IDUKKI:
The state-wide ‘StartupYatra’, organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) to nurture aspiring entrepreneurs in Kerala’s tier 2 and 3 cities, visited Marian College, Kuttikkanam on Monday, offering its students a platform to showcase their innovative ideas and help them realise their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur straight from the campus.
The students at the college expressed keen interest in the Yatra which is organised to spot wannabe entrepreneurs, encourage their ideas and provide them with the necessary support to nurture their unique ideas. Around 150 students participated in the programme and 50 registered for the boot camp.
As part of the Yatra, eight boot camps and 14 van stops have been planned across the state’s 14 districts. The boot camps, to be held at colleges and universities, will hold ideation workshops and idea-pitching sessions for students.
Aspiring entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas to a panel and the winners will get an opportunity to participate in a two-day acceleration programme with a leading incubator. At the end of the programme, the shortlisted candidates will be able to pitch for offers by incubators as well as incentives by the state government.
The Yatra will conclude in a grand finale at the state capital’s Park Center on November 26-27. The winners will get prizes totalling Rs 10 lakh besides incubation support.
KSUM is organising the ‘StartupYatra’ in collaboration with Startup India, the Central Government’s flagship initiative to empower startups through innovation and design. The primary objective of the march is to identify promising entrepreneurs from the state’s smaller cities, offer them support in terms of incubation and mentorship from renowned institutions and also help them tide over the lack of resources.
