Times Business Awards celebrate Hyderabad’s entrepreneurs

From building businesses from the ground up to creating jobs, driving innovation and taking homegrown ideas beyond India, Hyderabad’s entrepreneurial spirit was the highlight of the 12th edition of the Brihaspathi Technologies Ltd presents Times Business Awards Hyderabad 2026. The event brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, professionals and achievers from diverse sectors.The awards, organised by Optimal Media Solutions, a Division of Times Internet Ltd, The Times of India, recognised individuals and enterprises for their contribution across sectors including retail, real estate, education, technology and other emerging fields. Brihaspathi Technologies Ltd was the presenting sponsor, Pride Motors was the luxury car partner, while Marami Infotech Limited was the associate sponsor.BRS working president K T Rama Rao presided over the evening as the chief guest. He called for greater support for entrepreneurship and said governments needed to do more to create an ecosystem that encourages private enterprise.“India certainly has a long way to go before we can truly join the first league of the developed world,” Rao said.“The spirit of entrepreneurship needs to be nurtured, fostered and encouraged by governments across India, whether at the state level or by the Union government. We have not done enough. There is a lot more that needs to be done,” he said.Rao also urged entrepreneurs to think beyond incremental achievements and build products and businesses that could compete globally.“We cannot be content. We cannot be relatively happy with doing small things and achieving small little glories. The ambition has to be large,” he said, before leaving the audience with a message to “celebrate failure”.Another highlight of the event was actor and entrepreneur Naga Chaitanya, who spoke about the creative similarities between acting and building a business.“I draw parallels between what I do in acting and what I do as an entrepreneur because, somewhere, both are creative spaces,” he said.Speaking about his entrepreneurial journey in the food and delivery space, Chaitanya said he had identified a gap in the market and sought to address it.He also described his experience working with Aamir Khan as a learning experience that took him “back to school”, while recalling his film Tandav as a project that pushed him beyond his comfort zone.The evening also featured a conversation with former Indian cricket team captain Mithali Raj, who drew parallels between sport and entrepreneurship, particularly the importance of resilience and consistency.“As an athlete, I think it’s always a very tough journey, no matter the discipline. You’re starting from ground level zero, and as you climb, there is a lot of challenge that one faces,” Raj said, highlighting the additional barriers faced by women athletes, particularly those from smaller towns and interiors.Kodoori Venkatesham, Whole-Time Director of Brihaspathi Technologies Ltd, spoke about the role of ideas, courage and limited resources in building enterprises.“When one idea, one heart, coupled with courage, executes a project, that is what an entrepreneur is,” he said, highlighting the organisation’s work in education, AI, analytics and large-scale projects.Shylender Tadishetty, Managing Director of Marami Infotech Ltd, traced his company’s journey across decades and said the firm was expanding its solutions beyond India while moving towards SaaS. He said the company had around 80 industry solutions planned for introduction in the near future.The awards ceremony concluded with recognition for entrepreneurs and professionals across sectors, with the evening bringing together established business leaders and emerging voices shaping Hyderabad’s growth story.Applauding the business icons of TelanganaThe Times Business Awards 2026 honoured exceptional achievers, visionary entrepreneurs, influential leaders, and organisations driving industry growth and transformation.The 12th edition of the Times Business Awards Hyderabad 2026 recognised the people and enterprises contributing to the city’s evolving business landscape. From established companies expanding into new markets to entrepreneurs exploring emerging technologies and new business models, the evening reflected the range of ambition shaping Hyderabad’s economy. The conversations and recognitions underscored a shared message: building lasting enterprises requires not just ideas and ambition, but also resilience, innovation and the willingness to take risks.Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.