TiE reduces entry prices
By Shalini Singh

TiE is a global not for profit organization promoting startups and business.  By all accounts TiE has achieved much in the past.  Based on its sterling track record, the TiE meet at Maurya Hotel, Delhi held in 2008 attracted some of the best and brightest in India including Sheila Dixit (Chief Minister of Delhi), Kapil Sibal (then Union Minister of State for Science and Tech and Ocean Development), British High Commissioner Richard Stagg, Vineet Taneja (Country Head, Nokia), R. Ramaraj (Sequoia VC) and Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Naukri.com)

This year, the TiE Meet will be held at Taj Palace, Delhi on Sept 18-19. Home Minister Chidambaram will be making the inaugural address this year. Like 2008, a number of political, business and tech leaders will attend the conference.

Has TiE realized that the ticket prices were too high in 2008 or has the global recession been the major factor in reducing the exorbitant entry charges made last year?

In 2008, students were being offered ‘discount’ prices of Rs. 4,750.  This amount did cover their dinner or joining the cocktails. This year, the students can get the same deal for Rs 3,500.

In 2008, if you were not a TiE member you paid Rs 9,500 for entry and were also given a 1 year TiE membership. This year, the price has dropped to Rs 8000.

How has TiE managed to reduce the ticket prices for its guests?  This year, the TiE members are paying a ticket price of Rs 5,500 while they had free entry in 2008.  So, effectively, TiE members are subsidizing guests and students.

Seems like a practical, commonsensical solution to me.

(Techgoss had published the following article on Oct 24, 2008)

TiE: 14 free tickets
By Shalini Singh

Early this week, we had reported how the not-for-profit TiE conference in New Delhi was charging as much as Rs 9,000 for attending the meet.  Students were being offered a discount price of Rs. 4,750 but could not have dinner or join the cocktails.

In the same report, we had mentioned how respected magazine Dare had offered a few complimentary passes 3 days before the conference.  TiE would have handed over all the tickets it could not sell to its sponsors and partners.  At Rs. 9,000 a ticket it would be a hard sell in such an uncertain economic climate.

Our tipster at magazine Dare tells us about how they were inundated with emails and phone calls for a complimentary ticket.  Obviously, many wanted to attend but their own companies could not afford the high fees.  These included people who are Senior Vice Presidents at Sify and are in change of computing at the Ministry of Home Affairs.  Or perhaps they would only attend if a free pass was available.  Probably a combination of both reasons.

The following is the list of some of the Dare readers who got a complimentary pass worth Rs 9000 to attend the conference.  The list has many of the key players in our industry including Sudhir Agarwal (Sr VP, Head Govt Initiatives,  Sify),  Dr. Arora (Director EDP Min of Home Affairs),  Sanjiv Kataria (Managing Partner,  Strategic Communications and PR Counsel),  Sanjay Mehta (CEO, MAIA Intelligence),  Fahad Moti Khan (CEO,  Technology 9 Labs),  GS Malik (CEO, NG Engg) and Harjinder Singh (Country Head, Datawind).

Not all of the 14 people who got passes worth Rs. 125,000 were CEOs.  Gaurav Raturi from HCL send in an email to Dare saying he ‘wanted to be an entrepreneur and this was the only way to attend the conference and meet visionaries’  Probably what clinched a pass worth Rs. 9,000 for Gaurav was ending the email with ‘I am a loyal Dare reader’.

By all accounts, the TiE conference was a success.  Free tickets just made it so much sweeter.

(Techgoss had run the following story on Oct 20, 2008)

TiE: 5K Student fees
By Shalini Singh

TiE is a global not for profit organization promoting startups and business.  TiE has 49 chapters across 11 countries.  Its next conference will be held at Maurya Hotel, New Delhi on Oct 22 – 24.

By all accounts TiE has achieved much in the past.  Based on its sterling track record the meet at Maurya Hotel, Delhi will attract some of the best and brightest in India. Attendees include respected politicians like Sheila Dixit (Chief Minister of Delhi) and Kapil Sibal (Union Minister of State for Science and Tech and Ocean Development).  Diplomats like British High Commissioner Richard Stagg will also speak.  Highly regarded executives like Vineet Taneja (Country Head, Nokia), R. Ramaraj (Sequoia VC) and Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Naukri.com) will share their views with the audience.  The organizers have even managed to rope in cricketers like Greg Chappell. And there are many other speakers of such high calibre.

As you can imagine even for a not-for-profit organization like TiE it is an expensive exercise looking after speakers and attendees.  What are the fees to attend? TiE members get complimentary attendance to this TiECon Delhi 2008.  Associate members pay Rs. 6,500.  If you are married to an Associate TiE member you pay only Rs. 4.500.

If you are not a TiE member, you pay Rs. 9,000 to attend only TiECon Delhi 2008

You can sign up to become a TiE member and attend the conference in Delhi for Rs, 9.500. By paying a slight premium you save money on future conferences.

The Delegate fee includes: 3 days of Conference and Buffet Lunch, Gala Dinner with Cocktails on Oct 23rd.

As you would imagine a number of students also would like to attend such high profile conferences.  But unfortunately the high fees for students are keeping most out.  Indian students are expected to show their Identity Cards and sign up for a discounted price of Rs. 4,750.   Students are told that their fee does not include cocktails and dinner.

How many students do you know can afford Rs. 4,750 to attend any conference?  Two students Karan Nagpal and Uday Bhan Singh will be rubbing shoulders with more than 270 movers and shakers of the Indian business scene.

But looks like some free tickets are still available.  Indian startup magazine Dare ran an article on Oct 19th offering complimentary passes to its readers. Dare, as a partner of TieCon Delhi, would be given a quota of such free tickets.