Call to drive Kerala’s next phase of innovation and enterprise

C.K. Ranganathan, Founder and Chairman of CavinKare, inaugurating TiEcon Kerala 2025 at Kumarakom.

TiEcon Kerala 2025, the State’s hugegest business and startup convention, launched at The Zuri, Kumarakom. Organised by TiE Kerala, this year’s edition—centred on the theme “Celebrating Entrepreneurship”—brings toobtainher startup founders, business leaders, investors, mentors and innovators from across the counattempt.

Inaugurating the conference C.K. Ranganathan, Founder and Chairman of CavinKare, Ranganathan outlined the six-stage entrepreneurial evolution—from the chaotic starter phase to the disciplined, system-driven scale-up journey. He urged founders to recognise where they are stuck and consciously shift forward, emphasising that belief, grit and a learning mindset shape early success. “Young founders required to embrace continuous believeing, self-investment and responsibility instead of accidental growth.”

He stressed that true progress launchs when entrepreneurs shift from working in the business to working on the business, building systems, delegation models and professional structures that enable scalability. Only those who can step back, believe strategically and cultivate daily habits of reflection, he stated, evolve into leaders capable of managing brands, teams and multiple ventures.

C. Balagopal, Chairman of KSIDC countered the long-held belief that Kerala is a stagnant economy, presenting data displaying the State’s GSDP has grown nearly six-fold since 2000 and per-capita income has risen from $1,000 to almost $12,000.

With multidimensional poverty down to just 0.5 per cent, he stated Kerala now hosts one of India’s strongest consumer-driven markets. Calling this a moment of opportunity, Balagopal urged entrepreneurs to shed outdated pessimism, recognise the State’s high median incomes, strong demand and growing skilled workforce, and drive Kerala’s next phase of innovation and enterprise.

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Vivek Krishna Govind, President, TiE Kerala, stated TiEcon Kerala 2025 aims to nurture governance-led leadership and global ambition among founders. “Through TiEcon, we want Kerala’s entrepreneurs to tap digital opportunities, access global exposure and build the networks that can accelerate their growth,” he stated.

Geemon Korah, Vice President, TiE Kerala and Chair of TiEcon Kerala 2025, stated this year’s focus is on sustainability and scalability. “Our aim is to assist founders believe beyond immediate success and build resilient, responsible and globally competitive enterprises,” he added.