Nivruti Rai, Former Intel India Country Head, Joins Invest India As MD & CEO

Ministry of Commerce & Industry today announced that Ms. Nivruti Rai joined as the Managing Director & CEO of Invest India on July 12, 2023. Nivruti Rai is also the recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar on International Women's Day 2022 in recognition of her exceptional contribution to women's empowerment.

Nivruti has taken over the charge from Ms. Manmeet K Nanda, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) who had assumed this additional charge of MD & CEO ad-interim in March 2023.

Ms. Nivruti Rai joins Invest India after an illustrious 29 years at Intel as a global business and technology leader. She led Intel India as Country Head for the past seven years driving growth and investment of Intel in India. During her tenure at Intel India, she contributed significantly towards indigenous technology development, start-up ecosystem, electronics manufacturing ecosystem and policy formulation especially in the areas of critical and emerging technologies. She has been part of the leadership team in various industrial bodies and government committees and brings a wealth of experience in working closely with industry associations, business leaders and government leaders.

Created under the vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for a New India, Invest India today is well acknowledged by stakeholders for its tangible contributions and instrumental role in executing the Government’s flagship initiatives including Make in India, Startup India, National Single Window System, Project Monitoring Group, and Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council. Invest India leverages private sector expertise to execute Government’s vision, embodying high levels of transparency, ethics and corporate governance.

The Board of Invest India is chaired by Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT. Other members of the Board include Shri P. K. Tripathi, Secretary (Coordination), Cabinet Secretariat; Ms. Arti Bhatnagar, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, DPIIT; Shri Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; Shri Anand Mahindra, Chairperson, Mahindra Group; Shri Pankaj R. Patel, Chairperson, Cadilla Healthcare; Shri Harshvardhan Neotia, Chairperson, Ambuja Neotia Group; Ms. Rekha M. Menon, Chairperson & Senior MD, Accenture; Ms. Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM; and Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII.

Shiprocket Partners with Invest India to Build D2C 2.0 - The Next Generation of D2C Brands

Rocketfuel D2C Accelerator X Startup India Initiative at Invest India invites new-age D2C startups across the country to apply for a 3-month program

A cohort of 10 breakout startups will receive cash grants, shipping credits and an opportunity to get investments from Shiprocket and its fund partners

Startup India Initiative at Invest India, the guiding vision maker for India’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, has partnered with Shiprocket, India’s latest unicorn and leading eCommerce enabler to build D2C 2.0 together, backing the next generation of consumer products built by founders from across the country. The program will help accelerate D2C and eCommerce startups who have delivered early success and on-ground impact with products built by Bharat, for Bharat.

D2C startups can apply for the Rocketfuel D2C Accelerator hosted exclusively on the Startup India portal. Shiprocket will be offering INR 1 Lakh in cash grants to each of the shortlisted startups, in addition to the INR 50,000 provided in shipping credits on an immediate basis and provide an opportunity to get investments upto INR 50 Lakhs from Shiprocket and its fund partners.

During the 3-month accelerator program, Shiprocket will support the D2C startups with top-tier privileges for logistics and eCommerce services, providing shipping credits that can be used on its platform. Additionally, startups will gain access to D2C Verse, a pan-India D2C community of key startups and investors and receive one-on-one mentorship from the leading minds of the industry. The shortlisted startups will also benefit immensely from Startup India’s guidance and pan-India reach.

Speaking on this, Saahil Goel, Co-Founder and CEO of Shiprocket said “Startup India is one of the largest platforms for startups and entrepreneurs in India. With their support, Shiprocket can further propel the growth of early-stage D2C and eCommerce startups across the length and breadth of all emerging markets in India. Our aim is to create a support system that caters to not just the monetary requirements of companies but one that encompasses all aspects of the business. This collaboration with Startup India is one step towards achieving that goal.”

Mr. Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India, said: “The excellence of Indian ingenuity has been at the forefront who are developing impactful frugal solutions as India’s strength. As we move towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat, envisioned by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, it becomes imperative to ensure that India builds on these strengths and this challenge will help D2C founders to distribute their impactful products in more and more households across the country.”

Applications for the program are open till 15th September 2022, and the results will be declared on 28th September 2022.

Apply Here —» https://www.shiprocket.in/rocketfuel/

About Invest India

The most awarded investment promotion agency in the world, Invest India is the advisor, guide, and facilitator to every investor looking to make a home in India. We are the first point of contact for global companies whom we handhold from the day they start exploring India and at every step of the way throughout their journey in the world's most liberal investment destination.

About Shiprocket

Shiprocket is India’s largest eCommerce enablement platform providing digital retailers an end-to-end customer experience platform. The platform creating an operating system for direct commerce enables shipping, fulfilment, customer communication and marketing tools as well as providers for SMEs, D2C retailers, and social commerce retailers in India. With 17+ courier partners on board, the brand permits pan-India as well as international shipping deliveries. Its shipping solutions are available across 24,000+ pin codes within India and 220 countries worldwide.

Launched in 2017, Shiprocket is on a mission to create a seamless logistics data platform that connects retailers, carriers, and consumers across national and international locations. Shiprocket provides a technology stack to help retailers integrate their shopping websites on Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Zoho, and others with the platform’s multi-carrier API to manage orders, prints, and shipping labels. It also avails tracking information from multiple providers, including managing Cash on Delivery (COD) orders and payment reconciliation. Shiprocket also offers state-of-the-art fulfilment solutions with more than 45 warehouses located across India. The technology stack provides a robust post-purchase experience to consumers resulting in higher engagement and lower RTO (failed deliveries).

Today, Shiprocket is the platform behind more than 2.5L sellers who generate a GMV of more than $2.5B annually. The platform delivers packets to more than 70M consumers annually and is growing transactions 2.5-3X year on year.

Harvard Comes to India; Partners With Invest India, Dalberg, and Others for Impact Challenge

• Globally renowned Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) to be held at IIIT Delhi from Aug 20th to 24th.
• India won the bid to host the conference competing with teams from South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong, among other Asian countries
• The 5-day academic program will see young leaders participating in a series of immersive challenges and get an opportunity to interact and engage with global leaders
• The theme of the conference is ‘Finding our Future’
• Notable speakers include - Geoff Ralston, Partner & President at Y Combinator, Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED, Deepak Bagla, CEO & MD at Invest India, Aditya Ghosh, Co-Founder, Akasa Air, Former President & Director IndiGo Airlines, and Mina Hsiang, USDS Administrator, among others.

The Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR), a Harvard University-based student organization, has announced the dates and venue for its 2022 Asia Conference to be held from 20th-24th Aug at IIIT Delhi, India. HPAIR organizes two conferences annually — Harvard Conference (HCONF) and Asia Conference (ACONF).

The theme for this year’s ACONF is “Finding our Future”, alluding to HPAIR’s 30th anniversary and our constant need to rethink the way in which we tackle the issues society faces. The conference is packed with open dialogues around a wide range of subjects which include the evolving startup ecosystem, data security, sustainability, and content creation, among others.

The HPAIR Asia Conference comprises impact challenges, executive speaker sessions, panels, and fireside chats, among other events, to provide other avenues of growth to students and young professionals. Impact challenges serve as an apex of HPAIR’s academic programming with True Beacon, Invest India, Schwarzman Scholars, Dalberg, Council on Energy, Environment and Water, Mythos Lab, and Samagra being brought in for ACONF 2022 as some of the official partners. These challenges drive teams of delegates to collaboratively solve problems proposed by the partners. Past Impact Challenges have been run in collaboration with UNHCR, the World Bank, Tencent, McKinsey & Co, and others.

The conference will host young professionals and students from around the world joining the organizing team in Delhi to learn from speakers including Geoff Ralston, Partner & President at Y Combinator, Mina Hsiang, USDS Administrator, Aditya Ghosh, Co-Founder, Akasa Air, Former President & Director IndiGo Airlines, Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED, Deepak Bagla, CEO & MD at Invest India, Michael Horvath, Founder and CEO of Strava, Rajiv Memani, Chairman of EY India, Lesly Goh, Senior Technology Advisor and Former CTO of the World Bank, Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, Masoom Minawala, Global Fashion Influencer and Entrepreneur, Manish Malhotra, Acclaimed Fashion and Bollywood Costume Designer, and Syed Saddiq, youngest Member of the Malaysian Parliament, among others.

Speaking on the conference agenda, Yoel Hawa, President, Harvard Organizing Committee, says, “We are beyond thrilled to be hosting our first in-person Asia Conference since 2019, and in New Delhi for the first time in our 30-year history. As we strive to impact as many young leaders as we can, HPAIR searches for host cities that are uniquely positioned to provide a great setting for both delegates and speakers. New Delhi has proven to be a dynamic and diverse environment in which leaders in all areas can flourish.” We look forward to the incredible mix that our scholars, delegates, speakers, and staff will create with Delhi’s natural academic, professional, and educational ecosystem,” adds Joaquín Cortacáns Sosa, President, Harvard Organizing Committee.

Apart from its academic events, HPAIR will host an international and a desi night, allowing attendees to submerge themselves in other cultures as they mingle with fellow delegates, speakers, and staff.

“Attending HCONF 2021 as delegates is when we realized a clear need for such high-impact platforms to be brought to India. It was a year-long journey of planning, building a team, and competing against numerous teams that we had found out we were bringing HPAIR to New Delhi in 2022,” shares Soham Roy, President, Host country committee. “Our aim with HPAIR is to give a voice and platform to the leaders of tomorrow - today. We know future problems can’t be solved linearly, so we need our next-gen leaders to solve problems in a multidimensional way and that’s how we’ve structured this year’s conference as well,” adds Yogesh Chadha, President, Host country committee.

More than 3000 participants have applied to attend. The conference will be conducted in a hybrid format where the event will unfold over 5 days in a physical format. However, keeping in mind accessibility issues and how complex traveling has become, attending virtually is also an option.

About HPAIR

HPAIR is a premier summit for the world’s next generation of leaders. Founded in 1991, HPAIR is a global youth conference that has organized 49 conferences in 34 different host countries worldwide, touching the lives of more than 40,000 students and young professionals. Past notable speakers include - Justin Kan, Co-founder Twitch & Former Partner at Y Combinator, Sharon Thorne, Deloitte Global Board Chair, N.R. Narayana Murthy, CEO & Founder of Infosys, Ambassador Kathrine Tai, Cabinet member: Biden Administration, Ban-Ki- Moon, Secretary-General of UN), Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia, Adam D’Angelo, CEO and Co-Founder Quora and Former CTO Facebook, Aparna Bawa, COO Zoom, and Kevin Sneader, CEO & Global Managing partner Mckinsey & Co.

Esri India Partners with AGNIi (Invest India) to Roll-out 'GeoInnovation'

Esri India, country's leading Geographic Information System (GIS) software and solutions provider, today announced GeoInnovation 2022 - an acceleration platform for startupreneurs, in partnership with AGNIi (Invest India). GeoInnovation program aims to help start-ups leverage Location Intelligence technology to build new businesses.

As per Geospatial "Artha" Report, India's geospatial economy has the potential to grow to Rs. 63,100 crore by 2025 with a CAGR of 12.8%. GIS ecosystem in India has been growing steadily over the past few years. In addition, recent government policies like liberalization of geospatial data & new drone policy have laid the foundation of new Geo-enabled era, which is opening a huge opportunity for start-ups.

GeoInnovation 2022 would be divided into three phases

• Phase 1 - Applications Phase (ending on 25^th Jan 2022)
• Phase 2 - Technical guidance and business focused mentorship from Esri India, AGNIi and Funding companies (Feb - March 2022)
• Phase 3 - Business pitch (April 2022)

On the occasion, Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, said, "Now is the right time to make bold transformations, aided by GIS technology & data, start-ups can aim to develop solutions that solve critical problems. With this partnership with AGNii, we want to make Location Intelligence Technology available to every start-up in India and pave way for its large-scale adoption. This program will enable brightest talents in start-up community of India to build specialized businesses leveraging the power of Mapping and Location Intelligence."

The start-ups working across sectors including agriculture, healthcare, security, smart cities, water management, utilities, retail, BFSI, among others, would be able to benefit from this program.

