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.
MAM
Safal launches coconut water campaign with Tara Sutaria
Month-long push promotes 100 per cent tender coconut water, no added sugar.
MUMBAI: When life gets heated, Safal wants you to keep your cool, the coconut way. Safal, the horticulture arm of Mother Dairy, has rolled out a new campaign for its packaged Coconut Water, featuring Tara Sutaria, as it sharpens its pitch in the fast-growing ready-to-drink segment. The campaign, anchored in the idea of #TheSafalWayToRecharge, positions the product as a quick, natural and convenient hydration option for multiple everyday moments.
Conceptualised by Ogilvy, the month-long campaign is led by a digital video commercial (DVC) and is being amplified across Safal’s digital platforms to drive visibility and engagement. The communication shifts coconut water from a situational drink to an all-day companion spanning everything from post-workout recovery to on-the-go refreshment.
The film opens on a familiar note: fatigue after a shopping spree. Tara Sutaria’s character pauses for a break before being handed a pack of Safal Coconut Water, setting up a simple but effective narrative around instant, natural recharge. The moment pivots from exhaustion to energy, underlining the brand’s promise of effortless refreshment.
The campaign builds on changing consumer preferences, where convenience meets a growing demand for better-for-you beverages. Safal’s offering taps into this shift with 100 per cent tender coconut water, no added sugar, and sourcing from Tamil Nadu aimed at delivering consistency in taste and quality.
Having introduced packaged coconut water in 2025, Safal is now doubling down on positioning moving beyond functional hydration to embed itself in daily lifestyle routines. The messaging is clear, recharge does not need to be complicated, it just needs to be natural and within reach.
With this campaign, Safal is not just selling a drink, it is staking a claim in the evolving refreshment narrative, one sip, one moment at a time.
