Bihar Invites Google to Build Digital Hub Under GCC Policy 2026

Google and the Bihar government have agreed to a strategic digital partnership, with Bihar inviting Google India to establish a Global Capability Centre (GCC) under its new GCC Policy 2026. This collaboration focuses on education, healthcare, and agriculture, aiming to position Bihar as a rising IT hub in eastern India. 

The Bihar GCC Policy 2026 is a landmark initiative aimed at positioning Bihar as a preferred destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), offering subsidies, infrastructure support, and policy incentives to attract multinational firms, boost employment, and drive digital transformation.

Key Highlights of the Partnership

• Strategic Agreement: Google India and Bihar government will work together to accelerate Bihar’s digital ecosystem.
• Global Capability Centre: Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary invited Google to set up a GCC in the state under the Bihar GCC Policy 2026.
• Focus Sectors: Education, healthcare, and agriculture — leveraging AI, cloud, and digital tools to modernize service delivery.
• Policy Context: The GCC Policy 2026 aims to attract global tech firms and create employment opportunities.
• Leadership: Meeting held at Bihar Bhawan, New Delhi, with Google India VP Chandu Thota leading the delegation.

Strategic Importance

• Decentralizing Tech Growth: Moves India’s digital map beyond Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Gurugram, positioning Bihar as a new eastern tech gateway.
• Talent Utilization: Taps into Tier-2 talent pools and builds public infrastructure capacity.
• Industrial Policy Alignment: Supports Bihar’s 2026 industrial policies focused on digital transformation and job creation.
• Complementary Investments: Google’s $15B AI hub in Vizag and manufacturing partnerships in Tamil Nadu show a broader strategy of diversifying investments across India.

Comparison with Other Google Initiatives in India

Project	Location	Focus	Investment/Status
AI Hub Vizag	Andhra Pradesh	AI, cloud, subsea infra	$15B, ops by Sept 2028
Pixel Manufacturing	Tamil Nadu	Smartphone production, SaaS, AI labs	Ongoing partnerships with Foxconn & Dixon
Cloud Regions	Mumbai & Delhi-NCR	Cloud infra for e-governance	Operational
Proposed GCC Bihar	Patna/New Delhi (policy stage)	Education, healthcare, agriculture	Exploratory, invited under GCC Policy 2026

Risks & Challenges

• Unconfirmed Investment: Google has not yet committed to building the GCC; discussions remain exploratory.
• Infrastructure Readiness: Bihar must demonstrate strong power, connectivity, and talent pipelines.
• Political Sensitivity: The partnership’s alignment with Bihar’s industrial policies may face scrutiny from opposition parties.

Outlook

• If finalized, this partnership could transform Bihar into a digital hub, modernize key public sectors, and create thousands of jobs.
• It would also strengthen India’s broader AI and cloud expansion strategy, reducing reliance on traditional southern and western hubs.

The GCC Policy 2026 could transform Bihar into a digital powerhouse, diversify India’s IT geography beyond southern hubs, and create thousands of jobs. Its success hinges on execution speed and attracting anchor investments like Google.

Mahesh Kumar Leads Tiger Analytics’ Mission to Build AI Talent Across Bihar

Tiger Analytics, a global enterprise AI and analytics consulting firm, in partnership with Akhil Bhartiya Yuva Utthan Evam Samaj Kalyan Sansthan (ABYUESKS) & Enqurious, a next-gen Data and AI skilling and talent enablement company, conducted a two-day Data Analytics workshop at Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology (MIT) on February 10th and 11th, 2026.

The workshop, attended by over 100 students, marks the first step in Tiger Analytics’ broader vision to train and enable thousands of students from engineering colleges across Bihar in AI technologies over the next two years. Mahesh Kumar, Founder and CEO of the company, and a native Bihar, has been a strong advocate of this initiative. Several additional workshops are planned across engineering institutions in the state in the upcoming months.The workshop curriculum was jointly designed and delivered by Tiger Analytics and Enquirous. It focused on strengthening analytical and AI foundations, developing structured problem-solving capabilities, and exposing students to real-world industry use cases. The sessions were led by Sunil Kumar of Enqurious & Rakesh Sriramula of Tiger Analytics. Students responded enthusiastically, particularly appreciating the hands-on exercises and practical industry insights.

Bihar has always been a powerhouse of intellectual talent,” said Mahesh Kumar, CEO of Tiger Analytics. “Our goal is to ensure that these students are not only academically strong, but also industry-ready to thrive in the global AI and data economy.

"Partnering with MIT Muzaffarpur has been an incredible experience,” said Amit Choudhary, CEO and Founder of Enqurious. "By combining the industry depth of Tiger Analytics with the enablement frameworks of Enqurious, we are empowering students to solve complex, real-world problems from day one.”

About Tiger Analytics

Tiger Analytics is a global leader in AI and analytics, helping Fortune 1000 companies solve their most complex problems. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with a significant global presence, the firm combines deep domain expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver measurable business impact. The company is also committed to community initiatives that build future-ready talent in emerging technology domains.

About Enqurious

Enqurious is a Bengaluru-based nextgen Data and AI skilling and talent enablement platform founded by Amit Choudhary and Prateek Kumar. The company provides high-impact, scenario-based learning to help students and professionals to master the Data + AI stack through real-world problem-solving and integrated lab environments.