Rahul Nayar - Head, AGNIi Mission, said, "AGNIi is excited to partner with Esri on the GeoInnovation 2022. This unique program will ensure that the Startups who are looking to create their own IP can add location intelligence and Geo-Enable their offering. The Government's liberalization of geospatial data regulatory frameworks will fire up India's innovation ecosystem - democratizing Indian innovators' access to this crucial data asset. Via the GeoInnovation 2022 program, the AGNIi Mission will partner with Indian geospatial technology start-ups, enterprise, and researchers, to explore how our innovators can transform enterprise, economy, and governance."

With the 3rd largest Start-up ecosystem in world and more than 50 unicorns created in 2021 alone, India is certainly on its way to become the Start-up superpower of the world. Within this ecosystem, the technology led Start-ups have doubled to about 9000+ Start-ups and 1600 new tech Start-ups emerged in 2021.

Girish Shivani, Executive Director and Fund Manager, YourNest, said, "As we enter 2022, followed by a benchmark year for Indian start-ups, we are extremely excited to be part of GeoInnovation. The GIS market is driven by the adoption of cloud, AI/ML, AR & VR as well as other emerging technologies, and this is exactly what our focus has been at YourNest."

Esri India actively works with start-ups to provide them with an early-stage technology support. DronaMaps, Saartha Labs, Genesis Ray and iSpatial Techno Solutions are some of the successful start-ups that participated in earlier GeoInnovation Programs.

About Esri India

Esri India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Esri India) is an end-to-end Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions provider, enabling customers to think and plan geographically to make timely, well-informed, and mission-critical decisions. Esri ArcGIS System provides the backbone for the country's mapping, spatial analysis, and all GIS requirements. A market leader in GIS Technologies, Esri India has successfully delivered cutting-edge GIS solutions to more than 5000 customers for applications in Land management, Water, Utilities, Infrastructure, Disaster Management, Telecommunications, Urban Development, Smart Cities, Transportation, Defence, and Natural resources. Established in 1996, Esri India is headquartered in Noida (Delhi-NCR), with multiple regional offices across India. The company has been recognized amongst India's best companies to work for in 2021 by the Great Place to Work️ Institute.

For more information, please visit: www.esri.in.

About AGNIi

The AGNIi Mission is a flagship initiative under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and is one of the nine Missions under the Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). AGNIi is executed at Invest India, Indias National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency. The Mission catalyzes the commercialization of Indian emerging technologies by helping private, public, and non-profit sector organizations upgrade capability and competitiveness with Indian start-up, labs and public R&D innovation.

For more information, please visit: www.agnii.gov.in.

About Invest India

Invest India, set up in 2009, is a non-profit venture under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

As the national investment promotion and facilitation agency, Invest India focuses on sector-specific investor targeting and development of new partnerships to enable sustainable investments in India. In addition to a core team that focuses on sustainable investments, Invest India also partners with substantial investment promotion agencies and multilateral organisations. Invest India also actively works with several Indian states to build capacity as well as bring in global best practices in investment targeting, promotion and facilitation areas.

For more information, please visit: www.investindia.gov.in.

Microsoft and Invest India Collaborates, Cohort of 11 Tech Startups Join "Microsoft for Startups" Program

Microsoft collaborates with Invest India to empower tech startups

Cohort of 11 tech startups join Microsoft for Startups program

Bengaluru, India, 24 August 2021: Microsoft India today announced its collaboration with Invest India, Government of India’s national investment promotion and facilitation agency, to support tech startups in the country. As part of this collaboration, the Microsoft for Startups program will work closely with Accelerating Growth of New India's Innovations (AGNIi Mission), a program of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and a Mission under the Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) that convenes India's finest technologies with their potential adopters. Housed and executed by Invest India, AGNIi Mission helps startups become enterprise ready. With support from AGNIi Mission, Microsoft has onboarded 11 startups into the Microsoft for Startups program. These startups span various industries such as agriculture, defense & security, IT/ITeS, e-mobility, waste management and financial services.

Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India, said -

Fostering strong ties with the top enterprises in the world to nurture Indian innovation is one of the most important contributions of AGNIi in ensuring India’s continued strength in the global economy. I congratulate the AGNIi Mission for playing a pivotal role in transforming India’s innovation landscape in these unprecedented times of global change.

The startups selected to be a part of the Microsoft for Startups program will gain access to a plethora of benefits, including Azure credits, as well as support for technology and business acceleration, focused on scaling their growth. Startups will be able to utilize Microsoft technology including Azure, GitHub, and M365, allowing them to quickly build and run their businesses. 

The selected startups will also get personalized technical sessions, content, and mentorship. Moreover, they will be able to leverage Microsoft’s Azure Marketplace, enterprise sales team, and the rapidly growing partner ecosystem to develop and execute their go-to-market strategies.

Emily Rich, Director of Startups - APAC, Microsoft, said -

The collaboration between Microsoft and Invest India affirms our commitment to the startup ecosystem in the country. Combining the reach of Invest India’s AGNIi Mission with the tech and business resources of Microsoft for Startups, this is an exciting opportunity for startups to accelerate their aspirations for enterprise readiness.

The startups shortlisted by Microsoft for Startups for the current cohort include:

1. Amplearth Packaging & Systems: Enables latest innovations to help manufacture and manage large-scale sustainable and reusable FMCG packaging.
2. Arishti CyberTech: Enables security and flexibility within enterprise communications, enabling businesses to share sensitive data smoothly.
3. Daybest Research: Provides smart agricultural intelligence and technology to farmers in India and government institutions.
4. Go Buzzr (Dev BeeTech): An agritech startup offering an IOT Based Smart Beehive Monitoring System that studies the condition of a beehives and communicate through the mobile application.
5. Prkruti (Jal Technologies): Provides businesses with an efficient outcome with their wide array of application services including Business Analysis & Documentation, B2B Technology, Software Solutions, E-commerce, Mobile Apps Design, Web-hosting & Website Development and Enterprise Application Integration.
6. Sandbird Research & Development: Provider of a smart electric tiller with which the farmers can sit remotely and operate the vehicle with remote control technologies without any need of a driver.
7. Vasudhaika Software (Kalgudi Digital): Provider of a convergence platform for businesses across agriculture & rural livelihoods by providing a holistic approach that benefits the organizations.
8. Vecmocon Technologies: Contributes to sustainable requirements of society through technology solutions such as smart battery pack, EV cluster, fleet management, operations motor and motor control.
9. Whrrl Fintech Solutions: Empowers farmers, traders and producer companies on blockchain platform in raising working capital to tide over lengthy crop cycles
10. YCLEPT 4E Labs: Provides clean energy, connectivity & local information on the go using eco-friendly smart solutions. It runs on clean energy and can be operated through cloud technology.
11. Yuktix Gidabits: Provides innovations around accurate farm monitoring, solar computing, wireless sensors, IoT for agriculture, harvest quality monitoring and farm risk and health management.

