Sandbox Startups

Sandbox Startups, formerly known as the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) program, is a business incubator based in Hubli, Karnataka, India. Started as an initiative by the Deshpande Foundation in 2008, and later re-branded as its present name in 2014, the organisation seeks to create an ecosystem in the region that supports entrepreneurship while providing the necessary resources needed to turn business ideas into successful ventures.[1] The incubator also offers assistance to startups in smaller tier-2 and tier-3 cities by offering access to a rural and semi-urban customer base, allowing new businesses to have an equal level of support with startups in larger cities across India. [2]

History

In August 2014, Microsoft Ventures and the Deshpande Foundation launched the Sandbox Startups incubator with an initiative to set up a 20,000 square feet area for incubation in the city of Hubli. The main intention of this initiative was to ensure that better entrepreneurial support would be given to those who reside outside of big metropolises in India, removing the inevitability of having to relocate to such places.[3]

In December 2014, the organisation announced the opening of applications to its Incubation Program, stating that it would commence the program on March 1, 2015. 30 startups were to be selected at its incubation centres in Hubli and Nizamabad, Telangana[4]

In July 2016, Sandbox Startups inaugurated a new incubation centre in the city of Belgaum, Karnataka. In partnership with the Karnatak Law Society's Institute of Management Education and Research (KLS IMER), the new Sandbox-IMER incubation centre welcomed four new startups into the program. A "Pitch Your Idea Belagavi" event was also scheduled as its first major function in August 2016.[5]

Sandbox Startups is now currently inaugurating a new Incubation Center to be inaugurated in July 2018. The new center in Hubli is meant to create a physical space for entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas as well as play a integral part in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem in non-metros. The space is equipped with a Maker’s Lab as well as a state-of-the-art ESDM Cluster with full and complete access to 3D printing services, prototype development, electronic manufacturing, testing services, design evaluation, and a fully automated SMT line.

Incubation Program

The incubation program works toward fostering an environment where all individuals from a variety of different social dynamics and backgrounds can create innovative and relevant solutions to social problems. Sandbox Startups follows a program workflow that spans from applying to the program with a business idea to the eventual goal of growing a venture that an incubatee has created with the support of the program. In between this workflow, startups are given the opportunity to validate their business ideas, build prototypes, scale their businesses, gain access to mentors and industry experts, and meet potential investors. Given its record, the incubator supported over 200 ideas while incubating over 50 startups in its lifetime.[6]

Successful Companies from Sandbox Startups

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sandboxstartups.org/about-us. Retrieved 2018-07-02. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ https://news.microsoft.com/en-in/deshpande-foundation-microsoft-ventures-partner-to-launch-sandbox-startups/
  3. ↑ "Microsoft Ventures, Deshpande Foundation launch Sandbox Startups". businesstoday.in. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  4. ↑ "Sandbox Startups opens applications for incubation program | Microsoft News Center India". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  5. ↑ "Incubation centre for start-ups inaugurated in Belagavi". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
  6. ↑ "Incubation Support". Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  7. ↑ "Startup Stories - Sandbox Startups". sandboxstartups.org. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
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