Gurugram, Haryana: AGSKI 360 (Anantaa GSK Innovations Pvt. Ltd.), in association with its Knowledge Partner, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at SGT University, hosted the Catch Presents Tastepreneur Grand Event at the SGT University campus in Gurugram. The event successfully brought together culinary visionaries, hospitality experts, and F&B entrepreneurs, celebrating the dynamic world of Indian food and hospitality innovation. With a focus on entrepreneurship, mentorship, and leadership, the event was a grand celebration of India’s vibrant F&B industry.
The event was inaugurated by the esteemed Chef Vivek Saggar, the General Secretary of the Indian Culinary Forum and the Chief Guest, who added great industry relevance to the event. Chef Saggar’s leadership and commitment to the culinary arts served as a source of inspiration to the many budding entrepreneurs present at the event.
Tastepreneur — a platform designed to empower India’s emerging culinary leaders, food-tech innovators, and hospitality entrepreneurs — was the highlight of the day. Through live demonstrations, panel discussions, networking sessions, and competitions, the event offered invaluable mentorship to aspiring food entrepreneurs, enabling them to develop their concepts into viable businesses. Attendees included prominent chefs, industry veterans, startup founders, food bloggers, influencers, educators, and institutional leaders.
One of the unique aspects of the Tastepreneur platform is its ability to bridge the gap between creative culinary talent and industry expertise. The event provided a space for industry veterans to mentor new startups, helping them scale their operations and refine their business models. It featured culinary innovation showcases, where participants had the opportunity to present their groundbreaking ideas and recipes. A key focus was placed on fostering collaboration, where food-tech entrepreneurs and hospitality leaders could connect and exchange ideas.
In addition to the in-person event, Tastepreneur expanded into a reality show format, with ten engaging episodes that featured some of the top figures in the food industry acting as “sharks”. These sharks evaluated innovative food startups, offering invaluable investment opportunities, mentorship, and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs, helping them elevate their businesses to the next level.
Another key feature of Tastepreneur is the AGSKI 360 Podcast Series, available on the AGSKI 360 YouTube Channel, where industry leaders share their expertise, discuss emerging trends, and provide thought leadership to the larger F&B community. These podcasts serve as a rich resource for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to gain insights from industry veterans.
The event also witnessed culinary competitions for students, celebrating young talent in India’s evolving food landscape. The HomeChef competition stood out as it showcased exceptional culinary skills from across the country, providing an opportunity for amateur chefs to showcase their expertise and creativity.
Industry Participation
The Tastepreneur Grand Event was a significant gathering, drawing a wide spectrum of professionals from the F&B and hospitality sectors, including celebrity chefs, food bloggers, restaurant owners, café operators, cloud kitchen founders, and food-tech innovators. Representatives from prestigious organisations like the Indian Culinary Forum, Catch (DS Group), Pansari Group, Roop Mahal Rice, Unox, Aggarwal Namkeen, Mohan Ghee, and Steadfast also played crucial roles as mentors, jury members, and industry speakers. Their presence and support provided emerging entrepreneurs with practical insights and encouragement, nurturing the growth of new ideas and innovations in the sector.
A Day of Inspiration and Innovation
The event was packed with expert-led sessions, live product demonstrations, and mentor-led workshops, providing participants with hands-on learning experiences. Networking opportunities with some of the top decision-makers in the F&B and hospitality sectors further enhanced the value of the event for participants.
A special moment was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Chef Vivek Saggar, recognising his exceptional contributions to the Indian culinary world. Col. S. S. Vaid and Prof. (Dr.) Hemant Verma also addressed the gathering, encouraging young professionals to pursue careers driven by innovation, sustainability, and creativity in the food and hospitality industries.
Future of Tastepreneur
The Tastepreneur platform is set to grow further, with plans to expand the reality show to new regions and launch more initiatives that will foster innovation and entrepreneurship in India’s rapidly evolving F&B sector. The Tastepreneur Grand Event served as the perfect starting point for these exciting new ventures, positioning India as a global leader in culinary innovation and hospitality entrepreneurship.
Acknowledgments
The organisers of the Tastepreneur Grand Event Mr. Hemant Kumar Sharma, Managing Director of Anantaa GSK Innovations Pvt. Ltd.and Mr. Col. S. S. Vaid, Director of Operations, expressed heartfelt thanks to Mr. Harish Kumar, Dean, School of Hotel Management, SGT University, and Prof. (Dr.) Hemant Verma, Vice Chancellor, SGT University, for their invaluable support and leadership in making the event a grand success.
As the event came to a close, the overall sentiment was one of optimism and inspiration for the future of India’s food industry. The Tastepreneur Grand Event not only celebrated the achievements of established entrepreneurs, but it also ignited a sense of purpose in the next generation of food innovators, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to succeed in the world of food and hospitality.
