THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has launched a unique project that facilitates the support of startups to industries for their technological upgradation and up-scaling of business.
Setting the stage for the scheme called Business-to-Startups, which seeks to strengthen industry-startup ties, a round table was organized by KSUM, attended by representatives of 25 industry associations and those from a wide range of industries. As the next step, industries affiliated to different associations will hold internal discussions and come up with their requirements, to be presented before startups for finding suitable solutions. As the nodal agency for the startup ecosystem in the state, KSUM will set the platform for this.
The deliberations at the round table were led by M Sivasankar IAS, Principal Secretary Electronics and IT, and Dr Saji Gopinath, CEO KSUM.
Representatives of various business and industry forums including GTech, CII, TiE Kerala, Great Malabar Initiative, Malabar Chamber of Commerce, Calicut Management Association, KSSIA Kochi , Lifeline Chamber and MSME Development Institute attended the round table. Those from BPCL and HLL Lifecare Ltd were also present at the programme, which was attended by a total of 90 persons.
Taking the project forward, KSUM has started a series of sessions called Reverse Pitching for industries to present their problems before startups. The focus of these sessions will be various services including software solutions required by traditional, small and medium industries, and business strategies to market their products.
Industries can also put across their requirements through respective associations. KSUM will connect them with startups, so that they will be able to substantially reduce the cost needed for modernization and digitization of their enterprises. They will also be provided opportunities to directly interact with the startups under KSUM to address their needs. Details of the programme are available at https://singlewindow.startupmission.in.