JK Cement Unveils ₹500 Cr Buxar Plant, Boosting Bihar’s Infrastructure Drive

JK Cement Ltd., one of India’s leading cement manufacturers, today marked a significant milestone with the Bhavya Lokarpan of its state-of-the-art Grey Cement Grinding Unit in Buxar, Bihar. The facility was inaugurated by Shri Samrat Choudhary, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar under the guidance of Shri Nitish Kumar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Bihar and in the august presence of Dr. Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, Hon’ble Minister of Industries & Road Construction, Bihar and Dr. Nidhipati Singhania, Vice Chairman, JK Cement.

The inauguration of the Buxar plant reflects JK Cement’s continued commitment to strengthening regional manufacturing capabilities and supporting Bihar’s growing infrastructure ambitions. Strategically located on the Patna–Buxar highway, the facility spans 100 acres and has a production capacity of 3 MTPA, enabling efficient and timely access to high-quality cement across Bihar and neighbouring regions.

On the occasion, Shri Samrat Choudhary, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar said, “The inauguration of JK Cement’s Buxar plant is an important milestone for Bihar’s development. Such industrial investments create employment opportunities for local people and support the state’s infrastructure growth. I congratulate JK Cement for its vision and commitment to Bihar. Together, industry and the government can play a meaningful role in strengthening the state’s progress.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Director, JK Cement, said, “The inauguration of our Buxar plant is a proud moment for JK Cement and a meaningful step towards supporting Bihar’s infrastructure and industrial growth. We are honoured that the Bhavya Lokarpan of this facility has been carried out by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Samrat Choudhary. This facility reflects our long-term commitment to being a trusted partner in the state’s development journey. We are confident that the Buxar unit will play an important role in enabling the next phase of growth for both Bihar and JK Cement.”

The Buxar unit is expected to enhance cement availability for infrastructure, housing, and commercial projects while also contributing to local economic development through direct and indirect employment generation and by fostering ancillary industries in the region. JK Cement had previously entered the Bihar market through supplies from its Prayagraj facility. With the commissioning of the Buxar plant, the company will now be able to serve the state through localized manufacturing, enabling faster delivery timelines and improved service responsiveness.

Sharing his views, Mr. Madhavkrishna Singhania, Joint Managing Director & CEO, JK Cement, added, “Bihar is a high-potential market with strong infrastructure momentum, and the Buxar facility brings us closer to the evolving needs of the region. Local manufacturing will allow us to serve customers more effectively while supporting infrastructure projects that are critical to the state’s development. We see this as a long-term investment in Bihar’s progress and a step towards creating sustainable value for the communities we operate in.”

Developed with an investment of approximately ₹500 crore, the project commenced construction in March 2025 and represents a significant step towards strengthening the industrial ecosystem in Bihar.

About JK Cement Ltd.

JK Cement Ltd. is among India’s top manufacturers of Grey and White Cement, and home-building solutions globally. For over five decades, JKCement has contributed to India’s infrastructure through product quality, customer focus, and technology leadership, beginning with its flagship grey cement unit in Nimbahera, Rajasthan, in May 1975.

The Company’s Grey Cement capacity is 31.26 MTPA, making it a leading manufacturer with a strong presence across 15 states, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. With a total White Cement and Wall Putty Capacity of 3.05 MTPA, JK White Cement is sold in 36 countries around the globe.

The Company has a strong international presence with two subsidiaries, JK Cement Works Fujairah FZC and JK White Cement (Africa) Ltd. In 2023, JKCement launched JKMaxx Paints, offering wall, wood, and metal finishes. In the same year, JKCement expanded into construction chemicals with JK Profix, a waterproofing line, and also entered the Ready-Mix Concrete segment with JK Super Concrete, serving Delhi NCR and set for nationwide growth.

For more information, please visit JK Cement: https://www.jkcement.com/

Bihar to Become National AI Hub: Tiger Analytics Signs Landmark MoU for Mega AI CoE with IIT Patna

Tiger Analytics, a global leader in AI and advanced analytics consulting, today announced the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Bihar at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The partnership aims to establish one of India’s largest Artificial Intelligence Centres of Excellence (AI CoE) in Bihar. The MoU was signed in the presence of senior government officials and industry leaders, marking a defining moment in Bihar's transformation into a national hub for AI innovations.

The Mega AI Centre of Excellence in Bihar marks an important step toward building a self-sustaining AI ecosystem that empowers talent, drives innovation, and creates long-term societal impact. The AI CoE will be developed in collaboration with IIT Patna (knowledge partner) and a consortium of key ecosystem stakeholders, with a shared vision of accelerating AI-led innovation, strengthening talent capabilities, and enabling AI adoption across government, academia and industry. It will serve as a hub for AI research, infrastructure development, citizen services and most critically, large-scale AI upskilling, equipping students, professionals and institutions across the state with capabilities needed to thrive in an AI-enabled economy.

As the designated Industry Partner, Tiger Analytics will contribute its global AI expertise to the Centre's core mandate: designing and delivering large-scale AI upskilling programmes for students, professionals, and government officials across Bihar; undertaking applied research in areas of direct relevance to the state's development priorities; and developing scalable, responsible AI solutions for public institutions and governance.

