OMPEG

The Decade Issue2016–2026October 2026 · London

Register · 10 Oct

to Launched on the 10th. Ten years on, the 10th of the 10th.

Ten years of OMPEG.

An elevated wide view over the whole banquet hall at the OMPEG 5th anniversary: dozens of round tables, colourful uplighting, a stage with a candle graphic on the screen, no single person dominant in frame.

Overseas Maharashtrian Professionals & Entrepreneurs Group.

With warm regards, an invitationRadisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow

Register for 10 OctoberBecome a member

5th anniversary, DoubleTree Milton Keynes, 2021. Photograph: Imitari Pixels.

5th anniversary, DoubleTree Milton Keynes, 2021. Photograph: Imitari Pixels.

Contents

Ten years, in one sentence.

Ten years of OMPEG comes down to this: a community that decided to build itself, one relationship at a time.

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

Chapter 1

We built a world from nothing.

Ventures in diverse areas ranging from Food, Travel, Mortgage solutions, and Fashion to FinTech. Many of these ventures are led by first-generation Maharashtrian women entrepreneurs.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/ompeg-story

A woman in a floral jacket speaks at an OMPEG lectern, mid-word, one hand resting on her notes.
5th anniversary, DoubleTree Milton Keynes, 2021. Photograph: Imitari Pixels.
  1. Dr Mahadeo and Alka Bhide founded PLABmaster in 1996.
  2. Jay Tahasildar founded Mercurius IT, in Milton Keynes.
  3. Mayura Chandekar started MCAPS Global in January 2015, while on maternity.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/organising-team

30%

of OMPEG’s members are first-generation women entrepreneurs, by OMPEG’s count.

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

Sectors

Food, technology, healthcare, fintech, legal services, fashion, AI.

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

Every individual has the potential to be an entrepreneur.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/vision-mission

Chapter 2

We connected people.

The Sunday after Gudi Padwa.

Launched
Venue
Sudbury Golf Club
Inaugurated by
Pratap Shirke and Dhananjay Mungale

Source: Asian Voice

The launch team

  • Dilip Amdekar
  • Himanshu Dasare
  • Ravindra Gadgil
  • Manjiri Gokhale Joshi
  • Aniruddha Kaprekar
  • Sushil Rapatwar
  • Jay Tahasildar

The seven who managed the successful launch event.

Source: Asian Voice

We are not a social club. Rather, we are a business community, with the warmth of one.

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

OMPEG’s patron, Uday Dholakia, founded the Leicestershire Asian Business Association in 1987. In the early 2000s his National Asian Business Association directly inspired the group of entrepreneurs who created OMPEG.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/patrons

Sushil Rapatwar, one of OMPEG’s founding seven, is President of Maharashtra Mandal London, established in 1932.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/organising-team

OMPEX, Pathfinder and NetBhet keep the community together between anniversaries.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/ompeg-story

20,000+

people from the Indian diaspora have engaged, by OMPEG’s count.

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

A packed banquet hall seen from the back, a close foreground pair with their backs to camera anchoring the bottom of the frame, a distant stage barely visible top-left.
6th anniversary event, 2022. Photograph: OMPEG.

Chapter 3

For the next generation

The giver should keep giving.

Vinda Karandikar, ‘Gheta’

All of us can learn from each other.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/vision-mission

A man in a dark blazer speaks at an OMPEG lectern, one arm extended in an open gesture.
5th anniversary, DoubleTree Milton Keynes, 2021. Photograph: Imitari Pixels.
  1. Sagar Dughrekar led the UK Maha Covid Relief Fund, uniting 18 Marathi communities.
  2. Raj Deokar built the booking and QR check-in system for OMPEG’s 8th anniversary event.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/organising-team

The ecosystem

Accounting, legal, copyrights, branding, technology support and funding avenues.

Source: ompeg.org.uk/ompeg-story

The Core Group

200+

members, by OMPEG’s count.

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

  • Portrait of Jay Tahasildar, OMPEG Core Group.

    Jay Tahasildar

    Software entrepreneur and a part-time real estate investor

  • Portrait of Ravindra Gadgil, OMPEG Core Group, speaking into a microphone.

    Ravindra Gadgil

    Electrical Engineer with post graduation in Computer Management

  • Portrait of Rajan Shegunshi, OMPEG Core Group.

    Rajan Shegunshi

    Established IT Architecture Consultant with over 2 decades of experience

  • Portrait of Mayura Chandekar, OMPEG Core Group, smiling.

    Mayura Chandekar

    Entrepreneur, Founder, and Director of her architecture & Interior design practice

  • Portrait of Raj Deokar, OMPEG Core Group, speaking at a lectern.

    Raj Deokar

    Serial entrepreneur, public speaker, business automation expert

  • Portrait of Sagar Dughrekar, OMPEG Core Group.

    Sagar Dughrekar

    Accomplished Programme Manager with a robust background in the banking and finance sector

  • Portrait of Aniruddha Harne, OMPEG Core Group, in a suit and tie.

    Aniruddha Harne

    Accomplished technology professional with extensive experience in the Telecom and IT sector

  • Portrait of Ashish Kirtikar, OMPEG Core Group, smiling at a conference.

    Ashish Kirtikar

    Highly accomplished industry professional with over 17 years of expertise

  • Portrait of Dr Mahadeo Bhide, OMPEG Core Group, smiling.