To find out more about Microsoft for Startups, please visit https://startups.microsoft.com/

About Invest India

The most awarded investment promotion agency in the world, Invest India is the advisor, guide, and facilitator to every investor looking to make a home in India. Invest India is the first point of contact for global companies which are handheld from the day they start exploring India as an investment destination and at every step of the way throughout their journey in the world's most liberal investment destination. 

From supporting India's expanding start-up ecosystem to harnessing the power of innovation from India's laboratories and bringing them to the market or identifying, developing, and deploying technologies on-ground, Invest India's work covers the entire gamut of India's transformational business sector. Team, comprised of over 200 of the finest, most talented business professionals handpicked from India's and indeed the world's best universities and companies serve as investors' pro bono guide to developing the best India strategy.

About Microsoft India

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 16,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research, development and customer services and support, across 11 Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. Microsoft offers its global cloud services from local data centers to accelerate digital transformation across Indian startups, businesses, and government organization.

One of the World’s 1st Free-of-Cost Course on "Enterprise Risk Management for Startups" Launched By IRM India in Partnership with Invest India

• Registrations for the self-paced ERM course starts on 26th January 2021
• Consists of 6 modules delivered by an IRM international trainer and IRM India coach

Mumbai, 25th January 2021: India Affiliate of Institute of Risk Management, UK, the world leader in professional Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) qualifications across 143 countries, has partnered with Invest India, to launch a free course on “Enterprise Risk Management for Startups”, especially designed to help founders and other stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem identify and manage enterprise-wide risks including supply chain risks, cybersecurity risks, reputation risks, financial risks, and many more. Registration for the free course will open for Indian entrepreneurs from 26th January 2021.

Discussing the launch of the course, Hersh Shah, CEO, India Affiliate of Institute of Risk Management, UK said, “We are thrilled to introduce the world’s first free ERM course for startups, in collaboration with Invest India, as part of our mission to facilitate the development of a crisis-ready entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. We are also honoured by this association which recognizes IRM India as a thought leader in enterprise risk management.

Risks are an inevitable yet integral part of entrepreneurship and a structured approach to managing these risks is often ignored in the early stages of business. While none of these risks can be eliminated, entrepreneurs must learn how to manage uncertainties across departments to protect the objectives and enhance the growth of their business. With increasing business failures and external complexities, it is imperative that startups prepare for disruptions in the future so that they can successfully navigate crises like the Covid-19."

"Invest India has been working towards strengthening the startup ecosystem, and with the help of corporate partners, we are making our startups enterprise-ready. Frugal innovations, which form the core of the Indian startup ecosystem, provide a plethora of solutions to combat the socio-economic issues in the country and across the globe. Invest India is committed to ensuring new-age innovations drive growth, prosperity & development in New India.”, said Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India.

Enterprise Risk Management for Startups consist of 6 modules that have been curated by two of IRM’s senior experts. The course will familiarise participants with the essentials of 360-degree risk management, and teach them how to identify and respond to uncertainties and threats across the value chain. In the wake of the pandemic, even private equity funds and angel investors have started evaluating startups based on their ability to manage risks and crises.

Course Outline:

• Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management
• Start-ups and Risk Management 
• What is Risk? 
• Covid-19 Case 
• Risk Management Process 
• How Can Start-ups Implement Risk Management? 

Interested participants can check their eligibility and register for the course at https://www.theirmindia.org/startup-risk-management

6 Industry Sectors to Invest In India

Economies around the world have been hit hard by the novel Coronavirus, and India was no exception. Most businesses have felt the effects of the lockdown and are struggling to stay afloat. However, some businesses used the opportunity to grow their online presence by improving their digital platforms such as the well-established Lucky Nugget online casino which proved to be a major attraction during this social distancing era.

If you are interested in investing in India, some sectors would be ideal at the moment. Here, you will learn about the top industry sectors you can invest in India.

Banking

You must be thinking this is an insane idea. Not really. Studies on the Indian economy have revealed that the Banking sector in India has defied the odds and remained bullish in 2020. As an investor, you should consider investing in private banks as opposed to public banks.

Although it is estimated that most of the credit offtake is from public banks (around 70%), private banks have a unique chance to improve their credit offtake. Furthermore, experts predict that investors can get good long-term returns from the banking sector in the coming months.

Consumer Electronics

The Indian consumer electronics market is projected to grow to almost double its current price by 2025. The market includes electronic machines like televisions, refrigerators, and air conditions. These types of appliances are still underused in the rural areas in India.

The pandemic weakened the BSE Consumer Durables index, but experts project that it will begin to rise towards the end of 2020. Therefore it would be wise to channel your investments towards this industry.

Information Technology

The Information Technology (IT) industry in India is currently undergoing a transition period. The global pandemic inspired lockdowns saw many companies restructure their operations. Some had to lay off staff while others let them work from home. The industry is expected to revamp its operations in its post-Covid strategy.

The industry has never disappointed its investors in the last ten years as its BSE index has grown thrice. The government will also play a role in the development of the sector as it invests in the Digital India Project. The sector remains a potential investment avenue for investors, but you ought to be careful before purchasing major stocks that are priced lowly.

Infrastructure

The Indian government has continued to pump a significant amount of its annual budget into infrastructural development projects. The government has focused on freight corridors, expressways, and railway lines. With huge investments from the national government, investors should look forward to getting good returns from companies handling infrastructure projects.

