MAM
TiECon UP 2026 spotlights Kanpur as innovation hub
PMO advisor, ministers, VCs and founders converge on 1 March for entrepreneurship summit.
MUMBAI: Kanpur just turned the spotlight on Uttar Pradesh’s startup dreams because when policy, capital and chaiwalas meet, even the leather city starts dreaming in unicorn colours. TiECon UP 2026, the flagship entrepreneurship summit organised by TiE Uttar Pradesh, took place on 1 March 2026 at Hotel Taj Eternity in Kanpur, drawing nearly 20 leading venture capital firms, close to 45 industry leaders, and a packed house of founders, ecosystem players and students from across India and international markets.
The event featured a keynote by prime minister’s office advisor Sudhanshu Trivedi, alongside senior government voices including K. Vijayendra Pandian (Divisional Commissioner, Kanpur), Vijay Kiran Anand (CEO, Invest UP), and Manindra Agrawal (Director, IIT Kanpur). TiE UP leadership president Rao Vikram Singh, TiECon chairman Sanjeev Shriya, and governing council member Atul Kapoor underscored the state’s rising entrepreneurial momentum.
Balaji Wafers founder & CMD Chandu Bhai Virani delivered a candid keynote “Winds of Change in UP”, stressing that sustainable scale comes from operational discipline, strong distribution, long-term execution, and staying grounded in values. “Beyond profits and growth, entrepreneurs must strive to be good human beings, supporting communities, creating opportunities for others, and building businesses rooted in integrity and social responsibility,” he said.
TiECon UP chairman Sanjeev Shriya highlighted the conference’s significance, “The strong presence of policymakers, institutional leaders and leading venture investors on a single platform demonstrates that Uttar Pradesh is increasingly being viewed not merely as a consumption market, but as a serious hub for enterprise creation, manufacturing strength and technology-led innovation.”
The day packed thematic sessions including “Zero to Unicorn – All Unicorns Start from an Idea”, deeptech and defence dialogues, next-generation leadership discussions, curated masterclasses on pitching to VCs, leveraging networks, and AI’s role in value creation. The closing plenary “India @ 2030: Unlocking the Next Wave of Entrepreneurship” brought policymakers and ecosystem leaders together to debate infrastructure, regulatory simplification, and capital flow needed to nurture high-growth enterprises in the state.
In a state racing to become a key contributor to India’s innovation story, TiECon UP 2026 wasn’t just another conference, it was Kanpur declaring its seat at the national startup table, one bold idea and one strong handshake at a time.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
