Startup India Hub is Working on Fixing Indian Startup Ecosystem Problems

There's a visible gap in awareness when it comes to government schemes and the Indian Startup industry. While every now and then the government keeps launching some new initiatives or schemes tailored made for the industry, its seldom that we get to see or read about fruitful results of these schemes. For example, only 39 Indian startups have been able to pass the eligibility for tax benefits for Modi government's much-hyped Startup India programme since its launch 18 months ago in January, 2016 (Read Here).

In order to address this worrying situation, Startup India Virtual Hub, which was launched by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in June, has now decided to work on a new initiative that would make Indian startups more aware about government schemes and venture funds and help them directly apply for the same from their platform.

The Hub, which is a marketplace where all the stakeholders can interact, exchange knowledge, and enable each other to grow and reach new heights, is an attempt by the Ministry solve the persistent problem of information asymmetry and lack of access to knowledge, tools, experts, especially in the nascent ecosystems across Tier II and III towns in the country.

Within a week of its launch in June, The Hub partnered with Collaborizm, an online, New York-based, collaboration community and tech incubator to help provide Indian tech startups and entrepreneurs with an opportunity to engage with like-minded teammates from all around the world and provide an edge to their innovative project ideas.

As of today, the Startup India Hub portal has listed 167 schemes that would help Indian startups in one or another way. Some of the schemes listed include- Performance & Credit Rating Scheme, Technology Development Programme, Support for International Patent Protection, Software Technology Park scheme and Electronic Development Fund Policy.

In order to make sure that the Startup India Hub doesn't end up anything like any other government scheme, the ministry has decided to host an all-stakeholder event in August that would witness active involvement of accelerators, incubators and venture funds.

Startup India Hub is Working on Fixing Indian Startup Ecosystem Problems

There's a visible gap in awareness when it comes to government schemes and the Indian Startup industry. While every now and then the government keeps launching some new initiatives or schemes tailored made for the industry, its seldom that we get to see or read about fruitful results of these schemes. For example, only 39 Indian startups have been able to pass the eligibility for tax benefits for Modi government's much-hyped Startup India programme since its launch 18 months ago in January, 2016 (Read Here).

In order to address this worrying situation, Startup India Virtual Hub, which was launched by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in June, has now decided to work on a new initiative that would make Indian startups more aware about government schemes and venture funds and help them directly apply for the same from their platform.

The Hub, which is a marketplace where all the stakeholders can interact, exchange knowledge, and enable each other to grow and reach new heights, is an attempt by the Ministry solve the persistent problem of information asymmetry and lack of access to knowledge, tools, experts, especially in the nascent ecosystems across Tier II and III towns in the country.

Within a week of its launch in June, The Hub partnered with Collaborizm, an online, New York-based, collaboration community and tech incubator to help provide Indian tech startups and entrepreneurs with an opportunity to engage with like-minded teammates from all around the world and provide an edge to their innovative project ideas.

As of today, the Startup India Hub portal has listed 167 schemes that would help Indian startups in one or another way. Some of the schemes listed include- Performance & Credit Rating Scheme, Technology Development Programme, Support for International Patent Protection, Software Technology Park scheme and Electronic Development Fund Policy.

In order to make sure that the Startup India Hub doesn't end up anything like any other government scheme, the ministry has decided to host an all-stakeholder event in August that would witness active involvement of accelerators, incubators and venture funds.

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.

Startup India Initiates India-Portugal International StartUp Hub

Within a week of launching Start-Up India Hub -- an online platform for startup ecosystem of India to discover, connect and engage with each other, Commerce & Industry Ministry and Start-up India along with Startup Portugal have launched the India-Portugal International Startup Hub (IPISH), a platform developed to strengthen and foster the connection between the startup ecosystem of both India and Portugal.

The launch was announced during PM Modi's visit to Lisbon, Portugal where both the countries have signed 11 MOUs for cooperation in areas including double taxation avoidance, science and technology, trade and investment, nanotechnology, space research, administrative reforms and culture.

"11 MoU's were exchanged out of which seven and there was announcement of launch of a joint science fund for which both India and Portugal will contribute Euros two million each. 5 of the MoU's were in the area of science and technology," said a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official.

