Gangtok: AIC-SMU Technology Business Incubator (AIC-SMUTBI) hosted the Startup Founders Connect on May 16, 2024, in a bid to foster collaboration, connection, and consolidation among entrepreneurs from North East India. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, mentors, industry leaders, academia, and startups, to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking.
The gathering was honoured by the presence of K. K. Singh, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information Technology and Electronics (MEITY), Government of India, and Vishwas Shrivastava, Scientist at MEITY. Esteemed startups such as O2 Himalaya, Urjjah EV, Akumen Artificial Intelligence, Nibiaa Devices, Makaiko, Prakritiko, Maity Ghar, Studio Zeyma, Crafted Fibers, Craft and Clay, Syangbo’s Food and Living Beverages, Gladiolus Language Nectar, Puzzle Craft, Denzong Waters, and IBC showcased their innovative products and services during the event.
The Founders Connect program provided an invaluable platform for startups to network with co-founders and discuss pathways forward, laying a strong foundation for market connections and shared experiences through active group discussions and participation.
Shri K. K. Singh emphasized the importance of Intellectual Property rights protection for the innovations being developed and the significant potential for North Eastern states in the development and application of new technologies. He also highlighted the support provided by the Government of India to startups in the region.
With over 30 startups from across the North East and North Bengal (Darjeeling Hills) region in attendance, AIC-SMUTBI aims to serve as a bridge between government entities and startups, helping refine business models and scale business ventures.
Established as one of the 100 world-class incubators envisioned by the AIM, NITI Aayog, Government of India, AIC-SMUTBI nurtures early-stage entrepreneurial ventures based on technology and innovation. The incubator provides infrastructure, mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to help budding entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses.
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As the first incubation centre in North East India supported by AIM, NITI Aayog, AIC-SMUTBI has partnered with various esteemed organizations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, META, Stanford, Wadhwani Foundation, Google Cloud, Microsoft for Startups, Zoho Corporation, Amazon, Intuit Circle, Freshworks, Hubspot, MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), Startup India, NSRCEL, HDFC Bank, PayTM, Razorpay, among others. Notably, AIC-SMUTBI is among the four incubators in India selected for the META XR Startup Program Accelerator and Grand Challenge program, supporting startups in Agritech, Climate Action, Tourism, and Sustainable domains.
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