At start-up conclave, CM highlights domestic talent

Pinarayi says government has identified youth entrepreneurship as a thrust area

Making a strong pitch for the State’s start-up ecosystem, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said it offered a unique model in tapping domestic talent to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

“While other States developed their start-up ecosystem by attracting talents from other geographies, Kerala has built a model that relies on domestic talent and innovation,” he said inaugurating Huddle Kerala, a two-day start-up conclave organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in association with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IAMAI Startup Foundation.

Replicable

This model, he said, could be replicated to promote start-ups in other parts of the country and the world. Mr. Vijayan said the government had identified youth entrepreneurship as a thrust area and included it in the State’s start-up policy.

“Apart from developing innovation and entrepreneurship among school and college students and aspiring professionals, there are also programmes such as training for start-up CEOs and international exchange. All the schemes are available to eligible start-ups through the incubation network facilitated by the KSUM.”

Mr. Vijayan said there were more than 1,000 start-ups registered under the KSUM, with two lakh sq ft of incubation space available for them. “The KSUM has identified and funded more than 100 ideas with the potential to become successful ventures and create a social impact. The government has nurtured the ideas by providing innovation grants and within a short period, several start-ups have benefited from the programme,” he added.

Efforts lauded

Chairman of the Sharjah Digital Transformation Higher Committee Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, who was the chief guest at the event, lauded the educational progress of Kerala in building up a strong start-up ecosystem.

Chief Secretary Paul Antony; Secretary, IT, M. Sivasankar; MD, Public Affairs and Strategic Engagements, Cisco India, Harish Krishnan; President, Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Subho Ray; and CEO, NASSCOM , Shrikant Sinha; were present .

Hundreds of start-ups are attending the event to pitch their products and interact with technology experts, industry leaders, and investors from around the world.

Emerging sectors

The conference focusses on emerging sectors like Blockchain, cryptocurrency, Internet of Things, gaming and e-sports, cybersecurity, digital entertainment, augmented reality, virtual reality, e-governance, and mobile governance.