About TATA FirstDot

• What is TATA First Dot, powered by NEN?
• What does TATA First Dot aim to accomplish?
• How will TATA First Dot Work?
• Who should participate?
• How to Participate?

What is TATA First Dot, powered by NEN?

'TATA First Dot, powered by NEN' is India's first national mentoring and recognition platform for student startups. A unique initiative that promotes, mentors and showcases India's most dynamic and youngest entrepreneurs, TATA First Dot is run by the collaborative efforts of Tata Group of companies and NEN Trust.

The Tata group's commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and India's next generation of leaders is well known. 'TATA First Dot, powered by NEN' brings together this commitment and TATA's vast expertise across most industries, with NEN's leadership in entrepreneurship education and support for the youth leaders of the country.

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What does TATA First Dot aim to accomplish?

Over the past three years, students across NEN member campuses and beyond have started companies without waiting until they graduate. They have struck out, learning, growing, and even making money! We know that entrepreneurship is not easy, and that often some expert advice, access to resources, and a great network will make the difference.

'TATA First Dot, powered by NEN' holds these young entrepreneurs up as role models, and creates opportunities to increase their knowledge, resources and networks to enable them to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey - either growing their student ventures, or by launching them into larger opportunities after graduation.

TATA First Dot is India's definitive platform for student entrepreneurship, supporting and accelerating high-potential entrepreneurship across the country.

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How will TATA First Dot Work?

The programme consists of multiple strands. It is a combination of workshops, competition and showcase, conference and award event, a leadership summit, mentoring and ongoing support from the community.

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Who should participate?

Student Entrepreneurs:

Are you a student who has started a venture? If yes, this is the platform for you. You can participate in various ways: the TATA First Dot Workshop will help you refine your business model, and your pitch; the TATA First Dot Competition puts your startup in front of some of the leading entrepreneurs and investors of today; the TATA First Dot People's Choice competition lets you showcase yourself to the world; and the TATA First Dot Award Ceremony and Conference provides you with a platform to meet other student entrepreneurs, learn from angels and experts about how you can take your venture to the next level, and connect with the investors. Overall, you, and your venture, will get a lot of attention, and most of all, you will have a great time being a part of the exciting entrepreneurial scene.

To register and nominate yourself, click here.

Student with a brilliant idea, but not yet started a company

Do you want to be an entrepreneur soon? Do you have a unique, solid idea for a business venture, and a dream to make it big? Draw your first dot and participate in the programme, get connected to India's youngest and most exciting entrepreneurial community, and gain the tools to make your dreams turn to reality. Register to participate in the TATA First Dot Conference, where you will meet India's student entrepreneurs, and learn from India's top investors and experts... while having a great time, and sharing your thoughts on your entrepreneurial ambitions. In addition, you may apply to participate in the TATA First Dot Workshop, though priority for participation in the Workshops will be given to students who have already started their ventures.

For Everyone

Are you interested in the entrepreneurial scene in India? Do you wish to see brilliant young minds make India emerge a strong entrepreneurial nation? Are you family or friends with a competing student entrepreneur? If the answer is yes to any of the above, go online and participate in the TATA First Dot People's Choice competition: check out the startups, get inspired, cast your vote; get them noticed!

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How to Participate

There are four key components to TATA First Dot. As a first step, nominate your startup to participate in the programme.

1. TATA First Dot Workshops, September 24 - October 10, 2011

Attending the workshop is not a requirement to enter the competition, but will be extremely helpful to you in the long run, by building up your knowledge about business and its workings.

Ten workshops will be organized between Sep 24 and Oct 10, one in each city. Check out the schedule for your city here.

If you'd like to get started, grab this opportunity and register today! Send us a mail with your name, institute, city, email ID and phone number to chandan@nenglobal.org.

2. TATA First Dot National Competition & People's Choice Competition:

The competition for the Top 5 Student Ventures runs at the national level, and operates on two levels. One nomination, if accepted, automatically enters each startup into both competitions:

i. TATA First Dot National Competition: A panel of eminent judges will judge your venture in terms of marketing opportunity, business model, distinctive competence, investment obtained and potential, track record and growth potential.

ii. TATA First Dot Peoples' Choice Competition: The profiles of all the student ventures will be featured on our website and opened to public voting for one month. The 5 entrants with the most votes win. So go ahead! Publicize your venture, urge your family and friends to vote, go viral with the voting appeal! The choices are endless.

With the two components of the competition, you have two chances to win. Who knows, you just might be a winner at both the levels!

Nominations for the competition is now open. Please note that nominated startups are NOT automatically entered into the competition. Nominations will be reviewed to see if they meet the mandatory criteria, and selected for entrance. If they are accepted, they will be entered into the competition, and you will be notified accordingly. Check out the competition timeline and nominate yourself.

3. TATA First Dot National Conference and Award Ceremony, January 9 and 10, Chennai:

The TATA First Dot National Conference will tell you about what makes entrepreneurs tick and what it takes to build a successful high growth company. Get mentored by the best in the eco-system; meet the winning student entrepreneurs; lead through un-conferencing and on-the-spot challenges, and much more.

We invite you to join us in recognizing and celebrating youth entrepreneurship in India. Be a part of the fun and frolic, expect to be dazzled by the courage and resourcefulness of your peers who are running ventures.

The Chennai E Leaders open up their hearts and doors to accommodate student from outside the city, but space is limited to 650 participants. So plan your participation today!

Online registrations for the event open on October 10, 2011. So mark the date, and come back and register!

4. Ongoing Mentoring and Support for winning TATA First Dotters

Once you are recognized as one of the top 25 TATA First Dotters, you become a member of a privileged group of young entrepreneurs, with ongoing mentoring and networking for your venture. Support to you will include:

-On Going Mentoring - Full Year at least one session every Month through NEN Mentor Platform

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