KTR urges entrepreneurs at Times Business Awards to bet on local talent
Synopsis
BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao attended the Times Business Awards on 27 September 2026, urging founders to dream big and align with local talent — echoing the Telangana IT and startup push he championed as a minister.
Key Takeaways
BRS working president K.
Rama Rao attended the Times Business Awards on 27 September 2026 and interacted with several entrepreneurs.
He urged founders to 'dream big and align with the local talent pool.' The message echoes Telangana's 2015 Startup Policy , which KTR championed as IT and Industries Minister to retain and leverage homegrown talent.
The TS-iPASS legislation introduced under the BRS government streamlined industrial approvals to improve the state's ease of doing business.
BRS leaders have maintained consistent engagement with business forums since the party's founding to reinforce Hyderabad's investment narrative.
At a room full of ambitious founders and business leaders, BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao had a clear message on Sunday, 27 September 2026: dream bigger, and build with the talent already at your doorstep.
KTR attended the Times Business Awards and interacted with several entrepreneurs at the event, urging them to 'dream big and align with the local talent pool.' He described the gathering as energising, saying he 'was happy to see the enthusiasm and passion' in the room.
KTR's long-running pitch for Hyderabad's talent edge
The appeal to entrepreneurs to tap local talent is not a one-off line — it is the spine of a policy argument KTR has made since Telangana's formation in 2014. As the state's former Minister for IT, Industries and Municipal Administration, he was the principal architect of efforts to brand Hyderabad as a world-class destination for technology and startups.
Telangana's 2015 Startup Policy offered founders incentives and incubation support specifically designed to keep homegrown talent from migrating out of the state. The companion TS-iPASS legislation, also introduced in the early years of the state, cut through the bureaucratic approvals process to make industrial project clearances faster and more predictable — a direct play to attract manufacturers and tech firms alike.
Why the message still lands in 2026
BRS leaders have kept up a steady presence at business forums since the party's founding, using each outing to reinforce Telangana's investment narrative. Sunday's appearance at the Times Business Awards continues that pattern, keeping KTR visible within the entrepreneurial community even as the party works to rebuild its political standing after its 2023 assembly election defeat.
The call to 'align with the local talent pool' carries an implicit economic argument: Telangana — and Hyderabad in particular — has produced engineering, technology, and management graduates at scale for decades. The founders who hire locally, the pitch goes, get depth, retention, and community buy-in that imported talent cannot always replicate.
Whether Sunday's conversations translate into fresh policy proposals or investment commitments, the next signal to watch is any follow-up announcement on talent-alignment incentives from either the state government or BRS-aligned industry networks. KTR's continued engagement with the startup world suggests those conversations are far from over.
Point of View
A frame that could resonate with founders navigating post-pandemic talent dynamics. For a party in opposition, business forums serve as low-cost brand-maintenance — and KTR has consistently used them more effectively than most regional politicians. Whether this engagement translates into a concrete policy alternative or remains symbolic will define its long-term value.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did KTR say at the Times Business Awards 2026?
KTR urged entrepreneurs to dream big and align with the local talent pool, expressing happiness at the enthusiasm and passion he witnessed at the event.
What is the Times Business Awards?
The Times Business Awards is an annual event that recognises business leaders and entrepreneurs across sectors in India.
What is Telangana's startup policy?
Telangana's 2015 Startup Policy, championed by KTR as IT Minister, offered incentives and incubation support to foster a local startup ecosystem and retain homegrown talent in the state.
What is KTR's current role in BRS?
K. T. Rama Rao is the Working President of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former Minister for IT, Industries and Municipal Administration in the Telangana government.
