Kerala Startup Mission receives recognition at the startup meeting

Kerala Startup Mission receives recognition at the startup meeting

At the IndiaFirst Tech Startup (Bangalore Chapter) hosted by the All India Council for Robotics & Automation, the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) won the Best Institute Award for Startup Initiative (AICRA).

In addition, four of the 15 start-ups led by the KSUM that competed in the second iteration of the two-day event in Bengaluru won awards in various categories, which was completed on Thursday. The Best Health Tech Startup award went to Coexin Technologies Mental Health Service in Kozhikode, and the Innovative Smart City Concept prize went to Fit In Consultants in Thiruvananthapuram.

The E Plane Company of Kozhikode won the prize for the Most Innovative Startup Concept, while Kochi-based Pinmicro India Pvt. Ltd. won the prize for the Most Innovative IoT Concept.

Speaking on the accomplishment, KSUM CEO John M. Thomas noted that the nodal organisation has consistently upheld its commitment to supporting emerging businesses that were engaged in technological advancements. "At a time when the world is becoming more and more IT-centric, Kerala makes tiny but significant contributions to the mission. Recognitions always give our start-ups a boost, he said. Ashwath Narayan C.N., the Karnataka Minister for IT and Electronics, and AICRA President Rajkumar Sharma attended the second edition of IndiaFirst Tech in Bengaluru's Manpho Convention Center.

Kerala maintained its position on the 'Top Performers' list in the States' Startup Ranking 2021 of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a division of the Union ministry of commerce and industry, on Monday as a result of its consistent efforts to create a robust startup ecosystem.

On Monday, the rankings were announced in New Delhi by Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry. Alongside Karnataka, Kerala was listed in the rankings' "Top Performers" section for 2019. Four additional states, Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Jammu & Kashmir, are included in the category with Kerala in the most recent report, while Karnataka is listed as the category's "Best Performer."

According to the DPIIT, Kerala has made some commendable efforts in the startup sector, including offering institutional support to startups through knowledge dissemination in regional languages, developing Kerala Startup Mission Digital Hub as a one-stop facility for all product design and development activities, and also assisting government agencies through capacity building programmes and the creation of tailored incentives and schemes. It acknowledged Kerala as a trailblazer in institutional development, capacity building, and procurement. It also praised the state for supporting 20 firms founded by women.

Platform offered

The IndiaFirst Tech Startup series offers up-and-coming businesses a forum to network with influential businesspeople, investors, and government officials. The highlights of IndiaFirst Tech Startup include keynote addresses, displays, and panel discussions. The Kerala government's key organisation for entrepreneurship development and incubation operations in the State is the KSUM.

The author is a former Kerala Startup Mission Fellow and a failed entrepreneur. Currently working as a Digital Marketing enthusiast and planning to set up his new Digital Marketing venture soon.