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The Journey Of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

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Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the richest woman in India and the owner of Biocon India, had quite a different journey planned for her when she started out. When Shaw was announced as the managing director of Biocon India, little was known about the lady who would work to become one of the most influential women in the country. While there was a lot of attention coming Biocon’s way, not many knew that Kiran was running the entire show from the garage of her home! The beginning days of Biocon were just like those of other great startups and had only two employees (and the blessings of Shaw’s father.)

The beginning 

Growing up, Kiran was in awe of how tuned in India as a country was to the field of science and chemistry. The daughter of a Master Brewer, Kiran always wanted to do something in the same field as her family’s business. Despite it not being a commonly followed career choice by women, Kiran decided to break the barriers and for most of her early adult life, worked to achieve her goals. With her family behind her decision and ready to push her forward not matter what, Kiran decided to pursue her dreams by joining a brewery course at Ballarat College, Melbourne University. Although she came back to India with a degree in hand, Mazumdar realised her dreams were far from coming true.

By the late ’70s, the fight was so hard, Kiran had no choice but to look for an alternative. She was refused job after job and everywhre she went, people started saying no. Even those who said yes to her plan initially, were now saying no. However, Kiran could not give up. She could not say no to making her dreams come true. Just when she thought she was stuck at a dead end, she decided to shift lanes and pick biotech as the alternative course. With no knowledge in this field and no idea on how to start building this firm, Shaw definitely had her work cut out. The only thing she knew biotech and brewing had in common was that both had the same sense of mixtures and proportions that go into creating the final product!

Picture credits: entrepreneur.com

The journey to the top

At a time when women doing anything out of what was expected was a mythical fact, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw showed everyone that her dream was worth a lot more than what society said or thought. Fueled with the belief that if you wanted to do something, you just had to make it come true, Shaw changed the field of biotech in India forever. Biotechnology as a field wasn’t known to the world when Shaw entered and at the time, bankers were extremely apprehensive about giving their money to a field they knew nothing about. It was only after after the first IPO Biocon raised, that people realised Shaw wasn’t here to joke around!

Picture credits: businessworld.com

With a net worth of $ 3.2 billion, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is now among the top richest women in the world and is named as one of the most influential people in the world of science and technology (according to Forbes.) Not only did she grow Biocon to a stage where it is the 4th largest producer of insulin in the world, as a part of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade  and Industry in India and the US-India CEO Forum, Kiran works every day to better the world one cure at a time!

 

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Entrepreneur Stories

India’s Tech Story: Airtel Spreads AI Access, Ohm Mobility Lessons

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Airtel AI

Bharti Airtel has launched the innovative “Airtel-Perplexity Blueprint,” partnering with Perplexity to provide over 360 million customers free access to Perplexity Pro for a year—a benefit valued at ₹17,000 ($200). This collaboration enables Airtel users across mobile, broadband, and digital TV to harness advanced capabilities in generative AI, including leading AI models like GPT 4.1, Claude, and Gemini, along with up to 300 Pro searches daily, image generation, document analysis, and personalized planning services. The move is seen as a milestone for telecom innovation and the democratization of AI in India, making powerful research and productivity tools accessible to a massive user base.

This strategic partnership positions Airtel as an “AI-first” telecom provider, allowing it to gain key insights into user interactions with artificial intelligence and adapt its networks for growing digital demands. For Perplexity, the tie-up grants exclusive access to India’s vast telecom audience, rapidly propelling the app to the No. 1 spot on the Indian App Store, surpassing global competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Airtel customers can activate their complimentary subscription seamlessly through the Airtel Thanks App, under the Rewards and OTTs section, reinforcing Airtel’s commitment to digital customer empowerment.

The broader Indian startup ecosystem reflects both breakthrough innovation and hard-earned lessons, illustrated by the recent shutdown of Ohm Mobility, an EV financing startup. Despite multiple pivots and industry-leading investors, Ohm Mobility struggled to achieve a sustainable business model—a reminder of the challenges in market fit and adaptability. As AI adoption accelerates and startup realities evolve, industry leaders like Airtel and Perplexity are setting new standards, while others, like Ohm Mobility, offer valuable insights on resilience and the importance of business model flexibility in India’s dynamic tech landscape.

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Tesla Secures Mumbai Facility as Key Step in India Market Entry

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Tesla has ramped up its India expansion by leasing a 24,565 sq ft warehouse at Lodha Logistics Park in Mumbai’s Kurla West. The five-year lease, registered on May 16, 2025, involves a total rent of over ₹24 crore, starting at ₹37.53 lakh per month with a 5% annual escalation. The facility includes two ground-floor units and 20 parking spots, with rent payments commencing June 1, 2025.

This warehouse will function as a key service center and garage for Tesla’s India operations, excluding bodywork and spray painting. The move supports Tesla’s preparations for its official market debut, expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

Tesla’s India rollout includes offices in Pune, flagship showrooms in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Delhi-NCR, and co-working spaces in Mumbai. The new warehouse lease highlights Tesla’s commitment to building a robust infrastructure for sales, service, and delivery of electric vehicles and energy products across India.

While manufacturing plans are not yet confirmed, Tesla is reportedly exploring sites in Maharashtra for a potential assembly unit. The Mumbai warehouse lease marks a significant step in Tesla’s strategy to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing EV markets.

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Razorpay Partners with MeitY Startup Hub to Accelerate Deeptech Innovation in Tier II and III Cities

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Razorpay

MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has partnered with fintech leader Razorpay to support the growth of deeptech and emerging tech startups across India, with a special focus on those in Tier II and III cities. Through this collaboration, early-stage startups will gain access to Razorpay’s fintech infrastructure, mentorship, and resources via the Razorpay Rize program.

Startups in areas like AI, blockchain, robotics, and IoT will benefit from streamlined company incorporation support, expert mentorship, product credits, and guidance for applying to global accelerators such as Y Combinator. Selected founders will also join the exclusive Rize Community, connecting with peer networks and attending masterclasses.

MSH CEO Panneerselvam Madanagopal emphasized that this partnership will help founders scale faster by providing vital support in mentorship, capital access, and digital infrastructure. As India’s startup ecosystem surpasses 159,000 DPIIT-recognised startups, this initiative aims to give deeptech entrepreneurs the tools and networks needed to innovate for India and expand globally.

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