Spark Growth was honored to participate in the India–U.S. Higher Education Dialogue Summit, joining leaders from the Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) for a historic convening and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing with TiE Global.
Sara Hand, attending as a representative of TiE Global and TiE Tampa Bay, alongside TiE Global Executive Director Vijay Menon, the event exceeded expectations, opening meaningful conversations about collaboration between higher education leadership and entrepreneurship in the U.S. and India. Through the MOU with TiE, new opportunities are emerging to expand youth, university, women, and investment-focused program pillars, strengthening cross-border pathways for innovation and talent development.
As TiE Tampa Bay’s 2026 President-Elect, this moment strongly aligns with a core priority: increasing inter-chapter collaboration, strengthening ecosystem partnerships, and showcasing TiE’s global reach. For TiE members, the outcomes suggest new ways to give back, including potential multinational internship programs and expanded engagement across regions.
The summit brought together thought leaders from both countries to share best practices and collaboratively address challenges facing higher education and entrepreneurship at both local and global scales. It was a powerful example of how intentional partnerships can unlock long-term value across education, innovation, and economic development.
We are grateful to the speakers, partners, and organizers who made this moment possible, and we look forward to the continued impact of this collaboration following the signing of the November 2024 MOU with TiE Global.