Speaking at the occasion of signing the agreement as the Industry partner for the Mega AI CoE at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Dr. Mahesh Kumar, CEO and Founder of Tiger Analytics, said, "Bihar has always been a land of intellectual heritage, and we believe it is ready to become a beacon of AI-led transformation. Our work with the Government of Bihar through the Mega AI Centre of Excellence is rooted in building real capability - in research, in upskilling, and in deployment - so that AI becomes a genuine engine of progress for Bihar and a model for the rest of India. This partnership provides the ideal platform to demonstrate what purposeful collaboration between government, academia and industry can achieve.”

Hon’ble Minister of Information Technology, Government of Bihar, Ms. Shreyasi Singh, added "The Bihar AI Mission is our commitment to ensuring that the benefits of artificial intelligence reach every corner of our state. The Mega AI CoE represents our resolve to position Bihar at the forefront of India's AI journey - not as a recipient of technology, but as a contributor to it. With partners like Tiger Analytics, we are building an ecosystem that will drive AI upskilling at scale and generate real impact across governance and industry."

As part of the AI Impact Expo held alongside the summit, Tiger Analytics participated at the Bihar Pavillion (Bihar Government’s booth), highlighting how AI can be applied at scale across public systems, supported by the company’s expertise in data engineering, advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI solution development.

As India accelerates its AI journey, Tiger Analytics continues to partner with institutions and governments to translate AI’s promise into real-world progress.

About Tiger Analytics

Tiger Analytics is a global leader in AI and analytics, helping Fortune 1000 companies solve their toughest challenges. We offer full-stack AI and analytics services & solutions to empower businesses to achieve real outcomes and value at scale. We are on a mission to push the boundaries of what AI and analytics can do to help enterprises navigate uncertainty and move forward decisively. Our purpose is to provide certainty to shape a better tomorrow. Our team of 6000+ technologists and consultants are based in the US, Canada, the UK, India, Singapore, and Australia, working closely with clients across CPG, Retail, Insurance, BFS, Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Healthcare. Many of our team leaders rank in the Top 10 and 40 Under 40 lists, exemplifying our dedication to innovation and excellence. We are a Great Place to Work-Certified™ (2022-24), recognized by analyst firms such as Forrester, Gartner, HFS, Everest, ISG, and others. We have been ranked among the ‘Best’ and ‘Fastest Growing’ analytics firms lists by Inc., Financial Times, Economic Times, and Analytics India Magazine.

Adani Power to Invest $3 Billion in Bihar Thermal Plant After Securing 2,274 MW Contract

Adani Power Ltd. has clinched a major infrastructure deal to construct a $3 billion ultra-supercritical thermal power plant in Bihar, following its successful bid to supply 2,274 MW of electricity to the state’s distribution companies. The project marks one of the largest private-sector power investments in eastern India and is expected to significantly bolster Bihar’s energy capacity and industrial growth.

Project Details

The proposed plant will be located in Pirpainti village, Bhagalpur district, and will feature three units of 800 MW each, totaling 2,400 MW in capacity. Adani Power emerged as the lowest bidder in a competitive auction, offering a tariff of ₹6.075 per kWh under the Design, Build, Finance, Own, and Operate (DBFOO) model.

The plant will utilize ultra-supercritical technology, known for its higher thermal efficiency and reduced carbon emissions compared to conventional coal-fired systems. Fuel supply will be secured through coal linkages under the Government of India’s SHAKTI policy, ensuring long-term viability.

Timeline & Execution

According to bid terms:

• The first unit is expected to be commissioned within 48 months of the appointed date.
• The entire plant is slated for completion within 60 months.

Adani Power will sign a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with Bihar’s North and South distribution companies — NBPDCL and SBPDCL — following the issuance of the Letter of Award (LoA).

Economic Impact

The project is anticipated to generate:

• 10,000–12,000 jobs during the construction phase
• 3,000 permanent jobs during operations

Local industries are expected to benefit from improved energy reliability, potentially attracting further investment into Bihar’s manufacturing and services sectors.

Strategic Significance

This development aligns with India’s broader energy goals of expanding capacity while transitioning to more efficient technologies. For Bihar, which has faced persistent power shortages, the project represents a leap toward energy security and industrial competitiveness.

Bihar Makes History with India's First e-Election with Blockchain Security

On June 28, 2025, Bihar became the first Indian state to pilot mobile-based e-voting during municipal by-elections in Buxar, Patna, Rohtas, and East Champaran. Around 50,000 voters were eligible to vote remotely using the e-SECBHR Android app, developed by C-DAC and the Bihar State Election Commission.

• Who Could Vote?
  The system was designed for:
  • Senior citizens
  • Pregnant women
  • Differently-abled individuals
  • Migrant workers
  • Seriously ill voters
• How It Worked
  
  • Registration: June 10–22 via the app or official website
  • Security: Blockchain-backed vote recording, facial recognition, voter ID checks, and VVPAT-style audit trail
  • Access: Two voters per mobile number; web voting available for those without smartphones
  • Voting Window: 7 AM–1 PM on polling day; counting on June 30

Why It Matters

India joins Estonia among the few experimenting with remote voting. Though this was a municipal pilot, it’s sparked buzz around potential use in the Bihar Assembly elections (Oct–Nov 2025).

While this pilot was for municipal elections, it’s sparked national interest. Whether it scales up for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections remains to be seen—but it’s a bold step toward digital democracy.

