Kanwal Rekhi charts entrepreneurship, mentorship and India’s global ascent
MUMBAI, Jan 5 (The CONNECT) -TiE Mumbai marked the launch of The Groundbreaker, the latest book by Kanwal Rekhi, with an intimate, high-impact evening that brought together two towering figures of India’s global entrepreneurial journey. Rekhi was joined by Harish Mehta, Founding President of TiE Mumbai and co-founder of NASSCOM, for a reflective fireside conversation.
Curated exclusively for TiE Mumbai’s charter members, founders, investors and ecosystem leaders, the gathering was designed to encourage meaningful dialogue, deepen relationships and enable thoughtful, high-quality networking within the community.
The Groundbreaker traces Rekhi’s extraordinary journey—from a refugee childhood in Kanpur to IIT Bombay, and onward to Silicon Valley—where he emerged as one of the earliest Indian-origin entrepreneurs to help shape the Valley’s technology landscape while simultaneously nurturing India’s startup movement. The book’s themes came alive through a candid exchange between Rekhi and Mehta, both of whom played pivotal roles in institutionalising entrepreneurship and mentorship in India and globally.
Reflecting on the journey, Rekhi said the book chronicles not only his personal transformation into an entrepreneur but also the broader revolution that unfolded as India opened up to enterprise and innovation. “India is destined to become the world’s number one economy again,” he said, underscoring his long-held optimism about the country’s future.
Mehta noted that their conversations over decades have consistently focused on ideas, institutions and India’s long-term trajectory. He described The Groundbreaker as a testament to bold thinking, trusted collaboration and ecosystem-building that transcends individuals.
The evening concluded with an informal networking session, fostering cross-generational exchanges between seasoned leaders and next-generation founders. The event reaffirmed TiE Mumbai’s commitment to creating platforms that go beyond transactional networking—spaces where ideas are shared, relationships strengthened and collective wisdom advanced.