    Dr Mahadeo Bhide

    Specialises in Fertility Treatment (IVF) after first qualifying as a Gynaecologist

Source: ompeg.org.uk/organising-team

Before them

  • Dilip Amdekar
  • Ani Kaprekar
  • Reshma Kulkarni Deshpande
  • Manjiri Gokhale Joshi
  • Himanshu Dasare
  • Avi Tillu
  • Akshay Shah
  • Samir Gujar
  • Rahul Gholap
  • Sushil Rapatwar
  • Arti Kulkarni Bodas

Ten years, ten entries

  1. 2016

    Launch, Sudbury Golf Club

    Source: Asian Voice

  2. 2017

    First anniversary (album only)

    • “OMPEG 1st Anniversary Event”

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/ompeg-1st-anniversary-event

  3. 2018

    Second anniversary (album only)

    • “OMPEG 2nd Anniversary Event”

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/ompeg-2nd-anniversary-event

  4. 2019

    Third anniversary (album only)

    • “OMPEG 3rd Anniversary Event”

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/ompeg-3rd-anniversary-event

  5. 2020

    Midlands chapter launch, hybrid Coventry and Zoom

    • September 2020
    • Welcomed by Andy Street CBE and Dr Shashank Vikram, Consul General of India, Birmingham
    • Met physically in a Coventry city hotel and joined virtually by other members

    Source: Asian Lite

  6. 2021

    Fifth anniversary, DoubleTree Milton Keynes

    • More than 200 attendees
    • Keynote Dilip Amdekar, Guest of Honour Rohan Samant
    • More than 60 high-value events delivered

    Source: Asian Lite

    A man and a woman share a lectern on stage at the OMPEG 5th anniversary, mid-conversation, an event screen behind them.
    5th anniversary, DoubleTree Milton Keynes, 2021. Photograph: Imitari Pixels.

  7. 2022

    OMPEX and Metro East London

    • “OMPEX 2022”
    • “OMPEG Metro East London 2022”

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/event-gallery

  8. 2023

    Metro Reading, Milton Keynes and Slough

    • “OMPEG Metro Reading 2023”
    • “OMPEG Metro Milton Keynes 2023”
    • “OMPEG Metro Slough 2023”

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/event-gallery

    A woman in a white kurta and a pink ikat dupatta speaks into a microphone at an OMPEG Metro Reading event, an orange laptop open on the stand beside her.
    OMPEG Metro Reading, 2023. Photograph: Newgenic Media.

  9. 2024

    Eighth anniversary, Renaissance Hotel London Heathrow

    • Raj Deokar built the booking and QR check-in system for the anniversary.
    • Speaker Ravi Limaye OBE (Wockhardt UK); guest Sanjay Kirloskar (Kirloskar Brothers Limited)

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/organising-teamevents.ompeg.org.uk

  10. 2025

    Ninth anniversary, Renaissance Hotel London Heathrow

    • Keynote Kishor Patil, Co-Founder, CEO and MD of KPIT.

    Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedInOMPEG UK on LinkedIn

  11. 2026

    Winter Showcase, Danubius Hotel Regents Park

    • “Hear from 10 OMPEG members”

    Source: ompeg.org.uk/upcoming-events

  12. 2026

    Tenth Foundation Day

    • “over 175 Maharashtrian professionals and entrepreneurs”

    Source: events.ompeg.org.uk/foundation-day-guestOMPEG UK on LinkedIn

  13. 2026

    Summer Showcase

    • The Summer Showcase was set for 18 July 2026.

    Source: events.ompeg.org.uk/showcase

  14. 2026

    NetBhet, via Zoom with SCGT

    Source: events.ompeg.org.uk/NetBhet

  15. 2026

    Grand Celebration, the gala

    • Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow

    Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

The Tenth Foundation Day

175

175 professionals. One room. Ten years of trust built in the open.

It closed with a networking session that ran past two hours because no one wanted to leave.

Source: events.ompeg.org.uk/foundation-day-guestOMPEG UK on LinkedIn

10·10·10

Ten years. The tenth month. The tenth day.

With warm regards, a Decade Celebration invitation

Ten years of OMPEG comes down to this: a community that decided to build itself, one relationship at a time. Businesses backed, doors opened, people showing up for each other when it counted. Now we’re marking the decade properly, and registrations are officially open.

Date
Venue
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Heathrow
Programme
  1. Members Spotlight 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
  2. Refreshments 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
  3. Gala Dinner 5:30 PM onwards
Corporate partner
Kotibhaskar Group

Registrations open

Register for 10 OctoberAdd to calendar .ics

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedInevents.ompeg.org.uk/10th-anniversary

Become a member

£10 per month

Reference
You will need to provide a reference from an existing/active OMPEG member
If not approved
This fee will be refunded if your membership is not approved by the Core Group at the time of application.
Who it is for
Inclusive for all communities, with connections to Maharashtra by birth, education or business
Members get
Free access to OMPEG’s members-only events, and free or subsidised booking for expo stalls
Chartered Members
Those who joined OMPEG as a member on the day of its formation in 2016 are also often termed as “Chartered Members”.

Kinds of membership

General Membership
Open membership for entrepreneurs and professionals across the UK
Honorary Membership
Extended to industry leaders, academicians, donors, patrons, political leaders

Source: ompeg.org.uk/membershipompeg.org.uk/ompeg-storyompeg.org.uk/product/ompeg-membership-subscription

Become a member

Most people join a business network for contacts. I got those from OMPEG. I also got something I didn’t expect: an extended family that shows up when you need it.

Alok WakhareOMPEG Voices

Source: OMPEG UK on LinkedIn

The next dot is yours. One line is enough.

Contents

Register for 10 OctoberBecome a member