Adani Group to Invest $3.36 Billion in Bihar; To Set Up Ultra-supercritical Thermal Power Plant

The Adani Group has announced a massive investment of Rs 28,000 crore (about 3.36 Billion USD) in Bihar. This investment will be used to set up an ultra-supercritical thermal power plant, expand cement production capacity, and enhance their food processing and logistics businesses.

An ultra-supercritical thermal power plant is a type of power plant that operates at extremely high temperatures and pressures. This advanced technology allows the plant to achieve higher efficiency and lower emissions compared to traditional coal-fired power plants. These plants can achieve efficiencies of around 46%, compared to about 38% for subcritical plants and 41-42% for supercritical plants.

This project is expected to create thousands of jobs and significantly boost Bihar's infrastructure. It's a major step towards addressing the state's electricity deficit and promoting economic growth. This means they use less coal to produce the same amount of electricity.

The group plans to invest Rs 20,000 crore to set up this power plant, which is expected to generate around 12,000 jobs during the pre-commissioning phase and 1,500 skilled jobs during operations.

Cement Production: An additional Rs 2,500 crore will be invested to expand cement production capacity to 10 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA), creating 9,000 jobs.

Logistics and Warehousing: Rs 2,300 crore will be invested to enhance logistics and warehousing facilities, generating 27,000 jobs.

Smart Meter Manufacturing: The group will invest Rs 2,100 crore to manufacture and install 28 lakh smart meters in cities like Siwan, Gopalganj, Vaishali, Saran, and Samastipur, creating 4,000 jobs.

Strategic Infrastructure: Another Rs 1,000 crore will be invested in developing strategic infrastructure such as Gati Shakti Railway Terminals, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), and Industrial Warehousing Parks.

Overall, this investment is to create 53,500 direct and indirect jobs and significantly boost Bihar's infrastructure and economy.

L&T Gets LNTP Contract from NTPC for Setting Up Thermal Power Plants in MP & Bihar

L&T Energy CarbonLite Solutions, a business vertical of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has recently received a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) from NTPC Ltd for setting up thermal power plants in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

The orders pertain to main plant packages of 2x800 MW Stage-II thermal power plant at Gadarwara in Madhya Pradesh and 3x800 MW Stage-II thermal power plant at Nabinagar in Bihar.

The scope of work involves design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection and commissioning of boilers, turbines, electrostatic precipitators (ESP), auxiliaries, along with the related mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and civil works.

The orders pertain to main plant packages for a 2×800 MW Stage-ll thermal power plant at Gadarwara in Madhya Pradesh and a 3x800 MW Stage-ll thermal power plant at Nabinagar in Bihar. 

The scope includes design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection, and commissioning of boilers, turbines, electrostatic precipitators (ESP), auxiliaries, along with related mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and civil works.

The value of the order is estimated to be more than Rs 1, 500 crore.

L&T aims to deliver these projects with exceptional outcomes, meeting their high standards of execution within a strict timeline.

HCLTech Launches Global Delivery Center in Patna Center

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, today announced the launch of its global delivery center in Patna. The center will focus on delivery of IT and engineering services for Hi-Tech and Semiconductor companies.

The center was inaugurated by Shri Nitish Mishra, Hon’ble Minister of Industries, Govt. of Bihar and Shri Santosh Kumar Suman, Hon’ble Minister of Information Technology, Govt. of Bihar. Also present on the occasion were Shri Sandeep Poundrik, Additional Chief Secretary, Dept. of Industries, Govt. of Bihar; Shri Abhay Kumar Singh, Secretary, Dept. of Information Technology; Prateek Aggarwal, Chief Financial Officer, HCLTech and Rahul Singh, COO-Corporate Functions, HCLTech.

This is HCLTech’s first center in the state of Bihar. Going forward, the center will also house specialized labs and centers of excellence to boost HCLTech’s technology innovation engine and will offer a wide range of services to global clients.

Inauguration ceremony at HCLTech’s global delivery center in Patna

HCLTech’s new global delivery center in Patna

The new global delivery center is in line with HCLTech’s strategy of accessing quality talent through expansion to new locations in India under its New Vistas program. Located inside the Udyog Bhawan Complex in Patna, the center will offer modern workspaces to employees along with training and growth opportunities across HCLTech’s global network. This will also contribute to the development of the local technology ecosystem and talent pool in the state.

“I am happy that HCL Tech is launching a new office in Patna. This will bring positive changes in the Information Technology (IT) sector of Bihar, increase employment opportunities and other IT companies will also be inspired to invest in Bihar,” said Mr. Nitish Mishra, Minister of Department of Industries & Department of Tourism Govt of Bihar.

“We are delighted to launch our latest global delivery center in Patna. Bihar has immense potential in terms of availability of quality talent and the center will contribute to HCLTech’s objective of being the preferred digital transformation partner to global enterprises,” said Prateek Aggarwal, Chief Financial Officer, HCLTech. “The center will also contribute to the development of the local technology ecosystem and bring opportunities for local youth,” he added.

L&T Wins Order to Build 185MW Solar Combined with 254 MW Energy-Storage Plant in in Lakshisarai District, Bihar

The Power Transmission & Distribution (PT&D) vertical of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has won a domestic order to build a grid-connected 185MW Solar PV Plant along with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) having multitudes of MWh capacity.

