MUMBAI: Times Television Network’s business news channel ET Now has launched a new show Starting up with Ronnie Screwvala to provide a platform to millions of aspiring entrepreneurs who, tomorrow can shape country’s economy.
Screwvala, one of the few first generation entrepreneurs, will mentor aspirants from across the country in a six episode series, which will go on air from 11 April. The show will air every Saturday at 10.30 am. As part of each episode, three entrepreneurs will get a chance to seek Screwvala’s advice on specific issues they may be facing in their business. From scaling it up to funding, from finding talent to talking on the Goliaths, ET Now has put all cards on the table for discussion.
The entries have been selected after various rounds of filtration. The show will have premature ideas to evolve concepts addressed and mentored by Screwvala.
Speaking about the association, Screwvala says, “I have recently released my book Dream With Your Eyes Open, which aims to champion the cause of entrepreneurship in the country. This show is a perfect extension of the book and through this we want to inspire success, demystify failure and urge people to dream, and dream big. I am glad to partner with ET Now, who is also working towards the same cause. I hope my book and this show gives people the conviction to follow their dreams and make them believe that it’s all possible and can be done.”
ET Now managing editor R Sridharan adds, “ET Now is a channel that provides differentiated content in the business news genre. We go beyond being a provider of information, and want to maintain our standing as the go to channel for anyone wanting to understand more about the finance and investment. As a business news channel, we have always tried to be the first to identify and define development in the financial ecosystem of the country. This show will act as a platform for the entrepreneurs and will reinforce the current Make in India philosophy of the country.”
“Television is a powerful medium to convey a message and that’s something that triggered me to come on board with ET Now. We all think India is a highly ranked entrepreneurs nation but the reality is something else. We are ranked between 140 and 150 and Israel is way over us and that’s because what we have is family legacy, and tremendous lack of first generation entrepreneurs. We have to understand entrepreneurship is not about earning livelihood but generating employment in huge number. Moreover entrepreneurship is not restricted to male gender. More female entrepreneurs today will ensure a dignified tomorrow. We have to come out of the society perception of grasping a quality job as soon as possible and one who fails to get a job goes on for entrepreneurship. The show is not a promotion of my book and there will be no investing to the ideas during the show. I will just mentor ideas by asking ten questions,” Screwvala tells Indiantelevision.com.
The editor and anchor of the show Sonali Krishna adds, “Start ups today are extremely important for the country, but on one side where we have encouraging success stories making headlines, on the other hand there are numerous failures. The show is to convey a message to India at large that don’t start something for the sake of doing it but back it with substantial conceptualisation. Getting Ronnie on board for the show is a great feat and we are looking ahead to provide essential inputs that may help a start up to convert itself to established.”
The show will be cross-promoted within Times Television Network and at the moment, there are no sponsors on board, ET Now spokesperson informs Indiantelevision.com.