There is also a lot to be done in the future as India still lags behind in infrastructure. Investors can expect more investments in the next four years of the current government. You are also safe investing in companies that benefit directly and indirectly from infrastructure projects. A perfect example is the cement industry.

Automobile

In the recent past, the automobile sector in India has been on a downward trend. The decline started even before covid-19 struck. However, the future is bright, based on the government’s continued investments in infrastructure. Plus, there is a recurring trend where the industry experiences highs and lows every five years. The emergence of electric cars on the Indian market will also boost the vehicle production industry in the near future.

The Bottom Line

As a smart investor, you must have a good understanding of how different markets operate. The Coronavirus destabilized many industries in the last seven months. However, some businesses have come up with innovative ways to survive.

At some point, you should expect some form of normalcy to return. When that time comes, projections from experts suggest that the industries mentioned above will be doing better. Take your time to further study the trends and decide on a sector or two where you will put your money.

Invest India Actively Working on India Inc. Growth Strategies: Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India

According to Mr Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India- the National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Invest India is actively working with industry to put together a strategy for business revival and economic growth, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Bagla made the comments while addressing around 150 stakeholders of the Indo-Canada business corridor, during a Webinar organized by the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC), the leading industry body representing the business interests of the said corridor which is presently valued at close to $10bn.

This was the second in a series of Webinars organized by ICBC to deliberate on the various aspects arising out of the global COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

The third is slated for Wednesday, April 22 2020, on Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security during COVID-19, between 7.00 PM and 8.00 PM (IST).

Mr Sanjeev Mittal, Head of Scotia Bank in India, was also a key participant while Ms. Nadira Hamid, CEO, ICBC, moderated the hour-long session.

Responding to a question on the steps taken by Invest India during the crisis to help businesses, Mr Bagla pointed to the Business Immunity Platform created on their website even before the March 24 lockdown, which had addressed 3300 queries so far. The World Bank had also suggested the Business Immunity Platform of Invest India as a case study, he said.

Answering to queries as to what would be the benefits for Canadian companies looking to invest in India, Mr Bagla, said, “I believe in the next 24 months, Canadian exposure in India will be at least 3x or 4x of its present amount.” Emphasizing on why he thought so, he said, “Investment is based on three pillars: Business to Business, People to People and Government to Government. It’s one of those very few relationships, and this goes from both sides, where we have strength in all these three pillars. Frankly to my mind, so far we have not scratched the surface of this scenario.”

Mr Sanjeev Mittal, while commenting on the economic aspects involving ICBC and Invest India also emphasized on the importance of staying safe during the present COVID-19 situation. He said, “Everybody should stay safe and maintain social distancing. There have been advisories from all the governments and we should all ensure to adhere to the advisories and follow the guidelines.”

Speaking at the webinar, Nadira Hamid, CEO-ICBC said, “On a positive note, with every calamity comes opportunities and there will be a whole new sector and a whole new tomorrow.” Continuing on the aspect, she said, “It will be a New Normal because we’ll not be going back to the old normal and there will be a lot of opportunities in the New Normal.”

The ICBC and Invest India webinar emphasized on the fast-track mechanisms that have been put in place for ease of business and to aid in the coordination to bolster economic growth between the two countries.

The upcoming third webinar of the series on Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security during COVID-19 will be addressed by Mr Krishnanand Bhat, Chief Information Security Advisor (CISA), Nexdigm as well as Mr Vishal Vasu, Director & Chief Technology Officer, DEV IT.

JLL India, Invest India to Run Accelerator Programme for Tech Startups in Realty Space

New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) Property consultant JLL (Jones Lang Lasalle) India on Thursday said it has partnered with Invest India , a government of India's official investment promotion agency, to launch an accelerator programme for supporting those startups which are working on developing technology solutions for the real estate sector.

"JLL and Invest India, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation agency, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, jointly announced the launch of JLL IDEAs," the company said in a statement.

JLL IDEAs is a collaboration between JLL and the initiatives housed at Invest India, Accelerating Growth of New India's Innovations (AGNIi) and Startup India. This programme is real estate proptech accelerator that will promote startups working on cutting edge, disruptive technologies and solutions impacting developers, investors and occupier clients, it added.

AGNIi is the national technology commercialization programme from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the central government, while Startup India is the government's flagship initiative to boost the startup ecosystem in the country.

"It is AGNIi's constant endeavor to support the ongoing efforts to boost the innovation ecosystem in the country. Through this collaboration with Startup India & JLL, we aim to connect innovators across industries and help commercialize their technology and solutions for the larger good of the real estate sector in India," Prof K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India said.

"India is now the second largest startup ecosystem in the world. With a clear focus to promote innovation in the country, it is the right time for industry to come forward and be a part of the New India story," Invest India MD and CEO Deepak Bagla said.

The proptech space offers limitless opportunities in India and is the single biggest lever to benefit millions of consumers, end users and occupiers alike, Ramesh Nair, CEO and Country Head, JLL India said.

Property consultant's revenue rose 17 per cent to Rs 4,000 crore in 2018-19. PTI MJH

Invest India & SoftBank Together Launch Challenge for Startups in AI, ML, Face Recognition & Cyber Security

Invest India, a government of India's official investment promotion agency, and SoftBank Group of Japan have join hands to support top Indian startups that have developed a global product in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Face Recognition and Cyber Security.

Named as Tech4Future, the challenge has been launched by Invest India and Softbank together as a unique opportunity for startups in India to win $50,000 cash prize from SoftBank Group.

Additionally, the selected startups (according to quality of solution) will also be invited by SoftBank Group for incubation opportunity in Japan for 2-3 months.

Interested startups may apply here and provide all required details. An evaluation committee will review the details filled in by the startups and would select top startup basis novelty of their solutions, scalability and impact potential.

