Chance for upcoming startups in J&K to showcase talent, generate funding & win prizes worth upto INR 1.5 cr
JK News Today
Jammu, October 28:
With a view to give impetus to startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), apex industry body ASSOCHAM is organising a Startup Elevator Pitch event in Jammu on Wednesday, October 30 at University of Jammu which will help create new startups in the state and enable them to grow quickly to become successful examples in their respective fields,
ASSOCHAM Launchpad – Startup Elevator Pitch Series, an initiative and platform for budding entrepreneurs is being organised in 12 cities across India. Under this initiative, ASSOCHAM is giving upcoming startups in tier II and III cities of India an access to industry experts who can give them the guidance they need on business, product, marketing and also connect them with right people that can help with funding process and proper guidance on how to setup business case for funding.
“The ASSOCHAM Startup Launchpad is one of India’s premier startup launch program for talented and aspiring entrepreneurs. We have partnered with renowned startup enablers to provide exclusive & special access to benefits that will help budding startups in tier II and III cities of India to elevate to the next level,” said ASSOCHAM president, Mr Balkrishan Goenka.
“Startups in Jammu could use the ASSOCHAM platform to network with high net worth individuals and generate business or funding opportunities for themselves,” said Mr Anil Khaitan, chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Startups.
“Through this event, aspiring entrepreneurs in Jammu will get to meet world class mentors, investors, companies having decades of industry experience who would help give a better shape to their business idea and pitch for funding & technology partners to generate business opportunities,” he added.
The format of Elevator Pitch is such that the entrepreneurs and founders are given 300 seconds to explain the concept and idea of a service or product to set of jury members.
Early stage startups i.e. those between 0-2 years of operations and established startups between 3–5 years of operations are invited for participation in Jammu round. The top three winners from will be invited for grand finale in February 2020 in Delhi.
The launchpad works a little like a commercial incubator whereby people share their business ideas with ASSOCHAM Startup Council initially. Then, when a business plan is formed they meet with program mentors and local businesses in their industry.
“We at ASSOCHAM are on a mission to unleash full potential through meaningful connections with discovering talent, investors, business deals and other startups. It is dedicated to helping exceptional entrepreneurs grow their startups, get funded and go global with a very hands-on approach and support of a large community of experienced business leaders,” said Mr Ashish Agrawal, co-chair, ASSOCHAM National Council on Startups.
“The ASSOCHAM Elevator Pitch Series aims to support the very best entrepreneurial talent that Jammu region has to offer, by providing tailored acceleration services, funding opportunities and mentoring through an established network of partnerships,” said Ms Tripti Somani, co-chair, ASSOCHAM National Council on Startups.
Apart from ASSOCHAM office-bearers, Ms Rachna Bhusari, vice president-SME, National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Mr Manik Batra, director, Batra Group will also be sharing industry’s perspective on ASSOCHAM’s initiative and startup scenario in India.
The ASSOCHAM program both complements and supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship initiative of ‘Startup India,’ thereby supporting the spurring entrepreneurship ecosystem of the country. It incorporates mentorship and guidance from industry’s best leaders together with co-working space for all selected startups for a period of three months with no cost. Each of the startups making it would get three meetings with investors and a chance to pitch directly to them.
Besides, they will also get an opportunity to scale up and raise finance and/or technology or even marketing partnership with venture capitalists, mentors or independent professionals of global repute.
There would be Google Cloud vouchers available, besides a direct entry into the accelerator programme with IncubateIND, India’s fastest growing technology community network.
36 finalists (3 each to be selected from 12 cities) are expected to present their ideas at the grand finale in February 2020 in Delhi, of which the top three will be selected. There are prizes worth INR 1.5 Cr to be won. While top five startups will get $5000 each from AWS (Amazon Web Service), next 15 startups will get $2000 and the next 80 will get $1000 worth credits.
Further details on the ASSOCHAM Launchpad may be accessed on our dedicated Website – https://www.assocham.org/startups/index.html, where all the information related to the Elevator Pitch schedule and plan are uploaded. The applications are being sought online and the details of venues, jury members are updated on regular basis.
Note: Please contact Mr Pankaj (08851121035) or Mr Robinson (9650474873) for more details on the event.