The official added, "There is progress in discussions between IIT Roorkee, Gandhinagar and madras with their Portuguese counterparts to take science and technology related activities forward. 15 projects were approved during the joint committee meeting for science and technology."

IPISH hosts a range of tools and will provide information on the start-up hotspots of Bangalore, Delhi and Lisbon; and on associated subjects, such as policy, taxation, and visa options. It will develop a Go-To-Market Guide to support start-ups.

IPISH is expected to help in mutual capacity building, and enable connections between startups, investors, and incubators from relevant sectors. It is also expected to establish a network of honorary ambassadors based in India and Portugal to guide start-ups from both countries.

There are strong complementarities between India and Portugal in the startup sector. Portugal has one of the highest rates of business creation in Europe and has emerged as one of the most vibrant European ecosystems for entrepreneurship.

To recall, Start-Up India's virtual hub has also tied up or in fact outsourced the startup mentorship to a New York based technology incubator and collaboration community Collaborizm [Read Here].

[Top Image - Shutterstocka>]

Startup India Hub Outsources Startup Mentoring To New York-Based Tech Incubator

The Modi government launched its much ambitious Startup India initiative a year ago with an aim of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in the country, and turn it into “a nation of job creators instead of a nation of job seekers”. In order to further its mission, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently unveiled the Startup India Virtual Hub (The Hub) in the city.

The Hub, which is a marketplace where all the stakeholders can interact, exchange knowledge, and enable each other to grow and reach new heights, is an attempt by the Ministry solve the persistent problem of information asymmetry and lack of access to knowledge, tools, experts, especially in the nascent ecosystems across Tier II and III towns in the country.

And now, according to a report in The Plunge Daily, within a week of its launch, The Hub has partnered with Collaborizm, an online, New York-based, collaboration community and tech incubator that enables aspiring entrepreneurs, engineers, and creatives to form teams and experiment with ideas, virtually. Through this partnership, Indian tech startups and entrepreneurs will be provided with an opportunity to engage with like-minded teammates and provide an edge to their innovative project ideas. They will be able to share knowledge, display their skills and earn more online credentials. In addition to this, it will also help the ‘most elite talent’ in the country to be able to do legitimate freelance jobs for clients in developed markets.

According to the terms of the engagement,
Collaborizm will have to select a few Indian ventures every week that display extraordinary potential. Once the ventures are selected, a detailed description of their projects is shared with Startup India Hub. The information shared with the Hub includes why Collaborizm thinks a particular venture has potential and the kind of assistance that these selected ventures might require to grow to further heights.

The New York-based online collaboration community and tech incubator has reportedly already started selecting Indian projects for the Startup India Virtual Hub and is providing mentorship to them for manufacturing aid, angel funding or any other legal help that the venture might require. Collaborizm is specifically scouting for projects that are testimonial of their team-work, have a clear roadmap, show smart delegation of tasks, have a prim and proper business plan in place, and finally have a detailed pitch deck which gives a quick but descriptive understanding of the project's competitive differentiation in the market and what all ventures are currently working with the community on the specific tasks.

According to Collaborizm, with this partnership, they will be able to provide the “first scalable solution towards mentoring and spotting the most promising early stage startup teams in India.”

With Collaborizm, The Hub will be able to understand what aspiring entrepreneurs require to succeed in the country and enable them to directly witness the impact their venture will have courtesy their expert mentoring.

Startup India Hub Outsources Startup Mentoring To New York-Based Tech Incubator

The Modi government launched its much ambitious Startup India initiative a year ago with an aim of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in the country, and turn it into “a nation of job creators instead of a nation of job seekers”. In order to further its mission, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently unveiled the Startup India Virtual Hub (The Hub) in the city.

The Hub, which is a marketplace where all the stakeholders can interact, exchange knowledge, and enable each other to grow and reach new heights, is an attempt by the Ministry solve the persistent problem of information asymmetry and lack of access to knowledge, tools, experts, especially in the nascent ecosystems across Tier II and III towns in the country.

