Tag: Invest India

Business World

HexGn Launches New Program for Women Entrepreneurs

Mar 24, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Invest India, #MD & CEO, #Mr. Deepak Bagla

HexGn, New Delhi, 24 Mar 2021: The HexGn Startup Ready Programme aims to fast-track opportunities for women technologists and innovators, working towards advancing key emerging technologies and propelling the vision of a self-reliant New India.

For this exclusive online Startup Acceleration Programme for women working in the field of science & technology, HexGn has partnered with Invest India (via Startup India and AGNIi Mission team, executing the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India’s flagship technology commercialisation Programme).

At the launch, Mr Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India said, “Our women entrepreneurs are not only helping the country’s economic growth but also playing a pivotal role in leaving a positive impact on society. Invest India is committed to strengthening the women entrepreneurship ecosystem, through programmes, innovation challenges, and creation of robust networks. Our partnership with HexGn for this Programme is another step in this direction”.

Further, Mr Rahul Nayar, Vice President Invest India added, “Indian women are at the very forefront of global innovation – leading advanced technology programmes across the world, from artificial intelligence to space exploration. This collaboration recognises the importance of ensuring India’s women have access to innovation opportunities and, is a small step towards delivering this long overdue need.”

The Programme reinforces HexGn and Invest India’s commitment to helping women-owned emerging technology ventures succeed and grow. The HexGn Startup Ready Programme is a 3-month high-speed Acceleration Programme. It will support women-owned technology-based businesses across urban and rural India. Applicants can register for the Programme on the Startup India portal.

Aastha Grover, Head, Startup India Hub at Invest India said, “Startup India is dedicated to promoting women entrepreneurship, through curated programmes such as the HexGn Startup Ready Programme. We are not only focused on reducing the gender gap when it comes to choosing entrepreneurship as a career track, but also making the startup ecosystem in India more inclusive so that women founders can scale their ventures with ease.”

In the last decade, India has come a long way in increasing women’s participation in education and the economy as a whole. Access to early-stage support will bolster the journey of women entrepreneurs in the country. At the launch, Jappreet Sethi, CEO, HexGn said, “Entrepreneurship will enable women to play a pivotal rather than a peripheral role in New India. We are delighted to support budding women entrepreneurs, who are leveraging technology to lay the foundation of the next generation of businesses in urban & rural India”.

Empowering women with innovation knowledge and tools is the first step towards motivating women entrepreneurs to build global enterprises from India. The HexGn Startup Ready Programme coincides with the launch of INR 945 Crore Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. The scheme will become operational from the first April 2021. Selected startups can get up to INR 20 lakh as grant, and at the commercialisation stage an additional INR 50 lakh in convertible debentures.

Business World, News

Chandigarh Startup Policy to be launched soon – Secretary, Chandigarh Administration

Feb 23, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Chair, #Chandigarh Administration, #Chandigarh Chapter, #Head, #IAS, #Invest India, #Mr Madhu Sudan Vij, #Mr Param Kalra, #Mr Yashpal Garg, #Ms Aastha Grover, #Regional Chair, #secretary, #Startup Committee, #Startup Hub

Chandigarh will get its own Startup Policy with special focus on women entrepreneurship soon, informed Mr Yashpal Garg, IAS, Secretary, Chandigarh Administration. He was addressing a video conference on Startups organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with Chandigarh Administration and startup Punjab.

He further shared that Incubation Center at Chandigarh for IT sector is operating since 2001. The new policy will focus on accommodating non IT Startups and expand the scope of incentivizing to private and institutional incubators, co-working spaces and startups.

Ms Aastha Grover, Head, Startup Hub, Invest India conducted a workshop on startup schemes, registration process, recognition schemes, seed funds and special agreements with ministries and corporates to promote products and services of Startups.

