Boston–TiE Boston and TiE Global announced a first-ever, $80,000 multi-year family sponsorship commitment from Samir and Nilima Desai towards the TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Program.
The sponsorship includes a three-year $30,000 contribution to support the TYE Program at Boston and a five-year $50,000 contribution to bolster the program at global level. This transformative contribution underscores Desai family’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship among young minds, paving the way for future innovators and leaders.
Samir A. Desai has been committed to serving the community in business, philanthropy and culture throughout his career. After holding a series of management and technology leadership positions with high tech startups and large corporations, Desai went on to start Systems Resources Corporation (SRC), a high-tech systems company providing game changing support with upcoming technology such as automatic identifications, GPS, Internet, and voice response for transportation, defense and health industries. He is proud to have served as TIE-Boston’s Founding Charter Member, Board Member and a Past President, and continues to be highly committed to TIE’s mission and mentoring entrepreneurs, including this multiyear support for the TiE Young Entrepreneurs program.
On this occasion, Samir and Nilima Desai said, “Empowering our community and advancing opportunities for youth has always been a driving force in our work. We are thrilled to partner with TiE Boston and TiE Global on a multi-year journey to make a real impact by expanding access to entrepreneurship education for high school students throughout New England and beyond. Together, we’re not just nurturing young minds but are equipping the next generation with the skills and confidence needed to lead and innovate.”
Samir and Nilima are also the founders of The Desai Foundation, a now public programmatic NGO that has impacted the lives of over 10 million women and children with health, livelihood and menstrual equity programs in rural India. In the spirit of entrepreneurship, even in Impact, after 10 years of building the Desai Foundation, they converted it into a public foundation, so that they could invite the community to the table to be a part of the incredible impact this organization makes.
Purnanand Sarma, President of TiE Boston, said “We are deeply grateful to Samir and Nilima Desai for their generous multi-year funding. This support enables our mission to make a meaningful impact by cultivating entrepreneurial skills in individuals during the most crucial and formative years in high school. With this sponsorship, we hope to foster innovation and leadership skills in high school students across the Boston metropolitan area.
Added Joe Falcao, TiE Boston Treasurer, “This partnership reflects a shared vision of fostering a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial future. I’m especially delighted to see the Desai family’s continued support for the TYE program.”
This sentiment was also echoed by Rakesh Kamdar, a charter member of TiE Boston as well as TiE Global Board of Trustees, and Founder of DB Healthcare, “I can personally attest to their exceptional dedication to youth education, a commitment that truly inspires and uplifts future generations of leaders.”
Reflecting on this generous commitment, Kanchana Raman, a member of TiE Global Board of Trustees from Atlanta, GA and Leader of the TYE Global Program, expressed her gratitude “On behalf of TiE Global, I extend heartfelt gratitude to Samir and Nilima Desai for their generous sponsorship of TiE Young Entrepreneurs. This support is pivotal in nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in young minds, empowering the next generation to innovate and lead. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.”
TYE, pioneered by TiE Boston in 2005, and now in its 20th year, provides students with hands-on experience, interactive workshops, and expert mentorship, equipping them with the skills to identify opportunities, create business plans, and pitch ideas to investors. 97% of alumni report an increased ability to lead, 90% of alumni report that TYE influenced their decision to pursue a career in STEM and 40% report TYE inspired them to start their own company. In addition to being an entrepreneurship program, TYE is a launchpad for young leaders. Students develop core skills that enable them to take their independent creative thinking and channel it towards results-oriented tangible goals, thus empowering them to be successful in their careers.
Founded in 1997, TiE Boston connects tomorrow’s founders with today’s entrepreneurs, executives and venture capitalists, in its mission to foster entrepreneurship. Operating for 27 years now, TiE Boston’s unparalleled network of successful, serial entrepreneurs are deeply engaged and committed to giving back to the community by providing mentorship, tactical advice, and expertise to rising entrepreneurs through signature programs. For more information, please visit www.tieboston.org
TiE was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, & senior professionals. Since its existence, TiE Chapters around the world have become a vibrant platform for entrepreneurs, professionals, industry leaders, investors to interact with one another & forge long lasting relationships.
The Desai Foundation empowers women and children through community programming to elevate health, livelihood, and menstrual equity in rural India. This public programmatic non-profit has 30 programs and operates in eight states in India and has impacted over 10 million lives. For the past 27 years, The Desai Foundation has been perfecting their programming by listening to the people they serve.
