Chhattisgarh Claims To Have India's 2nd Largest Startup Incubator

Last week on Friday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh inaugurated '36Inc' in Raipur, which is the first government-supported startup incubation centre in the state, and claims it to be second biggest centre in the entire country, after Hyderabad's T-Hub.

Spread across 30,000 square feet and located at City Center Mall in Pondi Tola, 36 Inc is perhaps also India's first startup incubator in a Mall. The centre has 200 workstations.

In the incubator centre, Start-Up entrepreneurs are provided with ultra-modern techniques and latest gadgets. The incubator consists of 3-D printers, laser cutter, electronic testing and multi-media construction facilities. 125 Start-Up industrialists started their works immediately after the launch of the kendra.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated five new products developed by the Start-Up entrepreneurs -- Mediklik, a mobile app for healthcare in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi languages; career guidance solution myaglakadam.com in Chhattisgarhi language, GoVatsa Bioproducts for agricultural work; Divyaang, a tricycle service for the differently-abled, ScholarBuzz for the education sector, and online market guide raipurbazar.com.

Alex Paul Menon, Chief Executive Officer of CHiPS (Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society), said that this is the first 'Incubation-cum-Accelerator' Centre established by Chhattisgarh State Government. '36 Inc' institution will function as ' 'Incubation-cum-Accelerator' hub for the entire State. '36 Inc' Centre has Speed Prototyping Lab which is the latest in the country.

Additionally, the state government also plans to establish state-of-the-art innovation/research infrastructure at the universities and colleges in emerging fields such as biotechnology and Internet of Things (IoT), Agriculture and Food Processing so that innovators can build new products.

The above news was first reported in The Pioneer.

According to YourStory, a total of 43 startups are part of the first two-year-long cohort of 36 Inc and are working on a variety of sectors including edtech, drone technology, e-commerce and others. The incubator has several specialised labs for the startups, including the Fabled, which is part of the MIT Fablab network.

Many state government are coming up with startup incubators and accelerators to boost entrepreneurship in their states. To recall, few days back Haryana’s first startup incubation centre was launched in Panchkula, which will cater to the students of four government colleges of the district located in Panchkula, Barwala and Kalka.

In this same month, Tamil Nadu state government has also announced to soon launch a fintech startup incubator in Chennai supported by the state government.

Last December, Punjab had also announced that it will soon launch a startup incubator called as 'Start-up Hub'. The incubator will be located in Mohali city.

Moreover, Delhi had also announced to launch startup incubator in lines of T-Hub, an India's largest startup accelerator to date.

Chhattisgarh Claims To Have India's 2nd Largest Startup Incubator

Last week on Friday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh inaugurated '36Inc' in Raipur, which is the first government-supported startup incubation centre in the state, and claims it to be second biggest centre in the entire country, after Hyderabad's T-Hub.

Spread across 30,000 square feet and located at City Center Mall in Pondi Tola, 36 Inc is perhaps also India's first startup incubator in a Mall. The centre has 200 workstations.

In the incubator centre, Start-Up entrepreneurs are provided with ultra-modern techniques and latest gadgets. The incubator consists of 3-D printers, laser cutter, electronic testing and multi-media construction facilities. 125 Start-Up industrialists started their works immediately after the launch of the kendra.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated five new products developed by the Start-Up entrepreneurs -- Mediklik, a mobile app for healthcare in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi languages; career guidance solution myaglakadam.com in Chhattisgarhi language, GoVatsa Bioproducts for agricultural work; Divyaang, a tricycle service for the differently-abled, ScholarBuzz for the education sector, and online market guide raipurbazar.com.

Alex Paul Menon, Chief Executive Officer of CHiPS (Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society), said that this is the first 'Incubation-cum-Accelerator' Centre established by Chhattisgarh State Government. '36 Inc' institution will function as ' 'Incubation-cum-Accelerator' hub for the entire State. '36 Inc' Centre has Speed Prototyping Lab which is the latest in the country.

Additionally, the state government also plans to establish state-of-the-art innovation/research infrastructure at the universities and colleges in emerging fields such as biotechnology and Internet of Things (IoT), Agriculture and Food Processing so that innovators can build new products.

The above news was first reported in The Pioneer.