During her workshop she informed the participants regarding various modes created by the Government of India to provide market access to startups including access to 30 States / UTs through their policies, International tie ups with 11 countries to open access to their investors and market, tie ups with corporates to promote the products and services by startups, pro bono service with listed companies and government engagement for social startups. She added that exclusive patent application route created for DPIIT registered startups increased the patent registration three times in past 4 years.

She informed the participants about the funding schemes and the application process under various government schemes launched by different departments.

Mr Madhu Sudan Vij, Chair, Chandigarh Chapter informed the participants regarding services provided to startups through PHD – MSME Mentoring & Guidance Center and further encouraged them to take the membership.

While moderating the session Mr Param Kalra, Regional Chair, Startup Committee addressed and tried to get the solutions for the pain points of the startups including the cost of incorporation of a company, higher cost of power and internet supply, need to enhance the exposure and reach for the tier 2 and tier 3 cities based startups, availing the government schemes, access to the funds to incubators and startups.

The Session was attended by over 75 entrepreneurs from the region.

Business World, News

Amazon partners with Startup India to boost ecommerce exports from India

Jan 20, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Amit Agarwal, #Global Senior Vice President and Country Head Amazon India, #Invest India, #MD & CEO, #Mr. Deepak Bagla

Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Global Selling Propel (AGSP), an initiative designed to provide dedicated support to emerging Indian brands and startups to reach customers around the world. Amazon has partnered with Startup India to launch an accelerator program to help early-stage startups in the consumer products space to launch in international markets and create global brands from India through Amazon’s Global Selling program.

As part of the Startup Accelerator, Amazon has constituted a mentorship board consisting of Amazon leaders from India and across the world, VCs and senior leaders from Startup India, Invest India who will engage with emerging brands and provide them tailored resources, 1:1 mentorship on the global demand patterns and insights on building successful exports business through ecommerce. Amazon will also host open virtual mentorship sessions focused on peer learning by inviting veteran entrepreneurs and members from its mentorship board for startups, to network and learn from their existing ecosystem. The accelerator program will provide startups an opportunity to showcase their business proposition to partner VC firms – Sequoia Capital India and Fireside Ventures anda chance to win a total equity free grant of $50,000 from Amazon.

“The adoption of technology and digital transformation has paved the way for India to be at the forefront of innovation, giving rise to some of the best startups in the world. There are many promising, emerging brands that have the capability to become big and go global. This is a timely initiative by Amazon which can prove to be a big stepping stone for startups to build their business and get access to global markets.” said Mr. Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India.

 Amit Agarwal, Global Senior Vice President and Country Head Amazon India said, “Amazon Global Selling, our flagship program to grow Exports from India is witnessing tremendous momentum with increasing interest from exporters across India. Our partnership with Startup India to launch this accelerator program will provide emerging brands an opportunity to bring their business propositions to life and help create globally popular brands from India. With Amazon Global Selling we will continue to make Exports simple and accessible to businesses of all sizes and fulfill our commitment of enabling $10 billion in e-commerce exports from India by 2025.”

 More about the Startup Accelerator

The entries for the startup accelerator open today until 7th February 2021. The interested startups can log on to http://www.amazon.in/propeland complete their application. Early stage startups in the consumer products space (raised funding in the post seed to pre series A stage, if funded) with a vision to expand their business to global markets can apply to be a part of the accelerator program. The entries will be evaluated by an Amazon led panel on the basis of the business idea, scalability and strength of the business plan/model, business metrics in launched markets, founding team credentials amongst others. Ten shortlisted applicants will be inducted into the startup accelerator.

The program will feature a six week 1:1 mentorship module for the shortlisted participants where they will get to interact with Amazon leaders from India and worldwide and get firsthand knowledge on building and scaling up exports business through ecommerce. Amazon will provide the support for these startups to launch their products worldwide through its Exports program – Amazon Global Selling. The accelerator program will provide startups a chance to showcase their business proposition to partner VC firms – Sequoia Capital India and Fireside Ventures. The top 3 winners will get a total equity free grant of $50,000 from Amazon.