Hyderabadi biryani floors Global Entrepreneurship Summit delegates

Hyderabad: Foreign and Indian delegates attending the three-day Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) were floored by Hyderabadi biryani served at the gala dinner hosted by the Telangana government at the historic Golconda Fort on Wednesday night.

"It (the dinner and cultural events) was an incredible show and great symbol of the vibration between India, the United States and entrepreneurs from around the world. Dinner was delicious, especially biryani. It was first time that I had biryani,” Jordan Amadio, an investor from the US, told The Hans India. A neurosurgeon by profession, he is Co-Founder of Neurolaunch.com which invests in healthcare startups.

He said there were many varieties on the menu and many entrees (starters) and desserts were on display. “To go with the exotic food, historic monument was there as backdrop. I had too many items at the dinner,” he recalled.

His company also operates an accelerator for neuroscience venture companies. “I have not invested in any Indian companies yet. I am interested to do that now. We had good conservations with some companies at GES. Let’s see how it goes,” he said. Naurolaunch invests in early stage startups with valuation under one million dollars in the areas of mental health, AI (artificial intelligence).

Kate Cochran, CEO, US-based Social Ventures, who came to the GES as a representative of a portfolio of entrepreneurs, also enjoyed the dinner. “I was present at the dinner. It was beautiful and beyond my wildest expectations.

The entertainment was particularly nice, and it was wonderful to learn history. I had biryani because I love biryani. But I took a bite of another item on display and my mouth was burning the whole evening,” she said. Funny thing is that I just now told an American friend to be careful about Hyderabad food as it is very, very spicy, she added.

Cochran’s company also invests in early stage startups and is now looking to invest in Indian companies as well. “Our aim is to create more jobs. Our job is to find companies in which others are not investing and help them get next investors,” she said. She is keen to invest in a Hyderabad-based startup. “We are visiting a startup here tomorrow,” she said, refusing to disclose that startup details.

On GES, she said the summit was well-organised and she had a chance to meet several inspiring startup founders. Miten Mehta of Silicon Valley, US-based Spinta Global Accelerator, said it was a mesmerising experience.

Hailing from Mumbai and a US citizen now, he said he did not know much about Telangana history. “I did not know that Telangana has its own Rani Lakshmibai equivalent (Rudrama Devi). They gave a presentation about her. I liked her history,” he said.

On dinner, he said he loved biryani. “Biryani is my favourite dish and nowhere, biryani is made the way it is made here. Apart from that, I enjoyed the dessert. It’s qubani ka meetha”, he added, saying he spent more than two hours at Golconda Fort.

Mehta further said: “I know lots of people said the government here had spent a lot of money on this event. But it is the need of the hour to get global exposure for India and cities like Hyderabad.

It’s important that international community should feel at home when we organise such events. Then only, we will be able to get investments. If we keep showing our poverty, we will also get poverty,” he said, adding it’s all about how we show ourselves.

He has words of appreciation for the Telangana government. “The government has done a fantastic job. I thought Andhra government is organising it because Andhra people are market-savvy. But the Telangana government also did a wonderful job,” he said.

YesheySamdrup, Founder, Event Technology, a startup based in Thimphu, Bhutan, also savoured biryani at the dinner. “It was the first time that I ate biryani. I loved it. I also learned lots of things at the summit. I would love to come back again,” he said, sharing his experience.

By P Madhusudhan Reddy