The Superbrand’s SuperStartUps Awards has met with an overwhelming response. The organisers are having to close entries early on Nov 11th…but they still aren’t happy.
“The response we got was phenomenal, but most of the entries till now are from later stage startups” said Shivjeet Kullar, Council Leader “We’re looking for the younger ones, the different ones, the brave ones, the ones who may have launched only a few years back but feel they can take on the world.” To this he adds “since the entry is free anyway, there’s only a fee when they win, it becomes an investment – to be recognized by the world!”
Adding to this another spokesperson has confirmed that “we will put each and every winner in a room across the table with a VC or a Fund – that’s how high the interest has been from all sections of the start up world.”
To recap – for over 20 years Superbrands has been the definitive honour for top brands across the world. From Australia to Argentina, Germany to Ghana and UAE to USA in over 50 countries over the globe, Superbrands has been the ‘Oscar’ of the business world. In India too it has been an accolade that the best companies have sought, won, and used in their advertising and communication. Superbrands aims to work with the burgeoning startup ecosystem by launching SuperStartUps for India.
The SuperStartUp Council in India, led by legendary brand builder turned online entrepreneur, Shivjeet Kullar who has over 100 national and international awards to his credit, also features names like Deep Kalra – Founder Make My Trip, Sanjiv Bikchandani – the poster boy of the Internet world, Sid Talwar – Founder Lightbox turned VC, Prahalad Kakkar – India’s top Ad Film Maker, Valerie Pinto – CEO Weber Shandwick – and Anmol Dar – Founder Superbrands India; to name a few.
The SuperStartUps team is particularly excited by the entries from the ‘brave new start ups’. For example Samir Ahluwalia ex-CEO – Content Zee Media, who has just launched his start up says ‘we might not be the biggest start up, but we believe in our idea and our site, so we are entering and since these awards will be judged by the public we have as much a chance to win as anyone else.’ Adding to this thought, Shubho Sengupta, noted Internet evangelist and founder pinkshastra.com says ‘quite frankly it’s an investment. You only pay any fees if you win, and if you do – you immediately stand out from everyone else looking for recognition and investors!’