Chennai edition · 2026

YOUR BUSINESS.
ITS NEXT
CHAPTER.

Ideas worth taking back.
People worth meeting in person.

14 November 2026

8:30 AM–6:00 PM IST

Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT

ORGANIZED BYMSME Business Association — Advancing Growth. Empowering Enterprises
Business professionals networking — from the MSME Business Summit image collectionThe summit experience
NOVEMBER14CHENNAI 2026
ONE DAY. NEW PERSPECTIVES.

A room for the people
moving business forward.

Business owners & practitionersPractical business conversationsAn in-person Chennai gathering

THE SUMMIT

BIG QUESTIONS.
USEFUL CONVERSATIONS.

Growth brings decisions. You don’t have to explore them alone.

MSME Business Summit brings business owners, investors and industry practitioners together to exchange perspectives on capital, customers and the work of building a business.

01

Capital with perspective

Explore financing choices and the questions behind them.

02

Growth with purpose

Discuss customers, distribution and repeat demand.

03

Connections with context

Meet people working through the same business decisions.

YOUR DAY, YOUR PASS

MAKE ROOM
FOR WHAT’S NEXT.

Two ways to join the same conversation.
Clear pricing. GST already included.

IDEAS & CONNECTIONS

Silver

Explore the programme. Build connections for your next business step.

₹3,000Save ₹1,001
₹1,999incl. GST / person
  • Full-day panels, startup pitches & awards
  • Ideas on payments, production & AI
  • Network with business owners & investors
Choose seats
0
LEARN. CONNECT. GROW.

Gold

A full day of business insights, practical discussions and new connections.

₹6,000Save ₹2,001
₹3,999incl. GST / person
  • Full-day panels, startup pitches & awards
  • Ideas on payments, production & AI
  • Network with business owners & investors
Choose seats
0
CHOOSE YOUR SEATS ABOVEYour next chapter starts here.
Secure PayU checkout · confirmation follows verified payment and availability.
Compare pass inclusions
IncludedSilverGold
Full-day sessions & networkingYesYes
Panel discussions & business insightsYesYes
LunchNot includedIncluded
Total per person, including GST₹1,999₹3,999

CHENNAI 2026 — SPEAKERS & MODERATORS

MEET THE PEOPLE.
SHAPING THE CONVERSATION.

Meet the founders, investors, industry leaders and experts joining us in Chennai on 14 November 2026.

27 speakers & moderators. A world of business experience.

BEYOND THE BUSINESS CARD

COME FOR THE IDEAS.
STAY FOR THE PEOPLE.

The conversations between sessions
are part of the day, too.

FIND YOUR CONVERSATION

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

01

Build your next chapter

Explore financing, customers and operations. Bring the decisions you are working through.

CapitalGrowthOperations
See relevant themes

A DAY WORTH MAKING TIME FOR

IDEAS TO TAKE
BACK TO BUSINESS.

SHARED CHENNAI AGENDA

14 November 2026 · Main room & masterclasses · All times IST.
Explore the shared programme and listed Chennai speakers. Programme subject to change.

View Global Startup Summit agenda Showing the most recently published agenda snapshot.
8:30 AM - 9:45 AMIST · Main stage
Connect

Registration

9:45 AM - 9:55 AMIST · Main stage
Programme

Welcome Address

9:55 AM - 11:15 AMIST · Main stage
Programme

Global Startup Battles

Participating startups: Indieworks Technologies Private Limited; Advaidha Pratyaya. Host: Ajita.

Speakers
  • Ashish Jain - CEO, IPOPlatform by Chittorgarh.com
  • Chandrashekar Kupperi - Founder, ANOVA
  • Ashok Subramanian - Managing Partner , KVS Group
  • Dr Periasamy Pradeep - Angel Investor | Author | Venture Builder
  • Arun Nair - CEO, Startup Singam
  • Madhu Gn - SME Fund , Angel Investor
  • Parameshwar Babu - Founder/CEO, First World Accelerator
  • Arvind Subramaniam - General Partner, Enlighten Capital
  • Sabyasachi Biswal - Head of Operations, Yubi Markets
  • Shyam Sekar S - Business Growth Advisor, Startup Mentor, Board Advisor
  • Koushik Shekhar - Co-founder, Enlighten Capital
  • Pingnagan Pranavam - Consulting Partner - Wiselane Ventures
11:15 AM - 11:20 AMIST · Main stage
Programme

GSC News & Network Launch (Brand Launch 1)

11:20 AM - 11:25 AMIST · Main stage
Programme

Brand Launch 2

11:25 AM to 12:00 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 1 — Investors

Pricing the Promise: Valuation, Ownership and Investment Terms

Explore how founders and investors approach valuation when business potential and current performance tell different stories. The discussion examines dilution, deal terms and the trade-offs involved in building an investment agreement that supports future growth.

