Kerala Startup Mission

Kerala Startup Mission
Industry Technology Business Incubator
Founded 2006
Headquarters Thiruvananthapuram, India
Key people
 Dr. Saji Gopinath (Chief Executive Officer)
Website www.startupmission.kerala.gov.in

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM, formerly known as Technopark TBI) is the nodal agency of Government of Kerala for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in Kerala, India. The primary objectives of KSUM was to undertake the planning, establishment, and management of Technology Business Incubators/ Accelerators in Kerala so as to promote technology based entrepreneurship activities and create the infrastructure and environment required for promoting high technology based business activities. KSUM objectives also include being an apex body for all other incubators in the state to coordinate their functions to strengthen the entrepreneurship development activities of the state government, promoting knowledge driven and technology based startup ventures by students, faculties, local entrepreneurs etc, planning and implementing industry institute linkages and networking, setting up of R & D facilities and related facilities, encouraging formation of IEDC and TBI’s in academic institutions and capacity building programmes for human resources.

Incubation program

KSUM provides entrepreneurs with support for technology-based business ventures. KSUM is restricted to product-based startups with technology products and innovations.[1]

Startup incubation can usually be divided into three stages, namely a pre-incubation stage (3-6 months), an incubation stage (6-12 months) and an accelerator stage (3-6 months). The pre-incubation mainly focus on ideation of a potentially innovative idea in a co-working environment. During the incubation stage startup companies graft product development and prepare themselves for marketing. KSUM at this stage will allot them specific seats/modules along with funds or grants as applicable under department scheme and right mentorship. They will also provide additional services like entrepreneur trainings and workshops. The accelerator stage is a business tools box and a holistic business advisory service, resembling the traditional management consulting or mentoring. The startup will be presented to VC’s and investors (Strategic & Financial).[2]

KSUM - EY Accelerator

Kerala startup Mission in association with Ernst and Young have started a Business & Technology Accelerator to provide for fully equipped and functional office space of 1500 sq.ft at the Drishya Building, KINFRA Film & Video Park, Thiruvananthapuram.

The objective of the accelerator program is to offer technology and business thought leadership and mentorship support that can aid in the development of the selected start-ups incubated in the state of Kerala through a 6-month acceleration (extendable by 6 more months) program to facilitate business sophistication and skill enhancement of the selected entrepreneurs. The program would encompass mentorship support in all areas of business and technology including Business strategy, Finance, HR, investment proposals, emerging technology trends, market research etc.

The accelerator program will also support entrepreneurs to network with industry captains, angels, venture capitalists etc.[3][4]

FAB Labs

With the support of Government of Kerala, KSUM has started two MIT USA Electronics Fabrication labs each at Technopark, Trivandrum and Kerala Technology Innovation Zone (KTIZ), Kochi.[5] The fablab in Technopark, Trivandrum is established inside the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management- Kerala (IIITM-K). A Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) is a technical prototyping platform for innovation and invention which aims at providing stimulus for local entrepreneurship and serves as a platform for learning and innovation. It is a small scale workshop offering digital fabrication which empowers the users to create smart devices for themselves which can be tailored to local or personal needs. The FabLab also becomes a medium for connecting to a global community of learners, educators, technologists, researchers and innovators – essentially becoming a self-sustaining global knowledge sharing network. The FABLAB programme involves setting up state-of-the-art Fabrication laboratories in the state to encourage startups in printed electronics and other such fields. KSUM has associated with Centre for Bits and Atoms, MIT Fab Lab Foundation, USA for this. The fablabs being established in Trivandrum and Ernakulam are identical and mainly comprises the following inventories.[6][7][8][9]

Other Programs

Learn To Code (Raspberry Pi Program)

Learn to Code (Raspberry Pi Distribution) Government of Kerala took the lead and launched the initiative called "Learn to Code". During the phase 1 of Raspberry Pi Distribution Programme 2500 Raspberry Pi Kits were distributed to 8th STD students.The project’s aim is to add 40,000 talented youngsters from schools to the vibrant maker community being developed through community participation programmes initiated by the Kerala Startup Mission. The students were given hands on training and have encouraged to experiment with the Pi, focused coding sessions were arranged during the month of May. Subsequently, Kerala Startup Mission along with IT@School has conducted the Kerala Raspberry Pi Competition for the students who received the Raspberry Pi Kit.[10][11][12]

Startup Box

The Kerala government has introduced a scheme 'Start-Up Box program' with the Kerala Start-Up Mission (KSUM) for aspiring entrepreneurs in the state. Government of Kerala has taken pioneering effort to bring about a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation amongst its youth.

Start-up Box is designed to distribute startup kits to various technology and industry verticals. The Start-Up Box Program will motive startup entrepreneurs to attempt new and innovative products by creating varied applications in different platforms. Yearly the Startup Box Initiative will provide up to 50 teams composed of college students.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "Incubation Details".
  2. ↑ "Incubation Procedure Pdf" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Kerala Startup Mission Offers Accelerator for Young Entrepreneurs". BLIVE - News Writers for the new age youth…. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  4. ↑ "Inauguration & Launch of Kerala's first Business & Technology Accelerator". Technopark Blog. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  5. ↑ "ഭാവിയിലെ ഫാക്ടറികളായ ഫാബ് ലാബുകള്‍ കേരളത്തിലും". mathrubhuminews.in. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  6. ↑ "Fablab – Where anyone can make almost anything". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  7. ↑ "Kerala to fund fab-labs in private colleges". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  8. ↑ "Fab Lab at Startup Village to Help Manufacture Smart Devices". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  9. ↑ "MIT to help set up 'Fab Labs' in Kerala". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  10. ↑ "Kerala Launches 'Learn to Code' Project, Will Distribute Raspberry Pi Kits". NDTV Gadgets360.com. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  11. ↑ "Kerala to strengthen IT, electronics education in schools with Raspberry Pi". The Indian Express. Indian Express. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  12. ↑ "Raspberry Pi Kits to Be Provided to Every School: Kerala Chief Minister – Tech2". Tech2. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  13. ↑ "Startup Box to convert ideas into reality". The Hindu. 2015-06-25. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  14. ↑ "Startup Village offers 'startup box' to engg students". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
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