divided 46:54 between the manufacturing and service industries.