The Solar PV plant at Kajra in Lakshisarai district will be a key element in Bihar’s plans to harness renewable energy for sustainable energy solutions towards combating climate change and meeting demand growth.

According to the company’s classification of projects, the value of the order is between 1,000 to 2,500 crore INR.

The BESS, with a capacity of 254MWh will enable storing solar energy during low-demand period and discharging when the demand peaks. In addition, the BESS will also help smoothening the fluctuations in generation, frequency regulation and voltage support. It comes with black start capability to the grid which will facilitate quick re-energisation after an outage.

Commenting on the order win, Mr A Ravindran, Sr Vice President & Head of Renewable Strategic Business Group, PT&D, said: “This is a welcome addition to our Renewable EPC portfolio of 18 GWp (Gigawatt Peak) cumulative capacity, comprising solar and wind generation projects already commissioned and in the making. On the Battery Energy Storage System front, we handle more than 1.5 GWh of storage capacity. This rich experience has made us the EPC partner of choice for developers globally”.

Mr T Madhava Das, Whole-time Director & Sr Executive Vice President (Utilities) - Larsen & Toubro, complemented saying: “Our expertise in providing renewable energy solutions encompasses a vast array of technologies involved in ground-mounted and floating solar generation, grid scale and distributed energy storage systems, efficient transmission and distribution networks and allied digital energy solutions. Our footprint in facilitating clean energy extends to multiple geographies including India, Middle East and the Far East, enabling our customers to develop GW-scale projects economically with safety, quality and timely delivery”

Bihar Govt Opens Applications Under Startups Scheme from Today

Bihar can be a great destination, if you are building a new startup. According to the Principal Secretary of Industries Department, Sandeep Poundrick, the new startup policy of the state government takes care that the startup's approval and seed fund is given faster. 31 new startups were provided an initial seed fund of Rs 1.8 crore by the Department of Industries last week.

Several facilities are being provided on behalf of Bihar Startup Fund, including assistance in obtaining hand holding and venture capital from Seed Capital.

Mr. Sandeep Poundrik said that under the Bihar startup policy there is a provision for subsidy up to Rs 3 lakh for acceleration program. A success fee of 2 percent is also being paid when Angel Investors invest. If investment is received from SEBI Registered Angel, a matching loan has also been provided from Bihar Startup Fund.

The working facility center and coworking space have been arranged for startups at Patna's Maurya Complex and Fraser Road BSFC Building which will be allocated from January 1, 2023. This would lead to office arrangements for startups at a lower cost to start the startup.

A Startup Support Unit (SSU) under Department of Industries shall be created for effective implementation of this Policy. SSU shall be responsible for creating a conducive policy environment for sustained growth of Start-up ecosystem in the state.

Under the Bihar startup policy, the application has to be made through an online portal medium, which will be opened from December 1 and one month time will be given. To guide and give technical support the youth in relation to startups, the Department of Industries has created a Zero Lab Incubation Center which operates in the udyog bhavan, Patna, in collaboration with IIT Patna.

Apply from here - https://startup.indbih.com/

The portal will remain open till 5 PM December 31.

Bihar-based Online Meat Delivery Brand Freshsharp Raises $125K in Seed Fund from Ok Acquired, Others

Majaz Hassan, CEO & founder, Freshsharp

Current Round Funds take Valuation at USD 1 Million

Freshsharp, a Patna, Bihar-based start-up that sells fresh meat, seafood and other fresh animal protein online has raised seed fund of $125k through equity from lead investor Ok Acquired (lending partners by a corporate lending financial services company), and angel Investor Syed Akbar Raza Ahmed & Hussain Ahmad.

With this new round of seed funding the current valuation of Freshsharp now stands at $1 million. The brand aims to utilize the fresh funds for financial and technological assistance to elevate their businesses and enhance growth.

Founded by 22 year old founder in December 2020 Freshsharp Private Limited strengthens the traditional businesses and started expanding in 2022 in Bihar and West Bengal. Currently, Majaz Hassan is pursuing his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Engineering & Management, Kolkata.

On securing the fund, Majaz Hassan, CEO & founder, said, “Freshsharp constantly strives to enable the best of its services through Supply chain, technology, and services for the betterment of farmer communities, and traditional businesses. We will use the funds raised to strengthen our ecosystem to meet the necessities of small and traditional vendors, dealers/distributors, farmer communities, processors and retailers. This will further boost disbursements, given the various opportunities that we have at present. We are very humble and thankful to our investors for their trust and are grateful to them for their unstinting backing during our growth phase.”

(L-R) Majaz Hassan, CEO & founder, Freshsharp and Shubham bhagat Business development manager

 
Majaz Added, We are also dealing with the B2B segment, and have done numerous partnerships with restaurants, hotels, cloud kitchen, and institutions.

Commenting on the investment, Sujit Jha, Managing Director & CEO - Ok Acquired affirmed “We are delighted to support Freshsharp in its growth journey of empowering small businesses in the meat value chain. Freshsharp plays a significant role in providing new market avenues as well as payment assurance to the suppliers in the meat ecosystem. Their platform provides strength to the local ecosystem players helping them to grow the business without affecting their margins thus creating a positive impact. We look forward to continuing our participation along their journey.”

