Life of an Entrepreneur
Kiran Mazumdar- Shaw
“If I can build a company like
Biocon anyone can….the first
step was to dream however
big or small..If you have a
vision big or small, al plan no
matter if its imperfect, but if
there is passion and
conviction for it success is
inevitable”
-Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, MD
Biocon
Life
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Kiran was born on March 23, 1953 and brought up in Bangalore in the state
of Karnataka, India
She hailed from a family, which encouraged her to pursue higher education
Went to Ballarat College in Melbourne, Australia, to specialize in Malting
and Brewing Technology to become India's first woman brewmaster.
Though she possessed the required technical qualifications, her chosen
profession was completely male-dominated
Kiran went abroad and found a job in the UK.
There she met Leslie Auchincloss, owner of an Ireland-based company.
Auchincloss was planning to start a business in India. The Irish company
wanted to establish its operations in India to produce simple bio-products
from indigenous raw materials.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw started her professional career as trainee brewer in
Carlton & United Beverages in 1974.
Challenges
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In 1978, she joined as Trainee Manager with Biocon
Biochemicals Limited in Ireland.
In the funds for her business. Banks were hesitant to give loan
to her as biotechnology was a totally new field at that point of
time and she was a woman entrepreneur, which was a rare
phenomenon.
In the same year, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw founded Biocon
India in collaboration with Biocon Biochemicals Limited, with
a capital of Rs.10,000.
She initially faced many problems regarding funds for her
business. Banks were hesitant to give loan to her as
biotechnology was a totally new field at that point of time and
she was a woman entrepreneur, which was a rare phenomenon.
SUCCESS MANTRA – MS.
SHAW
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Determination
Willingness to take risk
Talented team
Spirit of Adventure
Portrait of an Entrepreneur
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Kiran has chosen a virgin field, leading the Biotech industry
from the fore front
Kiran has the ability to spot an opportunity a mile away, a kind
of telescopic vision
Has given the country a new field to develop in.
History of Biocon
History of Biocon
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Founded as an brewing enzyme extraction company 1978
Exports to Ireland grew. Next, in 1984 tried to get an
alternative to ‘Koji enzymes’
In 1989, acquired by Unilever
By 1990’s Koji enzymes were a success, and got an added
advantage in fermentation drugs
In 1995 foray into bio pharmas
Now produces everything from insulin to antibodies
Has been leading the biotech industry for 20+ years.
In 2004, Biocon came up with an IPO and the issue was oversubscribed by over 30 times
Biocon
Biocon's initial operation was to extract an enzyme from papaya.
 Under Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's stewardship Biocon transformed from an
industrial enzymes company to an integrated biopharmaceutical company
with strategic research initiatives.
 Today, Biocon is recognised as India's pioneering biotech enterprise.
BIOCON INDIA:
 Biocon was founded on November 29, 1978 as a joint venture between
Biocon Biochemicals Ltd. of Ireland and an Indian entrepreneur, Kiran
Mazumdar Shaw.
 In 1979, Biocon became the first Indian company to manufacture and
export enzymes to USA and Europe. Unilever plc. acquired Biocon
Biochemicals Ltd.
 In Ireland in 1979 and merged it with its subsidiary, Quest International. In
1989, Biocon became the first Indian biotech company to receive US
funding for proprietary technologies.
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Problems
faced
Solutions
Not being considered
creditworthy, being
turned down by banks
Used her own contacts
at Canara bank and
finances at the outset
Difficulty getting skilled
people, difficulty being
a woman entrepreneur
when dealing with
vendors
Bought along male
personnel in price
negotiations, Biocon
was started in a garage
Awards
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is the recipient of several
prestigious awards ET Businesswoman of the Year, Best
Woman Entrepreneur
 Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year
Award for Life Sciences
 Government of India also felicitated her with
Padmashri (1989) and Padma Bhushan
(2005)
 Nikkei Asia Prize, 2009 for Regional Growth
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Express Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit
Award 2009 for Dynamic Entrepreneur
 ‘Veuve Clicquot Initiative For Economic
Development For Asia
Awards
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World Economic Forum and The Indian
Chamber of Commerce Lifetime
Achievement Award
Received an honorary Doctorate of
Science in 2004, from her alma mater,
Ballarat University, in recognition of her
pre-eminent contributions to the field of
Biotechnology
Honorary doctorates from University of
Abertay, Dundee, U.K. (2007), University
of Glasgow, U.K. (2008) and Heriot-Watt
University, Edinburgh, U.K. (2008).
Recently named among TIME magazine’s
100 most influential people in the world
Looking Ahead
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Kiran has moved onto even more challenging ventures of developing
insulin and drugs that can cure cancer
Diabetes had emerged as an important area: Clinigene( Biocon’s clinic)
embarked on a longitudinal research program
Launched insulin under the brand name ‘Insugen’.
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The role of business Women in economic development is
inevitable.
Women entrepreneurship must be moulded properly with
entrepreneurial traits and skills to meet the changes in trends
and strive for excellence in the entrepreneurial arena so that
one day every Indian woman sets an example as Kiran did.
THANK YOU !!!!