NRAI Pune chapter successfully hosted ‘Elevate’ Mentorship Program and ‘Community Building’ Event for F&B Startups

Pune, October 13, 2023 – The National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) Pune Chapter proudly concludes a highly successful ‘Elevate’ Mentorship Program and ‘How to Build a Community with Sonia Agarwal Konjeti’ event at One Lounge, Koregaon Park, Pune. The event was presented by DotPe and it definitely marked a pivotal moment in supporting and nurturing Pune’s dynamic food and beverage startups.

The day-long event kicked off with the “Elevate: Mentorship for Emerging Brands” program, offering startups a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned mentors in the food and beverage industry. This initiative, featuring one-on-one mentoring sessions, roundtable discussions, and extensive networking opportunities, set the stage for an enriching experience for attendees. It was scheduled from 2 pm to 6 pm, followed by the session with Sonia Konjeti at 7:30 pm.

The day commenced with an enriching first session, featuring distinguished speakers who shared invaluable insights with the attendees:

⮚ Finance by Shrijith Ravindran:

• Discussed financial ratios such as Stock Turnover Ratio, Total Employee Cost, and the ideal Current Assets to Current Liabilities ratio.

• Cautioned against exhausting owner funds for business setup; suggested the use of borrowed funds for loss-making ventures.

⮚ Marketing by Mansi Pardeshi:

• Stressed the significance of building a business which should be sustainable for at least 1000 days.

• Highlighted the necessity of an online presence, active engagement on social media, and credibility across platforms.

⮚ Culture Building by Sailee Jahagirdar:

• Advocated for a positive employee experience translating into a high guest experience.

• Discussed strategies for creating a healthy work culture, contributing to employee satisfaction and customer loyalty.

Sonia Agarwal Konjeti, in her role as a featured speaker for the second session, shared inspiring thoughts on community building. She remarked, “Communities thrive when built on trust, shared values, and positive experiences. The success of ‘PULA Pune Ladies’ lies in the genuine connections forged among its members.”

The attendees were grateful for the useful knowledge-sharing sessions. They appreciated the variety of topics discussed by industry experts and saw the success of the event as a sign of Pune’s lively entrepreneurial spirit in the Food and Beverage sector. Moreover, participants were grateful for the opportunity to see the positive impact on startups and are excitedly anticipating continued support for their journey to success.