“Due to Freshsharp’s focus on quality and strong execution, its successfully creates a habituated and loyal customer base. We believe under the leadership of Majaz, Freshsharp is best positioned to serve the fresh meat and seafood needs of India, and our aim is to leverage the farmers along with delivering the quality product to customers." Said Hussain Ahmed (Angel Investor).

“We are very excited to partner with Majaz Hassan, and the team at Freshsharp as they take their brand to national markets and continue to grow in the domestic market. Our
the investment fits very well with Freshsharp and backing solid founders in this space,” said Sayed Akbar Raza Ahmed (Angel Investor).

Freshsharp was founded by MajazHasaan in 2020. Since its launch, it claims to witnessed 200% growth and has served consumers across Darbhanga, Patna and Kolkata. The start-up has built a supply chain network across several Indian cities to be able to procure meat and seafood, keep them fresh and deliver them within hours of the order. It’s among a group of growing startups that is disrupting the meat and seafood category, an area that has largely been unorganized and underserved.

Freshsharp is backed by a strong team from supply chain to technology, which comprises Shubham Bhagat, Mohammad Amanullah and others.

Health Minister Launches e-Clinic for the First Time in Bihar

100 E-clinics to be setup across Bihar

On Saturday, Health Minister Mangal Pandey launched ZiffyHealth's E-Clinic to improve health services in the state. As per the innovative start-up's plan, they will be initially having 100 E-clinics. Following that, its number will be gradually increased over the next 18 months. With the help of E-clinics, one crore citizen's electronic health records will be collected over the next year (Health Kiosks). ZiffyHealth introduced this cutting-edge technology and innovations to Bihar.

L to R: Avinash Thakur, CEO of Atal Innovation, Dr. Ravi Kumar Singh, Director Medanta, Mangal Pandey, Health Minister of Bihar, Indra Jha, Founder & CEO, ZiffyHealth & Anubha Prasad, Founder KAREKEBA

The Health Minister said at the launch ceremony that this is an amazing initiative. Natives of Bihar are earning fame all over the world. But what makes this story unique is that after achieving fame, they want to work for the development of their motherland. Such individuals are making commendable efforts to improve Bihars healthcare system. Bihar is abode to ZiffyHealths CEO and Founders. This organisation has also set a goal of creating Electronic Health Records (EHR) for people. I was surprised to learn that doctors, thousands of kilometres away would be able to hear and see in real time the heartbeat, blood pressure, sugar level, and oxygen level of patients living in Bihar districts. People will no longer need to travel to major cities for medical treatment as a result of this. ZiffyHealth has my best wishes. We will help wherever we are needed.

Captain Indira Jha, Chief Executive Officer of ZiffyHealth and a resident of Jhanjharpur, Madhubani, welcomed all guests to the programme. He stated that he belongs to Bihar and will leave no stone unturned to improve the Healthcare situation in the state. One of his brothers died as a result of mild diarrhoea. Since then, he has wanted to do something to improve Bihars healthcare system. There is one doctor for every 28 thousand people in Bihar, compared to one doctor for every 11 thousand people nationally. Only 20% of the population is served by 80% of the doctors. With E-clinics and health kiosks, this ratio will improve. People will be able to access high-quality healthcare close to their homes.

Kasturi Jha, Yogesh Thakur (Co-founders), Dr. Ajay Kumar (Bihar President, IMA), Anand Kishor, Chairman, Smart City Patna, Balmurgan D, CEO of Jeevika, Vijay Prakash, CEO of Atal Innovation Mission, and Prof. NK Arora, AIIMS were all present at the launching ceremony.

The Start-up's aim is to leverage the technology to deliver Effective Digital Healthcare for city dwellers, as its IoT integrated solution entirely bridges the gap between online and off-line consulting. It also offers a three-way video consultation feature, which is beneficial to our younger generation who want to look after their parents who live in different cities. To aid the patient or the doctor, a third person may be introduced into the session. The stay-at-home arrangement during COVID, forced parents to be separated from their children who worked or studied in various places. With the help of ZiffyHealth, either the patients parent or guardian can tune in to the consultation and learn about their loved ones health difficulties.

The goal is to offer each person with inexpensive and reliable healthcare and deliver superior customer journey through optimizing the time and cost. Live Q-management, Voice Clinical Note, Integrated Diagnostic and Pharmacy with OPD management are few tools, which are the key differentiating features for ZiffyHealth.

The E-clinic process

Captain Indira Jha stated that there will be multiple E-clinics in each district at affiliated pharmacy shops. At the e-clinic, a health kiosk will be installed. The patient will take a seat in front of the medical kiosk. Specialist doctors sitting far away will be able to know a patients heartbeat, oxygen level, blood pressure, sugar levels, and other vital signs in real time thanks to sophisticated equipment. If the doctor believes that additional diagnostics are required, the associated laboratory will collect the patients sample and, after examination, will send the report to the doctor. The doctor will prescribe the medication based on the results of the tests, which will be made available to the pharmacy. The patient will then go to the pharmacy and purchase the medication. In this manner, the patient will receive treatment from renowned doctors close to his home.

ZiffyTech is a Big Data-Hadoop-based disruptive force healthcare start-up that has been incubated and is being accelerated at Atal Innovation Mission-Pinnacle (An offshoot of NITI Ayog). It is dedicated to making healthcare more accessible and affordable by deploying cutting-edge technology and AI-powered innovative processes.