Speakers
  • Ashish Jain - CEO, IPOPlatform by Chittorgarh.com

Moderator: Selva Kugan

12:00 PM to 12:35 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 2 — Investors

Back the Same Founder Again? Making the Follow-On Investment Decision

An existing investment creates knowledge, obligations and emotional attachment. Should the next cheque support that company or a stronger new opportunity? Investors compare reserve policies, bridge requests, ownership targets and evidence of changed prospects. A worked allocation dilemma helps founders understand why past support does not automatically justify fresh capital.

Speakers
  • Chandrashekar Kupperi - Founder, ANOVA
  • Ashok Subramanian - Managing Partner , KVS Group
  • Dr Periasamy Pradeep - Angel Investor | Author | Venture Builder
  • Arun Nair - CEO, Startup Singam

Moderator: Nithish Bharath

12:35 PM to 1:15 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 3 — Investors

When Your Customer Wants Equity: Should Investors Welcome the Deal?

A major customer offers capital alongside orders, distribution or technical access. The cheque can also bring exclusivity, information rights and dependence. Investors, founders and corporate buyers debate when the relationship strengthens the company and when it limits future customers or investors. The output is a practical set of negotiating priorities.

Speakers
  • Madhu Gn - SME Fund , Angel Investor
  • Parameshwar Babu - Founder/CEO, First World Accelerator
  • Arvind Subramaniam - General Partner, Enlighten Capital
  • Sabyasachi Biswal - Head of Operations, Yubi Markets

Moderator: Selva Kumaran

1:15 PM to 2:15 PMIST · Main stage
Connect

Lunch break and networking

2:15 PM to 2:20 PMIST · Main stage
Programme

JUST YOU Launch (brand launch 3)

2:20 PM to 2:25 PMIST · Main stage
Programme

Brand Launch 4

2:25 PM to 3:00 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 4 — MSME

Order Won, Payment Pending: Getting the Buyer to Accept Your Invoice

An MSME can deliver the work and still wait for payment because acceptance, documentation or internal buyer ownership is unclear. Suppliers and procurement leaders trace one order from purchase order to accepted invoice. They identify the preventable disputes, handoffs and evidence gaps that founders should resolve before production begins.

Speakers
  • Shyam Sekar S - Business Growth Advisor, Startup Mentor, Board Advisor
  • Koushik Shekhar - Co-founder, Enlighten Capital
  • Pingnagan Pranavam - Consulting Partner - Wiselane Ventures
  • Rahul Nanuhal - Co-Founder, CEO - JustAct

Moderator: Rohit C.

3:00 PM to 3:35 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 5 — D2C

Own the Recipe, Own the Factory? Choosing How Your Brand Manufactures

A consumer brand can own its formulation without owning a factory. Founders compare contract production, shared facilities and in-house manufacturing through one product decision. The debate concentrates on process control, batch consistency, minimum orders, confidential know-how and switching suppliers, producing a practical basis for choosing what the brand must control itself.

Speakers
  • Saurabh Kumar - CEO, Retail ,Kaleesuwari

Moderator: Harsh Sharma

3:35 PM to 4:10 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 6 — Tech / AI

Who Can Overrule the AI? Designing Human Control Into Business Workflows

An AI system that drafts a suggestion presents a different operating problem from one that changes a record or commits money. Product and operations leaders map permissions, review points, failure signals and recovery paths for a single workflow. The focus is deciding when automation may act and when a person must intervene.

Speakers
  • Venkat Sriramagiri - MD&CEO, Worldline Global Services
  • Raja Ramadass - Founder & Managing Director, Jothi Software, Founder of Contextra - Jothi Software Pvt Ltd
  • Ramana Abhishek Mungamuru - Co-Founder and CEO , Youkti

Moderator: Ajita D.

4:10 PM to 4:45 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 7

From Founder-Led Sales to a Scalable Business: What Must Change First?

Most startups begin with the founder winning customers personally. This panel explores when that approach stops working and how founders build a repeatable sales process, hire the right people and maintain customer trust as the business grows.

