From Local Pilots to Enterprise Deals: Closing Your First Paying AI Customers

Sep 30, 2:00 – 3:00 PM (UTC)

Pune

Join Startup Grind Pune and Madurai for an exclusive fireside chat with AI pioneers Atul Mehra and Dilip Kumar. Learn strategies to transition from proofs of concept to high-stakes contracts by engaging C-suite executives and converting trials into paid SaaS. Ideal for AI builders aiming to secure enterprise clients and demonstrate clear financial value.

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About this event

A Joint Chapter Collaboration between Startup Grind Pune and Startup Grind Madurai

Bridge the gap from local proofs of concept to high-stakes contracts and avoid getting stuck in middle-management evaluation loops. In this exclusive fireside chat—co-hosted by Startup Grind Pune and Startup Grind Madurai—enterprise technology pioneers Atul Mehra and Dilip Kumar KK share field-tested strategies to help AI builders access top decision-makers, demonstrate financial value, and close their first recurring enterprise clients.

Creating an innovative AI solution is only half the battle; securing paying enterprise customers requires overcoming evaluation paralysis and delivering clear C-suite ROI. Join us for a candid conversation covering:

  • Enterprise C-Suite Strategy: Atul Mehra, Founder of Vaayu (an Enterprise AI platform enabling CXOs across sales, finance, and operations to deploy revenue-generating AI assistants) and Co-Founder of the All Bharat AI Association, draws on his background leading capital market trading platforms at Credit Suisse and autonomous driving software at KPIT. He will share tacit strategies for C-suite access and enterprise contract negotiation.

  • Converting Trials to Paid SaaS: Dilip Kumar K K, Founder & CEO of HasoTechnology—providing automated Practice Management CRM systems for UK accounting firms—and Google Developers Group Madurai mentor, breaks down how to eliminate workflow friction, prove margin expansion, and convert pilot audits into high-retention paid contracts.

Speakers

  • Atul Mehra

    vaayushop.com

    Founder

  • Dilip Kumar K K

    HasoTechnology

    CEO

Hosts

  • Pratap Basutkar

    Startup Grind

    Chapter Director

  • Baskar Perumal

    BKD Advisors

    CEO

  • Sailee Kulkarni

    Startup Grind Pune

    Head of Strategy

Organizers

  • Pratap Basutkar

    Startup Grind

    Chapter Director

  • Manjula Subhash Nair

    India

    Chapter Co-Director

  • Sailee K

    Startup Grind , Chapter Pune Team Member

  • Sumit Chuttar

    Startup Grind

Global sponsor

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Carta

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