Last date for application is 31 December 2018

The challenge is open to all Indian startups that have built a product across any of the identified areas mentioned below -

• Machine Learning
  Crowdsourced platforms/Data processing units leveraging technology to detect and block fake news




• Artificial Intelligence
  Leverage technology to solve for global mobility problems with a focus on road traffic safety




• Face Recognition
  Leverage technology to usher face recognition feature to the next level




• Cyber Security
  Leverage technology to secure digital vehicle components and systems to avoid tampering

8 Indian Startups to Receive $30 Million from Chinese VC Funds and Angel Investors

As year 1608 was remembered for entry of East India Company which eventually invaded and colonized India till 1947, it seems that this millennium's years of 2010s will be remembered for business invasion of India by China. It is because within a day after China's largest bank announced of investing US$200 million into Indian MSMEs, as much as 350 Chinese Venture Capital (VC) funds and angel investors have joined the party with announcement of investing US$30 million in 8 Indian Startups.

Yesterday, in the 2nd Startup India Investment Seminar held in Beijing, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced that Chinese VC funds are likely to invest around $30 million in eight Indian start-ups. The name these 8 startup have not been disclosed yet.

Organized by the Embassy of India in China in partnership with Startup India Association and Venture Gurukool, this one-day long event was planned to expose Chinese VCs and investors to the promising Indian startups and help them to reach out to the large Chinese investors for receiving investment for their ventures.

42 Indian entrepreneurs representing 20 Indian startups participated in the event and pitched before Chinese investors. More than 350 Chinese VC funds and angel investors participated in the day-long seminar.

In the first Startup India Investment seminar held last year, 12 Indian startups participated, of which 4 secured a funding of $15 million from Chinese VCs.

China is among the fastest-growing sources of foreign direct investment in India. In 2017, China invested an estimated $2 billion, compared to $700 million in 2016, tripling the funding in a single year. From 2014 to 2015, mainland China’s FDI into India grew either by 200 percent or 600 percent – depending on which of the two countries reported it.

This year, China has invested over $8 billion in India, according a top Chinese official.

Currently, besides Jack Ma's Alibaba, Tencent and Shunwei Capial, multiple Chinese VC funds including Qiming Ventures, Morningside Ventures, CDH Investments, 01VC, and the Orchid Asia Group, are considering buying stakes in Indian startups, ranging from those innovating financial and education technology to e-commerce, content, and online classifieds platforms.

In September, it IndianWeb2 reported that Chinese Electric Vehicle (EV) company, Sunra, will set up its manufacturing facility in India.

In February, India’s leading food ordering and delivery platform Swiggy had raised $100 million from China's largest service e-commerce platform, Meituan-Dianping.

WhatsApp Announces Startup Challenge to Invest $0.5 Mn in Indian Startups

Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has announced its partnership with India's official investment promotion agency, Invest India, to launch 'WhatsApp Startup Challenge' to help the growth of startups and SMBs in India. The program will focus on the proliferation of startups, promoting economic growth and generating employment opportunities in India, announced Ministry of Commerce & Industry, today.

According to Startup India, this is one of the largest partnerships Invest India has made till date.

WhatsApp will invest quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) as seed funding to the top 5 winners of the 'WhatsApp Startup Challenge' and an additional $250,000 will be directed to a select few from the entrepreneurial community to promote their WhatsApp business number on Facebook and drive discovery of their businesses. This way customers will be able to find the business and start talking to them on that WhatsApp number.Invest India is also working with WhatsApp to drive awareness about its business tools in around 15 states impacting over 60,000 businesses in the coming months through tools such as Startup India 'Yatra' program and other in-person training events.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Chris Daniels, Vice President, WhatsApp said that India has a great ecosystem of startups which are making huge impact in all sectors of the Indian economy. Mr. Daniels further said that small and medium businesses are the back bone of India’s economy, employing 100 million people and contributing to a 3rd India’s GDP. WhatsApp cares deeply about helping businesses connect with customers and grow. The more opportunities that are given the more startups will become engines of India’s economic growth.

India's Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, who were also present in the launch, said that WhatsApp is a startup that has grown into a community and is an example of how an idea can grow to become an integral part of our day to day life. The Minister went on to say that Indian startups in order to be successful have to learn to convert an idea into a business plan. He further said that the Startup community is the future of India and will be the platform through which the millions of youth of this country will be gain fully employed.

Launched on 16th January 2016 by the Prime Minister of India, Startup India, set-up under Invest India, is a flagship initiative of the Government of India and is intended to build a strong eco-system for nurturing innovation & Startups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.

In the last 2 years at the Startup India programme, there are over 13,000 startups registered with Startup India program that spread across 448 districts covering all 29 States and 6 Union Territories.

Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ramesh Abhishek and CEO & MD of Invest India, Deepak Bagla, were also present on the occasion.

DIPP Launches 3-Months Acceleration Programme for Startups in Energy Sector

To offer offer a unique lab-to-market opportunity for Indian startups in Energy sector, 'Invest India', a government of India’s official investment promotion agency, has joined hands with energy companies to offer its three-month programme for startups in the sector, announced department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), which funds Invest India.

Called as "Integrate to Innovate", the programme is a 3-month corporate acceleration programme for energy startups housed at the corporate premises.

The programme aims to provides startups and entrepreneurs an opportunity for collaboration and conversation around valuable energy transitions, offering startups an opportunity to bring their ideas to life with the guidance and support from corporates.

Interested startups and entrepreneurs can enroll for programme by Applying at Startup India Hub Here.

The last date to apply for the programme is -- August 10, 2018.

Selected Startups get a chance to pitch to a corporate panel and subsequently, the selected startups undergo a 3 month incubation at the corporate premises.

The programme provides an opportunity for collaboration and conversation around valuable energy transitions, offering startups an opportunity to bring their ideas to life with the guidance and support from corporates.

The selected startups will receive a cash prize grant of up to ₹ 5 Lakh per startup along with an opportunity to pilot their product with corporates. The corporates would offer them access to technology, technical and commercial mentorship and access to potential customers through the corporate network of partners.

Entries are invited from innovators across various stages of the energy life-cycle—generation, transmission and distribution, storage and consumption—in multiple sectors such as households, farm, industry, infrastructure, building, utility and transport. The winners will be assessed on select parameters such as the breakthrough nature of the innovation, business viability and scalability potential.

