A group of M-Tech students at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute have come up with a plan to have dedicated startup guidance centres that can be operated by the government.
The group, Launch Pad Maharashtra, said 79% of startups were registered in rural areas and many of them failed to take off. The centres will help entrepreneurs approach the right people to set up businesses, tackle funding issues and contact investors.
Omkar Patil, the group leader, said, “Our project caters to the 22-23 age-group when compared to the general age group of startup promoters, which is 26 to 27. We want to bring in a change by lowering the promoters age gap and help startups in the the rural sector to evolve better. It has immense potential. Agricultural products and knowledge of nature can be a viable option for rural areas. They have the capability of being solid startup ideas in future.”
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The students said these centres would help those aspiring to launch startups to begin businesses and find investors. A website for aspirants could be developed that will help those who don’t have any such centre nearby. The students propose to set up one such centre in each tehsil. Apart from investors, these centres will provide notifications about startup conclaves where aspiring startup founders can pitch their ideas.
The students say the start-up centres will help tap into areas left uncovered by the Maharashtra Center of Entrepreneurship Development.