Dr. JayeshRanjanIAS, Special Chief Secretary to Government of Telangana for Departments of Industries and Commerce, Information Technology, Electronics & Communication (ITE&C) inaugurated Ashoka Hub (A-Hub) the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of the Ashoka Group of Institutions, Hyderabad on 02nd January 2025 as the Chief Guest. It was launched in the august presence of Smt. Ramadevi Lanka, Director – Emerging Technologies and Officer-on-Special Duty (OSD), Department of ITE&C, Government of Telangana as the Guest of Honour and other special invitees including Mr. SrinivasTaluka, Vice President – Facilities, T-Hub; Mr. Rajesh Adla, CEO – Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), T-Hub;Mr. Ismail Akbani, CEO – Atal Incubation Centre (AIC), Mahindra University; Mr. SrikanthVishnuvajjala, Manager iHub-Data, IIIT Hyderabad; Mr. SahilSuman, Lead –Communications, Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC) and Ms. NeerajaSunkara, Research & Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH).
In his keynote address, Dr. JayeshRanjan IAS highlighted Telangana’s leadership in innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship. He emphasized the state’s consistent performance as a national leader and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting AI-driven solutions for societal benefits. He remarked that Hyderabad hosts over 50 incubators, with more than 100 across Telangana, supported by initiatives like the Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC) and monthly incubator meets. Dr. Ranjan also underscored the pivotal role of young innovators and startups in driving impactful innovation.
Smt. Ramadevi Lanka, in her address, emphasized the essential components required for a successful incubation center. She highlighted the importance of mentorship, which provides guidance from experienced professionals to nurture budding entrepreneurial talent. She also stressed the need for fostering industry connections, enabling collaborations between startups and established organizations to drive innovation. Additionally, she underscored the critical role of funding, ensuring that startups have access to the financial resources necessary for growth and scalability. Her insights resonated with attendees, inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and affirming the importance of a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The event also featured a student expo, where students showcased their innovative ideas to the esteemed guests, including Dr. JayeshRanjan and Smt. Ramadevi Lanka. This interactive session provided students with an opportunity to explain their projects, receive valuable feedback, and engage with key stakeholders from the industry and government.
Sri Ashok Kumar Nomula, Chairman – Ashoka Group of Intuitions felicitated the guests during the inauguration ceremony in the presence of Prof. Y. Lakshman Kumar, Director – Ashoka School of Business (ASB) and Prof. M. S. Raghavendra, Director – Ashoka School of Planning and Architecture (ASPA). During his inaugural speech the Chairman greatly appreciated the initiatives of Telangana Government in terms of Innovation and Entrepreneurship under the able leadership of Dr. Jayesh Ranjan IAS who is the chief architect of Telangana Startup Ecosystem. He also announced that the former CEO of Osmania Technology Business Incubator, Osmania University Dr. R. Hafeez Basha has been appointed as the CEO of A-Hub to lead the startup initiatives at Ashoka Group of Institutions. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the ecosystem players from leading organizations such as T-Hub, WE-Hub, RICH, TGIC, etc. for participating in this launch program. The students of the college presented their ideas in front of esteemed Jury Members where the shortlisted teams were selected to enter A-Hub’s formal pre-incubation program and receive support in terms of funding, mentoring, networking and co-working space.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Hafeez Basha, marking a successful beginning for A-Hub’s mission to empower innovators and entrepreneurs.
