The Dawk Business Summit 2026, organised by Dawk Media Networks, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and young innovators for an insightful panel discussion on the realities of building, funding and scaling successful businesses.
The panel, titled “From Ideas to Impact: Startups, Investment and Strategic Growth,” was moderated by Gurleen Puri Dhaliwal, Co-founder & Managing Editor, The Dawk, with Lachman Singh Maluka, Director, Maluka’s IAS; Sonia Dhawan, Founder, Gray Matters; and CA Sahil Makkar, MD, Punjab Angel Network, as panellists.
The discussion focused on the key questions young entrepreneurs face while transforming an idea into a viable, sustainable and scalable business. From understanding the market and validating an idea to identifying funding opportunities, managing growth and making strategic decisions, the panel offered practical insights into the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey.
A key focus of the discussion was market assessment and strong business fundamentals. The speakers emphasised the importance of understanding customer needs, identifying a genuine market opportunity and creating a business model capable of sustaining long-term growth.
The panel also explored the distinction between having a startup idea and building a scalable business. The panellists highlighted that while a strong idea is an important starting point, successful scaling requires effective execution, robust systems, capable teams, financial discipline and a business model that can be replicated across larger markets.
Investment and funding emerged as another important area of discussion. CA Sahil Makkar shared valuable perspectives on what investors look for when evaluating a business, while the panel also discussed angel investment, grants and other funding avenues available to emerging entrepreneurs. The speakers stressed that founders should understand their business stage and choose the right funding mechanism rather than pursuing investment simply for the sake of raising capital.
The conversation also addressed the many “what ifs” that entrepreneurs encounter during their journey—what if the market does not respond as expected, funding is delayed, competition intensifies, or the original business model needs to change? The panellists shared practical approaches to navigating such situations through structured decision-making, adaptability and strategic thinking.
Another key theme was strategic management and strategic investment. The speakers highlighted the importance of looking beyond day-to-day operations and focusing on long-term planning, resource allocation, risk management, partnerships and informed investment decisions.
Drawing from their own professional and entrepreneurial experiences, the panellists shared valuable lessons on resilience, learning from setbacks and making informed decisions at critical stages of business growth. Their insights reinforced that building a successful business is not simply about having a great idea—it is about knowing how to validate, execute, finance, adapt and scale that idea.
The panel was also felicitated by Hon’ble Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Cabinet Minister in the presence of Amandeep Singh Paapi, Founder & Group CEO, The Dawk Media Networks. The felicitation recognised the contribution of the panellists and the importance of creating platforms that connect experienced business leaders with students, startups and the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Later, Hon’ble Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh was felicitated by Amandeep Singh Paapi, Founder & Group CEO, Dawk Media Networks, and Gurleen Puri Dhaliwal, Co-founder & Managing Editor, The Dawk, as a mark of appreciation for his presence and participation at The Dawk Summit 2026.
For the students and young entrepreneurs attending the summit, the session provided a practical roadmap for navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship. It highlighted the importance of strong fundamentals, market understanding, strategic thinking and continuous learning in taking an idea beyond the initial stage and towards larger markets.
Moderated by Gurleen Puri Dhaliwal, the panel at The Dawk Summit 2026 served as a valuable platform for emerging entrepreneurs to gain real-world perspectives on startups, investment, grants, scalability and strategic growth, while understanding what it takes to transform an idea into a sustainable and globally relevant business.
The session reflected the larger vision of Dawk Media Networks and The Dawk Business Summit 2026—to create meaningful conversations, connect young minds with experienced professionals and inspire the next generation to think beyond ideas and build businesses with lasting impact.
