“Be an Entrepreneur…Be a Value Creator ” – IMEN’s First ever Entrepreneurship Conference & Startup Showcase”
PUNE/INDIA : A new initiative aimed at driving Muslim involvement in India’s startup and technology economy was hosted in the city of Pune on February 7. Tausif Malik, Anees Kutty, and A Gaffar Khan organized the Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs Network‘s conference, all of whom have a long history of involvement in business, technology, and community organizing.
The event’s theme was “Be an Entrepreneur…Be a Value Creator”, expressing the trio’s vision of the country’s Muslim community becoming more involved in stimulating the business sector and developing opportunities for the next generation.
The event started Networking Breakfast, where attendees interacted with each other and exchanged business ideas and business cards.
The opening ceremony of the event stated with recitation Holy Quran by Mufti Muneer and followed by Indian National Anthem by Children.
Chicago based Tausif Malik founder, IMEN welcomed the everyone and highlighted that Islam promotes entrepreneurship and contribution to motherland.
He also said that the event is to align with the policies announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji of “Startup India and Startup India” Digital India, Skill India and Make in India.
He than introduced his Team Anees Kutty and Asim Gaffar Khan. He invited Sameen Razzaq a leading journalist to co-host the event.
Sameena introduced the event itinerary. Speakers were invited to the podium the
Key Note Speakers
Mohamed Yunus- Hero of Chennai Floods, who saved lives of people and delivered a baby. The mother named his Child Yunus, even though she is a Hindu Topic :Talk about his experience of being Social Entrepreneur and helping people.
MQ Syed:M.D, Exhicon Group; Executive President, Imamia Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Publisher TradeFairTimes; Founder,Trade Times TV; Editor in Chief, Desh Ki Maryada,Urdu Daily Topic: Experience to be a Entrepreneur
Maryam Asif Siddiqui Winner of Geeta Competition hosted by ISKON International. Recognizedby Prime Minister of India. Public Speaker & Motivator.
Topic: Her Experience to be a achiever
Uzma Naheed, Founder IQRA’ International Women’s Alliance is (IIWA)Uzma Nahid comes from a family of the founders of University of Deoband. Topic: Her experience of being a Social Entrepreneur
SPEAKERS :
Ashraf Mohamedy, Managing Director at Idafa Investments Pvt. Ltd. & Rehbar, Regional Head, West India
Mariyah Rehmani; Teenager who Authored E Book “The Hijab And Its Purpose: Understanding the veil”. Topic : Inspiring Female Muslim to become Entrepreneurs
Farah Deeba (A Educationist and one of the youngest Headmistress of School
Franchise India: Brief about their organization and their activities
Al-Ameen college: Brief about their organization and their activities
BNI:Brief about their organization and their activities
This was followed by Lunnch and Afternoon prayers (Zuhr Salat). During the Lunch the attendees didn’t leave a minute to interact with other attendees.
Post lunch session started with Panel discussions.
Panel discussion “ Role of Women in Business & Community” Panelist Farah Deeba (A Educationist and one of the youngest Headmistress of School), Uzma Naheed, Moderated by Sameena Razzaq
Panel discussion “ Business, Entrepreneurs and Muslims”
Panelist: Ashraf Mohamedy, Aleem Faizee, MQ Syed, Altaf Rehmani, Anees Kutty, Mohamed Yunus Moderated by Tausif Malik
Post panel discussion, the attendees took prayer break for Asr Salaat and this was followed by Tea break & networking.
The attendees came back to participate at the Startup Showcase, this was the First ever Startup Showcase competition by Muslim Startups.
The Startup Showcase opened with a brief lecture about the Government of India policies about Startup India and Standup India and vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji and how Muslim community can be part of this new intiative to make India innovation and knowledge hub by Aleem Faizee, Founder, Publisher, CEO & Editor Ummid.com, Awaz Multimedia & Publication Malegaon Industries & Manufacturers Association (MIMA).
Faizee introduced Altaf Rehmani, a Serial Entrepreneur and Investor. Rehmani Spoke about Do’s and Don’t, failures and how to come back in game.
Faizee introduced Nasser Mehdi, Program Facilitator, Empretec United Nations conference on Trade and Development. Mehdi briefed the audience about the Empretec United Nations program and how Indians can benefit from the program.
Tausif Malik than introduced the Finalist of Startup Showcase Irfan Pathan founder of “Coffee Addict”.
Pathan mesmerize the audience by giving history of coffee and that the role of Muslims in spreading the coffee drink. He was supported by Khan his cousin and team member.
The investment panel & judges included MQ Syed, Altaf Rehmani, Niyaz A Soudagar & Aleem Faizee. The Duo had Question & Answer session with the investment panel, judges & attendees.
Shefali Mehta, Team member gave a emotional speech about how the team worked hard and the support each other. The event concluded with Award ceremony, Appreciation of the team and participations & Dua by Mr.Kutty (father of Mr.Anees Kutty)
Businessman of the Year Award – M Q Syed
M Q Syed is credited to have executed record breaking event “Mahakumbh at Haridwar” (greatest gathering of people on the planet), Have executed world’s biggest live performance stage for “Lay Tarang”, (Guinness Record) and publishes and edits “Trade Fair Times”, the pioneer and the most read monthly tabloid in Asia on Trade Fair Sector.
M Q Syed has mentored and inspired numerous Muslim youth and startups.
Shaheed Abdul Hameed Award for Bravery- Mohammed Yunus
The State government has honoured 26-year old S. Mohammad Yunus for his “selfless, noble and brave act” of rescuing nearly 2,100 people during the recent floods that devastated Chennai.
“In the event that you had met me a couple of months back, you would have been stunned. I used to work such as a cash-making machine. I was never a social individual. The surges taught me an extraordinary lesson. It was an eye-opener to me,” Says Mohammad Yunus while receiving the award,
Educational Excellence Award: Maryam Asif Siddiquee
Maryam Asif Siddiquee, a student of Mumbai’s Cosmopolitan High School first stood out as truly newsworthy by winning the ‘Gita Champions League’ – an International competition organized by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) – and then surprised the whole nation by donating all her award money to different charitable organizations in various states. Interestingly Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi additionally felicitated Maryam and became his friend.
