TiE Detroit
Nov 06, 2017
Tel Ganesan
TiE Detroit

Tel Ganesan is the Managing Director of Kyyba Xcelerator and Managing Partner of Kyyba Ventures. He is the Chairman and Co-founder of the successful startup Kyyba Inc., a Michigan-based global IT, engineering services company. His focus has been on three different areas: technology, economic and social impact. Prior to founding Kyyba, Tel worked as Lead Engineer at Daimler Chrysler. After Kyybas’ success, entrepreneur Tel ventured into many diverse businesses. He founded Kyyba Xcelerator, a global second stage accelerator and Kyyba Ventures, a Michigan-based private investment fund looking to make investments in companies with significant growth opportunities. Tel has also brought his business acumen to the world of film production.

Ganesan is involved in Detroit’s Chapter of Talent, Ideas, Enterprise (TiE) as a platform to help spread the word about the importance of entrepreneurship as a life-long vocation. Tel is currently the President of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Detroit chapter. He has been with TiE Detroit since 2008 and served as the  President of the chapter and Chairman of TiECon.  He led the development of TiE’s flagship conference on Entrepreneurship in Detroit even during turbulent times. Ganesan believes that the Southeast Michigan area has the background to retool its economy, and that small business is the key to the area’s reinvention. Tel is also the Founder & President of the Kyyba Kidz Foundation which aims to promote quality education and necessary job skills for the most deprived group of children and to help them enter the workforce. Kyyba Kidz foundation is also committed to promote and encourage STEM (science, education, technology, engineering and math) education through innovative methods to minority students from the underserved communities. 

He is the Board Member of James and Patricia Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute, Wayne State University. Tel is on the Advisory Committee for the National Veteran Business Development Council, Board of Directors for Global Detroit and also is a member and Board of Advisors of Ann Arbor-SPARK, Global Talent Retention Initiative of Southeast Michigan (GTRI - strengthening and diversifying Michigan’s economy through the retention of top international talent) and Astia (to propel women’s full participation in fueling innovation and driving economic growth). He served as the past VP of American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI). 
Tel has appeared on several TV and radio interviews such as FOX 2 News, Detroit Public TV, NPR, WWJ News Radio and Indian TV Channels. In addition, Tel has been featured in numerous digital and print media such as Financial Times, Detroit News, Oakland Press, Dbusiness Magazine, Corp Magazine. Tel has received several awards of excellence & honor such as Diversity Business Leader, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year finalist - 2014, 2013, 2012, Outstanding Young Asian American of Michigan, Special Tribute for Excellence - Michigan State Senate, Outstanding Service & Contribution Award, Leader & Innovator Award. In addition, Tel is a public speaker and has spoken at several conferences and seminars. 

Tel received his EMBA in Business Administration and Management from University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business and his Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University and Oklahoma State University. Ganesan dons multiple hats -- that of an serial entrepreneur, business leader, investor, mentor, philanthropist, speaker, blogger and movie producer. He believes hard work never goes unrewarded and continues his entrepreneurial journey.