ZiffyHealth has developed a customised, comprehensive, and secure EHR in accordance with international standards (HL-7; according to the Indian Health Ministry Gazette), which is technologically sophisticated enough to provide trend analysis and is automatically made available to doctors once an appointment is scheduled. The ZiffyHealth Platform converts all vitals and lab test results into an HL7 format Electronic Health Record. The main goal of EHR adoption is to improve treatment quality by reducing medical errors, providing an effective communication channel, sharing information among healthcare practitioners, and collecting health data for educational and research purposes.

For Healthcare Innovation, it was featured in the NITI Aayog Coffee Table magazine. This organisation has advanced to the semi-finals of the Ayushman Bharat Grand Challenge. The companys Co-founder has been named one of the top 100 finalists for the "Women Transforming Award".

Bihar's Traditional Super Food Startup Sattuz gets Funding from Indian Angel Network fund

Highlighting its commitment to driving start-up activities beyond the tier-1 and metropolitan regions in India, Indian Angel Network, the largest horizontal seed-stage platform in India, has recently invested in Sattuz. Under the aegis of Gorural Foods & Beverages, the Bihar-based brand is facilitating improved access to the goodness of foods and beverages of rural India for the global consumer base comprising new-age, health-conscious individuals. Prominent IAN investors Hari Balasubramanian and Vikas Kuthiala led the funding round and will join the company board at Sattuz post investment.

Incorporated on February 28, 2019, Gorural Foods & Beverages was founded by Sachin Kumar. Richa Kumari lends key support to the company in her role as its co-founder. The company was founded with the vision of providing a tasty and healthy alternative to carbonated and caffeinated beverages currently flooding the market. On account of the limited supply of such products and the growing health awareness, the demand for non-carbonated and non-caffeinated drinks has seen a great rise over the years the world over.

“People today – especially the younger generation – are very selective regarding what they eat and drink and how it will affect their health. Naturally, they realize the value of consuming non-carbonated and non-caffeinated beverages as part of a healthy diet,” Sachin Kumar, Founder, Sattuz commented. “But the problem is that such products have very limited availability, especially in India. And add to it the challenges faced by people with fast-paced or travel-centric lifestyles who seek healthy food on the fly. Through Sattuz, we aim to fill this void exactly. Not only do the drinks under this brand offer instant energy and nutritious boost to consumers but also give them a dollop of the natural goodness of rural food and beverages! The best part is, it comes in different flavors and requires no refrigeration.”

Non-alcoholic beverage industry currently stands at over INR 200,000 crore and Sattuz – on the back of its nutritional benefits and ease of transportation – is well-placed to disrupt this high-value market. The company is targeting to capture 1-2% of market share over the next 5 years.

Speaking on the investment, Hari Balasubramanian – Lead Investor, IAN said, “Sattu is amongst one of India’s ancient superfoods . We strongly endorse the vision of the founding team that a global FMCG brand can be created out of this ancient instant food if it is adapted for modern life styles. We are also pleased to see a decent number of innovative entrepreneurs from states like Bihar and appreciate the efforts of the Bihar Industries Association in incubating entrepreneurs from the state in partnership with Indian Angel Network . The Indian consumer is always looking for new and healthy non-alcoholic beverages with distinct taste and Sattuz comes as a unique option for beverage lovers not just domestically but also across the world. We hope state governments like Bihar where people consume Sattu also start recognising and supporting startups which are looking to build FMCG brands from traditional Indian food items. We have complete faith in the disruptive potential of this venture and are looking forward to an exciting journey ahead.

“We are thankful to IAN for recognizing the value of our venture. We will leverage the capital infusion to scale up our production, strengthen our team, and expand our commercial footprint,” Sachin added.

In addition to pioneering the burgeoning rural entrepreneurial landscape in the country, Gorural Foods & Beverages is also the first start-up from Bihar which has received investment from from IAN and some members of BIA (Bihar Industries Association). This investment furthers IAN’s commitment towards facilitating a commercial pathway to entrepreneurs from tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India which falls in line with its overarching goal of enabling the Indian start-up ecosystem.

Indian Angel Network, a pioneer in the seed and early-stage investing, has launched a ₹450 Crores VC fund making it now, the single largest platform for seed & early stage, where entrepreneurs can raise from Rs. 25 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores (with co-investors), thus making IAN the platform of choice!

BIADA To Offer Co-Working Space For Startups In Bihar

The Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) will provide common office space or say co-working space to startup firms at Pataliputra Industrial Estate and Udyog Bhawan in Patna.

The land was being identified at Pataliputra estate for the purpose on which co-working space will be developed and will also have provide high-speed internet services and other facilities to startups for research and other related functions.

Besides this, 600sqft of space on the ground floor of Udyog Bhawan, Patna has also been identified, which will be developed as an entrepreneurship lab.

Speaking at a review meeting on incubation centres and startups at Udyog Bhawan on Friday, BIADA's managing director R S Srivastava said, "Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna has developed a short-term course on entrepreneurship, which will be taught to budding entrepreneurs. The State-Level Bankers Committee has also been requested to help startups secure loans from banks."

The development was first reported in TOI.

Last year Bihar had already approved its Start Up Policy to support industries and young entrepreneurs in the state. Later in the same year, it received 30 startup proposals and also launched a website -- BiharStartupYatra.com -- for inviting people interested in setting up ventures with government support in the state.