And now, according to a report in The Plunge Daily, within a week of its launch, The Hub has partnered with Collaborizm, an online, New York-based, collaboration community and tech incubator that enables aspiring entrepreneurs, engineers, and creatives to form teams and experiment with ideas, virtually. Through this partnership, Indian tech startups and entrepreneurs will be provided with an opportunity to engage with like-minded teammates and provide an edge to their innovative project ideas. They will be able to share knowledge, display their skills and earn more online credentials. In addition to this, it will also help the ‘most elite talent’ in the country to be able to do legitimate freelance jobs for clients in developed markets.

According to the terms of the engagement,
Collaborizm will have to select a few Indian ventures every week that display extraordinary potential. Once the ventures are selected, a detailed description of their projects is shared with Startup India Hub. The information shared with the Hub includes why Collaborizm thinks a particular venture has potential and the kind of assistance that these selected ventures might require to grow to further heights.

The New York-based online collaboration community and tech incubator has reportedly already started selecting Indian projects for the Startup India Virtual Hub and is providing mentorship to them for manufacturing aid, angel funding or any other legal help that the venture might require. Collaborizm is specifically scouting for projects that are testimonial of their team-work, have a clear roadmap, show smart delegation of tasks, have a prim and proper business plan in place, and finally have a detailed pitch deck which gives a quick but descriptive understanding of the project's competitive differentiation in the market and what all ventures are currently working with the community on the specific tasks.

According to Collaborizm, with this partnership, they will be able to provide the “first scalable solution towards mentoring and spotting the most promising early stage startup teams in India.”

With Collaborizm, The Hub will be able to understand what aspiring entrepreneurs require to succeed in the country and enable them to directly witness the impact their venture will have courtesy their expert mentoring.

Commerce And Industry Minister Launches Startup India Hub To Encourage Indian Entrepreneurs

Nirmala Sitharaman, the Commerce and Industry Minister yesterday launched the Startup India Virtual Hub to encourage Indian entrepreneur. It is an online platform for all stakeholders to discover, connect and engage with each other.

Commenting on the development, Sitharaman said, “Startup India Virtual Hub is an effort to create a marketplace where all the stakeholders can interact, exchange knowledge, and enable each other to grow. It will streamline the lifecycle of existing and potential startups, helping them access the right resources at the right time.”

The Virtual Hub is a dynamic and interactive platform that will facilitate learning and development, networking, mentorship, funding, etc. for startups. It will host startups, investors, funds, mentors, academia, incubators, accelerators, corporates, Government bodies and more. The basic principle behind developing this platform is to aggregate different offerings of the ecosystem and enable discovery by the right audience.

“The Hub attempts to solve the problem of information asymmetry and lack of access to knowledge, tools, and experts, especially in the nascent ecosystems across Tier II and III towns,” said the Commerce and Industry Minister.

The Hub will act as a nodal platform and will enable users to connect with ecosystem stakeholders, access free learning resources, tools and templates on legal, HR, accounting and regulatory issues and discussion forums. The Hub has also aggregated over 50 relevant Government schemes/programs.

In the next phase, the platform will also aggregate schemes available across various state governments. To provide a better user experience, the platform has been enabled to build smart intelligence along with Chat Bots to automatically collate, update information and respond to queries.

Startup India Hub has also partnered with various organizations to onboard entrepreneurs and investors, as well as build knowledge modules. To ensure accessibility across various platforms, dedicated apps are also available on both Android and iOS.

Not only this, during the launch, Minister also announced a new initiative, wherein a Startup exchange program amongst the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations would be organized which will enable startups from South Asian region to exchange new ideas and promoting interaction among them.

Speaking about the initiative, Minister said that she will be working towards having a SAARC country meet for startups and this event can act as a platform for exchanging ideas, which can be mutually beneficial and can be worked out. Further, she asked startups to share ideas about the people who can be invited for the meet.

In next couple of months, if ministry received the feedback then by December the meeting can be organised where Startups from SAARC country can come to India and share ideas.

Apart from this, the ministry is also planning to work in certain districts to identify schools and help them qualify to get tinkering labs under the Atal Innovation Mission.

“Ministry is working on modalities to facilitate the exchange of ideas between startups of India and Germany,” concludes the commerce and Industry Minister.