India, UAE Sign MoU for $20 Bn Artificial Intelligence Benefits

Government of India’s official investment promotion agency 'Invest India' and the UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence (AI) have signed a bilateral Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bridge agreement that seeks to create economic benefits worth $20 billion during the next decade.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, and Deepak Bagla, managing director and CEO of Invest India, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) - UAE Artificial Intelligence Bridge on Friday in New Delhi. This partnership will generate an estimated $20 billion in economic benefits during the next decade for both countries.

The MoU will spur development across areas like Blockchain, AI and Analytics as data and processing will be a catalyst for innovation and business growth and serve as the backbone of more effective and efficient service delivery systems. By 2035 AI can potentially add $957 billion to the Indian economy.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu and H.E. Ahmad Sultan Al Falahi, Minister Plenipotentiary – Commercial Attache, UAE Embassy at the India leg of GovHack series of World Government Summit. The Minister appreciated the effort made by UAE on leading the initiative to change the government and governance through technology and reiterated India’s commitment with UAE in the field of AI.

The UAE-India collaboration will seek to evaluate the dynamic nature of innovation and technology by convening a UAE-India AI Working Group (TWG) between the UAE Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Invest India and Startup India. The TWG will meet once a year with the mandate to increase investment in AI startups and research activities in partnership with the private sector.

India and UAE share a bond that extends beyond business as Indians make-up the largest expat community in the UAE at 27% and the UAE is India’s third largest trading partner.

Also Read - Nobel-Winner Paul Krugman Warns India On AI and Lagging Manufacturing Sector

The UAE has invested over $5.3 billion in India and infrastructure is one of the top 5 focus sections of UAE-India bilateral trade. The UAE has committed $75 billion towards infrastructure development in India. The Government of India is launching multiple initiatives to create an environment for digital growth through which the potential of AI can be realized in the areas of agriculture supply, healthcare and disaster management services.

In the same week, 'Invest India' has also inked an MoU with 'Business France', a French government agency, to promote investment facilitation and cooperation between start-ups of the two countries.

Since beginning of this year, Indian agencies are proactively working in AI segment by indulging in setting up task force, making reports and inking pacts to inculcate AI into India's each and every minuscule sector from Agriculture to Defense.

In May, government of India's policy think, NITI Aayog, partnered with IBM to develop a crop yield prediction model using artificial intelligence to provide real time advisory to farmers in backward states of India. In the same month, NITI Aayog also joined hands with Google to foster AI and Machine Learning ecosystem in India.

In February, India joined hands with Japan to launch robotics and artificial intelligence in the defense segment.

Source - PIB Delhi

[Top Image - ActivistPost.com]

India, UAE Sign MoU for $20 Bn Artificial Intelligence Benefits

Government of India’s official investment promotion agency 'Invest India' and the UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence (AI) have signed a bilateral Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bridge agreement that seeks to create economic benefits worth $20 billion during the next decade.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, and Deepak Bagla, managing director and CEO of Invest India, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) - UAE Artificial Intelligence Bridge on Friday in New Delhi. This partnership will generate an estimated $20 billion in economic benefits during the next decade for both countries.

The MoU will spur development across areas like Blockchain, AI and Analytics as data and processing will be a catalyst for innovation and business growth and serve as the backbone of more effective and efficient service delivery systems. By 2035 AI can potentially add $957 billion to the Indian economy.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu and H.E. Ahmad Sultan Al Falahi, Minister Plenipotentiary – Commercial Attache, UAE Embassy at the India leg of GovHack series of World Government Summit. The Minister appreciated the effort made by UAE on leading the initiative to change the government and governance through technology and reiterated India’s commitment with UAE in the field of AI.

The UAE-India collaboration will seek to evaluate the dynamic nature of innovation and technology by convening a UAE-India AI Working Group (TWG) between the UAE Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Invest India and Startup India. The TWG will meet once a year with the mandate to increase investment in AI startups and research activities in partnership with the private sector.

India and UAE share a bond that extends beyond business as Indians make-up the largest expat community in the UAE at 27% and the UAE is India’s third largest trading partner.

Also Read - Nobel-Winner Paul Krugman Warns India On AI and Lagging Manufacturing Sector

The UAE has invested over $5.3 billion in India and infrastructure is one of the top 5 focus sections of UAE-India bilateral trade. The UAE has committed $75 billion towards infrastructure development in India. The Government of India is launching multiple initiatives to create an environment for digital growth through which the potential of AI can be realized in the areas of agriculture supply, healthcare and disaster management services.

In the same week, 'Invest India' has also inked an MoU with 'Business France', a French government agency, to promote investment facilitation and cooperation between start-ups of the two countries.

Since beginning of this year, Indian agencies are proactively working in AI segment by indulging in setting up task force, making reports and inking pacts to inculcate AI into India's each and every minuscule sector from Agriculture to Defense.

In May, government of India's policy think, NITI Aayog, partnered with IBM to develop a crop yield prediction model using artificial intelligence to provide real time advisory to farmers in backward states of India. In the same month, NITI Aayog also joined hands with Google to foster AI and Machine Learning ecosystem in India.

In February, India joined hands with Japan to launch robotics and artificial intelligence in the defense segment.

Source - PIB Delhi

[Top Image - ActivistPost.com]

Indian and French Govt. Agencies Join Hands To Promote Startup Ecosystem Cooperation

Government agencies of India and France -- 'Invest India' and 'Business France', have joined hands by signing an MoU to promote investment facilitation and cooperation between start-ups of India and France.

Both the agencies will collaborate to promote business and startup ecosystem cooperation through joint activities and exchange experiences to strengthen institutional knowledge and identify opportunities between businesses in the French and Indian private sector, creating a dedicated support structure to facilitate inbound companies and startups.

The goal of MoU will essentially be to facilitate direct foreign investment by providing practical investment information to enterprises/startups and support the companies pursuing those opportunities which contribute positively to economic growth of the two countries, Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a release.

Set up in 2010, ‘Invest India’ is government of India’s official investment promotion agency dedicated to investment promotion and facilitation. It acts as a single window facilitator and structured mechanism to attract investment. Between Oct 2014 and Sept 2017, the agency has brought in foreign investments worth $7.4 billion.