Speakers
  • Krithika Siddharth - Head of Marketing, ConversionBox
4:45 PM to 5:20 PMIST · Main stage
Panel Discussion 8 — AI & Tech

Build, Buy or Integrate AI: Which Choice Makes Sense for Startups?

Should a startup develop its own AI capability, use an existing model or integrate a specialist product? This panel explores the trade-offs in cost, speed, product differentiation and long-term dependence on technology partners.

Speakers
  • Vanitha Shankar, Founder - D-Pathways
  • Thinakaran Manokaran - Full Stack MERN Developer | React & React Native Expert
5:20 PM to 5:30 PMIST · Main stage
Programme

Awards

5:40 OnwardsIST · Main stage
Connect

Open networking

10:15 AM - 10:45 AMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 1

Topic to be announced

10:45 AM - 11:15 AMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 2

Use AI to Save Time, Not to Create More Work

AI can assist with content, lead handling and routine tasks, but founders still need a process their team can run. Sandeep and Vivek will discuss how to choose one useful workflow, test it and measure whether it saves time or improves response.

Speakers
  • Sana Sandeep & Vivek Ananth
11:15 AM - 11:45 AMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 3

Topic to be announced

11:45 AM - 12:15 PMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 4

Before You Launch: The IP Decisions That Protect Your Product and Brand

Founders invest in names, designs, content and technology before they know what they own or need to protect. This session explains how to identify key IP assets and decide what to check before a public launch.

Speakers
  • Rohit & Ajita
12:15 PM - 12:45 PMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 5

Topic to be announced

12:45 PM - 1:15 PMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 6

Before the Ad Goes Live: Can You Prove Your Marketing Claims?

Founders will examine product promises, testimonials and disclaimers through the lens of both conversion and misleading-advertising rules. The session will show how to build a campaign review process that checks the evidence behind each claim before publication.

Speakers
  • Harsh Sharma
2:10 PM - 2:40 PMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 7

AI in Hiring: What Should Be Automated and What Needs a Human?

HR tools can help teams manage applications and identify potential matches. This session explores where automation saves time and where founders should review the evidence and make the decision themselves.

Speakers
  • Nithish Bharath
2:40 PM - 3:10 PMIST · Masterclasses
Masterclass 8

Build, Buy or Outsource: Choosing the Right Tech Approach

Startups do not need to develop every part of their technology themselves. This session helps founders weigh cost, speed, control and ongoing maintenance when choosing between an internal team, a partner or an existing product.

Speakers
  • Selva Kumaran & Selva Kugan

Saved agenda items stay on this device. They are not session reservations.

FROM INTEREST TO ATTENDANCE

A SIMPLE WAY IN.

01

Choose your pass

Compare what is included and select your seats.

02

Shape your day

Explore the shared Chennai agenda and save what interests you.

03

Bring your perspective

Meet the people and ideas relevant to your next business decision.

BUILD WITH THE COMMUNITY

YOUR BRAND.
PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

Explore exhibition, sponsorship and ecosystem participation with MSME Business Association.

Packages and participating partners will be confirmed.

MEET US IN CHENNAI

PUT THE DAY
IN YOUR DIARY.

CHENNAIIN

Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT

110 Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Old Mahabalipuram Road, PTK Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600041, India

Saturday, 14 November 20268:30 AM–6:00 PM IST
Find the venue Directions open a map search for the published hotel address.

GOOD TO KNOW

A FEW ANSWERS
BEFORE YOU JOIN.

Another question?

When and where is the summit?

Saturday, 14 November 2026, 8:30 AM–6:00 PM IST, at Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT.

What is the difference between Silver and Gold?

Both passes include the full-day programme, panel discussions and networking with business owners, investors and practitioners. Lunch is included with Gold and not included with Silver.

Are these prices inclusive of GST?

Yes. Silver is ₹1,999 and Gold is ₹3,999 including GST. The displayed checkout total includes GST; no additional mandatory booking fee is added.

How do bookings and enquiries work?

Choose Silver or Gold, review the live policies and continue to PayU. Admission follows verified payment and an availability check. Partnership and general enquiries open your email app with a prepared message to the organizer.

What are the refund, transfer and accessibility arrangements?

Review the published refund, privacy and fulfilment policies in checkout. Contact the organizer about transfers or accessibility arrangements before booking.

14 NOVEMBER · CHENNAI

YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION.

Find your pass
Jointly organised withGlobal Startup Summit official logo