The South Asian Business Council of Virginia (SABCVA) hosted a “Business Networking & Investor Meetup” on June 27, 2025, at Biryani Grill in Ashburn, Virginia. The event brought together approximately 100 local business leaders and featured interactive sessions such as Pitch Your Business, Speed Networking, Open Networking, and Expert Guidance.

SABCVA founders Aparna Madireddi and Mansoor Qureshi, who served as hosts, expressed their gratitude to Biryani Grill owner Venkat Chinta for providing the venue. They also thanked Senior Advisor for SABCVA and Board Chair of Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, Simon Lobo, for his “valuable support and contributions,” to the community.

In her opening remarks, Madireddi noted her role as a member of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Humanities and Public Policy Board, to which she was appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin. She encouraged business owners to reach out to her for information about Virginia Humanities, highlighting that the organization recently approved $113,000 in grants for 24 nonprofit organizations.

Madireddi emphasized that SABCVA is a vibrant and inclusive platform dedicated to empowering South Asian professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders across Virginia. The organization, she said, believes in the “power of connection, collaboration, and culture to unlock new opportunities and create meaningful impact.”

Qureshi, who chairs the Civic Committee on the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, welcomed attendees on behalf of SABCVA. He recalled a recent event at Dulles Town Center attended by Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura, and officials from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, Virginia Financial Authority, and other federal agencies. That workshop and networking event drew over 350 participants and was aimed at empowering the business community, he added.

Qureshi also shared that SABCVA is launching a free internship program focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Intelligence (MI) for data scientists soon. The program also includes training in resume development, public speaking, and interview preparation.

Sadiq Ahmed, who will serve as training coordinator for the AI and MI internship, said the initiative is designed to equip participants for job readiness. The team is currently developing a curriculum to benefit newcomers, career changers, and management-level professionals.

Ahmed Rahman, SABCVA’s internship coordinator for Mobile App Development, introduced a training initiative called Zero to Launch. The program guides participants from ideation to the full development of a mobile app, including design, building, launching, monitoring, and marketing.

Entrepreneurs Yashvi Gupta and Riya Gupta, co-founders of Paaie, a jewelry and clothing boutique at Dulles Town Center, announced the launch of Paaie Academy, an initiative focused on creativity-driven learning in entrepreneurship, design, and digital skills. The academy aims to equip high school and college students to “tackle real-world challenges and unlock their potential as future innovators and leaders.”

“We’re trying to launch a one-day high-energy and fun-filled workshop that focuses on brand building and teaching high school and college students what it takes to run a business – whether that’s website creation, content, social media, or other strategies,” said Yashvi. The free workshop will be held on November 1, 2025, at George Mason University.

Sajani Rao, a board member of Anna Sudha Community Kitchens at the Dulles Town Center, shared the organization’s mission: “We basically feed the homeless.” She emphasized that homelessness today often affects well-educated individuals who are facing tough times. 

“We started out with 125 meals a month. Now we are somewhere between 4,000 to 9,000 meals a month,” she noted, urging attendees to support the grassroots organization through donations.

Director of the DC South Asian Arts Council (DCSAACI), Manoj Singh, along with his wife Geeta Singh, highlighted the council’s initiatives and events over the years. Founded in 2012, the organization now hosts year-round events including literary, music, and film festivals. He invited attendees to the upcoming Film Festival scheduled for September 5–7.

Anwar Khan of OBAT Helpers USA discussed the organization’s work with internally displaced Urdu-speaking minorities, living in slums and camps across Bangladesh. OBAT also supports Rohingya refugees, focusing on education and empowerment to help communities live with dignity and pride.

Business owners Harsha Rao, Imran Ashraf, Amar Desai, representatives of the First Financial Security, SABCVA interns currently developing a business focused App, and others also addressed the gathering. Both Madireddi and Qureshi acknowledged the South Asian Herald for its continued contributions to the community.

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