Notably, in a states' ranking for ease of doing business released by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Govt of India, in June 2016 Bihar acquired the first position.

Bihar To Come Up With New IT Policy

The current scenario is all about technology, digitization, the internet etc. And in such scenario, how can state like Bihar can lack behind. According to the ETtech report, Bihar is planning to come up with a new IT policy. This new policy will focus on promoting technology-oriented companies to set up a base and invest in the state’s technology and electronics manufacturing sector.

According to Rahul Singh, Bihar’s IT secretary the policy will have more benefits than the current sops offered to companies and will make the investment environment more conducive.

Work on the new policy has been going on for the past couple of months and the draft should be ready by the end of this month and that the policy is expected to be finalised by September.

Singh further stated that Bihar government is working on the draft of the information technology, IT-enabled services (ITeS) and electronics manufacturing investment policy strategy. He informed further that Bihar is undertaking a huge outreach effort to familiarise itself and the companies about the state’s potential.

“We are trying to understand what the industry is looking for in terms of help with incentives, clearances or support,” Singh told ETtech.

Recently at a consultation organised by the state’s IT department in association with industry body CII, Singh met around 35 senior industry members including senior executives from companies such as TCS, IBM, Cisco, HP India, Tech Mahindra, Softage, Tejas Networks etc.

Bihar Govt. Approves Start-up Policy For Entrepreneurs

In a move to promote entrepreneurship in the state, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave approval to the Start Up Policy, 2016 at a cabinet meeting. The Start Up Policy will support industries and young entrepreneurs in the state mainly. It will also encourage startups to start new ventures. Before this, Chief Minister had promised a dedicated policy for the entrepreneurs at the Bihar Entrepreneurship Summit in March 2015.

Industries Department Principal Secretary S Siddhartha shared that the startup policy would cater to the needs of emerging entrepreneurs and makes Bihar a promising destination for startup in India. Industries which are having a turnover of less than Rs 25 crore and not more than 5 years old would be eligible to avail the benefits of this policy. The Start Up venture capital of Rs 5,000 crore formed part of the CM’s ‘seven resolves’, which the grand secular alliance government has adopted as policy of governance for the next five years. In addition, 22% of the Rs 5, 000 crore venture funds under the policy has been reserved for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) entrepreneurs.

To implement this policy successfully, an independent trust would be formed. The trust members will work to find out whether a particular company fits to avail the fund facility under this policy or not. The trust would also provide necessary guidance to the entrepreneurs. As of now, Development Commissioner would be the Chairman and Industries Department Principal Secretary the Member Secretary of the trust.

Moreover, the state government would also provide resources like working space, internet facility and many other things to startups for free for three years. The government would also provide grant-in-aid up to Rs 10 lakh in the beginning, depending on the concept and market value of the startup. Apart from this, 2% cost incurred by the startup on formulating and promoting the new concept, would also be borne by the government. The government would also provide 2% of the total cost incurred during fund-raising. If an entrepreneur manages to raise funds from other sources, the government would provide equal amount to the entrepreneur.

Earlier this month, Karnataka approved new startup policy with an aim to nurture 26,000 startups in the state. Jharkhand and its adjoining state of UP had already came up with their respective startup policy, in April this year.

In total, their are about 7 states with their own startup policies.

[Top Image - Shutterstock]

Ease of doing business: Bihar beats Gujarat to top chart in DIPP's real-time ranking

While Bihar might be facing some heat currently due to the faux-pas its education system has recently created, but here's some news which can surely cheer up the state.

A recently released ranking by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), has Nitish Kumar-led Bihar taking the lead over all the states and union territories in the country when it comes to steps taken to improve the ease of doing business on their land.

The ranking which saw Bihar emerge at the top, was carried out on real-time basis by the DIPP on business reforms and action plans.

While Bihar acquired the first position, it was followed by Telangana for second, Jharkhand for third and Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka for fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

According to industry experts, these rankings are dynamic in nature and might change time to time based on the various business focused initiatives the state and union territories initiate.

In what could be considered as a very encouraging news for the Eastern state, Bihar had finished at a disappointing 21st position in the final rankings of last year, but it certainly bounced back this year by finishing first with a score of 8.53%.

Commenting on the dynamic nature of the rankings, the DIPP said, it is currently in the midst of uploading and validating reforms by states, hence, and the "results and rankings displayed on this are highly dynamic".

In order to provide for a friendly but competitive business environment in the country, the now 2 years old Modi government had come up with an idea to start ranking the states on the basis of their business-friendly initiatives.

The World Bank had recently ranked Gujarat on the top among states, on the ease of doing business index but, quite surprisingly, the state has acquired a mediocre sixth position on the list calculated on real-time basis.

The commerce and industry ministry is reviewing the states on real time basis this year, making the rankings dynamic. Further, as against 91 last year, the evaluation is being carried on 340 parameters this year.

The 15 of this month i.e. June 15 is the deadline set for the States and union territories to upload the status of all their completed reforms. After that is done, the DIPP along with the help from the World Bank will release the final rankings.

According to a tweet by DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek, "States are in process of uploading ease of doing biz reforms done by them on DIPP portal. Ranking to happen only in July after validation".

As of now, only 16 states have locked in their details about reform measures initiated by them on the DIPP-managed portal.