Deepak Bagla, MD and CEO Invest India, said that the partnership, between Invest India and Business France, will result in the cross-pollination of ideas, talent and technologies between the start-up ecosystems of India and France, which are among the world’s largest and most vibrant.

A MoU was signed between #InvestIndia and #BusinessFrance to promote business and #startup ecosystem cooperation. It aims to strengthen institutional knowledge and identify opportunities between businesses in the French and Indian private sectors. pic.twitter.com/HmBkdnzKf0

— Business France IN (@BF_India) July 25, 2018

'Business France' is a French Government agency created in January 2015 through a merger between UBIFRANCE, a French agency for export promotion, and InvestInFrance, an another French agency for International Investment. It promotes International Business Development for French companies and professionals through a worldwide network of 80 Trade Commissions, which have worked with over 7,500 SMEs & mid-caps during 2017 itself. Business France mobilizes the expertise of 1,400 persons in France and in 70 other countries.

Also Read - India, Sweden Launch Initiative for Startups

Sophie Clavelier, Director South Asia Business France, stated that, by entering into this agreement with India, the aim of Business France is to create new opportunities, catalyse joint collaboration, and help innovative startups to be successful.

It is to be noted that 'Invest India' is as a joint venture entity between the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (35% equity), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) (51% equity), and State Governments of India (0.5% each).

The Ministry said that the french partnership will strengthen the existing business relations between India and France and provide a seamless facilitation channel for new businesses and innovations from India and France to grow in the French and Indian markets. Make in India campaign is also being managed by Invest India.

Meanwhile, India has recently become the world's sixth-biggest economy, pushing France into seventh place, according to updated World Bank figures for 2017.

Via - KNN India

[Top Image - French President Emmanuel Macron with Indian PM Modi | Via - Hindustan Times]

Noida Based TO THE NEW To Design, Develop Startup India Hub's Web portal and Mobile App

TO THE NEW, a Noida-based leading digital technology company has designed and developed the web portal and mobile applications for Startup India Hub, an initiative by Invest India, the official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of the Government of India. Recently launched by government's Invest India and commerce ministry, Startup India Hub is our country’s first digital platform developed to boost the startup ecosystem and facilitate investments into India.

The Startup India Hub is a one-stop destination to connect all the stakeholders of the startup ecosystem in India, including startups, investors, mentors, incubators, accelerators, aspiring entrepreneurs, service providers and government bodies. Not only does it provide an opportunity to connect, but also imparts education by giving access to knowledge material, tools, resources, learning programs etc. With the launch of the platform, startups will be able to get all the support they need to excel in their entrepreneurial journey. The platform was officially launched by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry on June 19, 2017.

TO THE NEW won the bid for end-to-end design and development of the digital platform which comprised of a high-performing web portal and mobile applications for Android and iOS. TO THE NEW followed a robust Experience Design process starting from UX research, design discovery to usability audit and testing. Built on the powerful Adobe Experience Manager, the platform provides a real-time and personalized experience through relevant content delivered on any channel or device.

Commenting on the engagement, Mr. Deepak Mittal, CEO, TO THE NEW said, “With multiple digital initiatives launched by the GoI, India is truly embarking on a transformation journey. We are delighted to play a critical role in this journey. The Startup India Hub is an exceptional initiative and we are really proud to be associated with it. We bring to the table our technology expertise and unmatched experience that can be leveraged to build path-breaking digital solutions that can pave the way for digitalization across all spheres of business.”

TO THE NEW specializes in creating digital solutions using path-breaking technologies, while keeping things simple for users. All the stakeholders in the startup ecosystem are sure to enjoy a user-friendly experience with the platform. TO THE NEW is the preferred destination for enterprises looking for comprehensive product development services that can help them achieve digital transformation. The company leverages Agile methodologies to create groundbreaking products and solutions.

Uber Launches 'Exchange' To Fly 10 Indian Startups To San Francisco HQ

[caption id="attachment_103018" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick, with the PM Narendra Modi to discuss the future of urban mobility in India[/caption]

US-based cab hailing company Uber has announced its partnership with Invest India, an initiative under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). The partnership will provide mentorship for Indian entrepreneurs in the execution of their startup ideas.

"This public-private initiative will enable students, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to learn from each other," said the company in a release. Uber said it will also support the PM Modi’s vision to make India a global start-up hub.

Notably, Travis Kalanick, co-founder and CEO of Uber, is among the startup leaders who will be attending government's 'Start-up India' policy launch event on 16 January in New Delhi (more here).

Under its partnership with 'Invest India', Uber has decided to host a series of six leadership talks by senior company executives over the next one year. "Each session will address a different challenge that entrepreneurs face when founding their own company. For example, fundraising, product design, engineering and how to scale a business," the company said. At the end of the programme, the company intends to fly 10 startups to its headquarters in San Francisco, where the company will introduce them to global investors, fellow entrepreneurs and the team at Uber.

Startups in India can sign up for 'Uber Exchange' by sending an email to investindia@uber.com.

Uber Launches 'Exchange' To Fly 10 Indian Startups To San Francisco HQ

[caption id="attachment_103018" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick, with the PM Narendra Modi to discuss the future of urban mobility in India[/caption]

US-based cab hailing company Uber has announced its partnership with Invest India, an initiative under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). The partnership will provide mentorship for Indian entrepreneurs in the execution of their startup ideas.

"This public-private initiative will enable students, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to learn from each other," said the company in a release. Uber said it will also support the PM Modi’s vision to make India a global start-up hub.

Notably, Travis Kalanick, co-founder and CEO of Uber, is among the startup leaders who will be attending government's 'Start-up India' policy launch event on 16 January in New Delhi (more here).

Under its partnership with 'Invest India', Uber has decided to host a series of six leadership talks by senior company executives over the next one year. "Each session will address a different challenge that entrepreneurs face when founding their own company. For example, fundraising, product design, engineering and how to scale a business," the company said. At the end of the programme, the company intends to fly 10 startups to its headquarters in San Francisco, where the company will introduce them to global investors, fellow entrepreneurs and the team at Uber.

Startups in India can sign up for 'Uber Exchange' by sending an email to investindia@uber.com.