According to YourStory, a total of 43 startups are part of the first two-year-long cohort of 36 Inc and are working on a variety of sectors including edtech, drone technology, e-commerce and others. The incubator has several specialised labs for the startups, including the Fabled, which is part of the MIT Fablab network.

Many state government are coming up with startup incubators and accelerators to boost entrepreneurship in their states. To recall, few days back Haryana’s first startup incubation centre was launched in Panchkula, which will cater to the students of four government colleges of the district located in Panchkula, Barwala and Kalka.

In this same month, Tamil Nadu state government has also announced to soon launch a fintech startup incubator in Chennai supported by the state government.

Last December, Punjab had also announced that it will soon launch a startup incubator called as 'Start-up Hub'. The incubator will be located in Mohali city.

Moreover, Delhi had also announced to launch startup incubator in lines of T-Hub, an India's largest startup accelerator to date.

Chhattisgarh Govt. Selects 36 Startups Under Promotion Programme

The only logical way for the Indian startup ecosystem to climb up from its current number three rank to the numero uno position in the world startup ecosystem is by making sure that each state in the country is contributing its bit towards the cause. In order to ensure that the state of Chhattisgarh is pulling its weight in realising Modi's vision of making India "a nation of job creators instead of a nation of job seekers," the state government has selected 36 promising startups in the state under its 'Start-up Chhattisgarh Grand Challenge' initiative launched last year that aims to foster entrepreneurship and promote innovation in the state.

Yesterday saw the state Chief Minister Raman Singh felicitating the 36 shortlisted startups under the first phase of the 'Start-up Chhattisgarh Grand Challenge' during an event organised by the state Commerce and Industry department. State Industries Minister Amar Agrawal, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Principal Secretary, IT, Aman Singh and other senior officials also graced the event with their presence.

The final 36 were selected of the total 3,858 ideas submitted. The selection was carried out by the screening committee formed under the Commerce and Industry department.

Launched last year, the first phase of the programme included boot camps being conducted in all the 27 districts of the state to collect ideas for incubation.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh commented, "Youths need to be fearless to bring their ideas into commercial products. This initiative ('Start-up Chhattisgarh') can provide wings to a lot of young talented people for becoming tomorrow's entrepreneurial leaders."

Singh further added that his government understands the need for innovation and youth entrepreneurs, and is ready to fuel the passion of anyone in the state who's willing to make the state and country a better place to live in with their invention, products or services.

In addition to facilitating the shortlisted 36 startups of the 'Start-up Chhattisgarh Grand Challenge,' Singh also used the occasion to inaugurate "36 inc.", Chhattisgarh's only Atal Innovation Mission sanctioned incubator.

The incubates of 36 inc will get professional help in building their prototypes, developing their business plans, scouting investors/funding and even market testing the finished product/service.

'Startup Chhattisgarh' Launched; Tax Relief For First 36 Startups

In yet another announcement of "Start-up India" initiative promotion, the state Chhattisgarh today launched 'Start-up Chhattisgarh' initiative in Raipur to foster entrepreneurship and promote innovation.

A website www.startupcg.com was also launched for handholding and to support to start-ups in the state.

As part of the initiative, 14 special camps will be set up in Chhattisgarh, which would be used as a platform to present ideas and the best out of them would be selected for incubation, he said.

The state government, under this initiative, has also announced for bootcamps covering all 27 districts of the State. The boot camp would be a State wide campaign to identify potential start-up ideas which can be incubated
and turned into successful business ideas.

"At least 3000 ideas would be collected through these camps and in the first phase, 36 startup units selected of these ideas will be developed in next four months," the CM said.

Moreover, the state government under it startup policy has also offered a major tax relief to the first 36 startups in the state. The tax relief would be a major incentive to attract investment in the state. The number (36) seems to be taken out from the state’s name, which denotes 36 forts (Chhattis garh in Hindi).

Under a slew of sops incorporated in the policy, start-ups would get a subsidy of 75 per cent on term loans up to Rs 70 lakh for six years, fixed capital subsidy of 35-40 per cent up to Rs 3.5 crore, electricity duty exemption for 10 years, stamp duty exemption for land purchase or lease, besides assistance in preparing project report, quality certifications, technical patent costs.

The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) startups shall be eligible for 60 percent subsidy on land premium in state-run industrial parks. The units shall be given the facility to self-certify for various state laws.

Just few days back, Bihar had launched its startup policy, and before that 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.