Amid concerted efforts to modernize commerce across Jammu & Kashmir, DPIIT urged local startups to leverage opportunities presented by initiatives like ONDC. Speaking at an event organized by JKEDI reviewing the progress of startups in the region, Joint Secretary Sanjiv Singh highlighted how networks such as ONDC could help democratize e-commerce and boost participation of sellers from the state.

Singh impressed upon startups to onboard ONDC which aims to connect buyers and sellers online in an open public network. He believes this will help connect local artisans with a global market, mentioning how 112 Indian toy manufacturers recently gained access to Walmart’s global supply chain. Singh urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the growing Indian consumer base as well as have more control over domestic supply chains.

The event saw participation from incubators and university startups working in various domains including logistics, e-commerce, agriculture-tech, healthcare, tourism and clean energy. Singh advised entrepreneurs to tap into the booming tourism sector and leverage cricket’s popularity by exploring manufacturing of cricket gear. He emphasized understanding market dynamics to identify viable opportunities.

Startups shared challenges of competing nationally. JKEDI, the state startup promotion body, is committed to supporting such initiatives that can revolutionize commerce and boost the local economy through entrepreneurship and digitization. With focused interventions, Jammu & Kashmir’s startup ecosystem appears set for transformational growth.

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The 2024 edition of Vietnam’s flagship Green Entrepreneurship Contest officially kicked off this month, aiming to unearth the country’s most promising sustainable startups. Organized jointly by the Business Studies and Assistance Center and Business Association of High Quality Vietnamese Goods, the decade-long competition seeks out green businesses across agriculture, food processing, biotech and community tourism.

This year’s contest is divided into early-stage and established company categories. Entrepreneurs who have launched products within the past year compete in Group A, while more mature startups operating for 1-5 years are in Group B. Both groups stand to win a portion of the 750 million VND (30,000 USD) total prize pool.

To support contestants, organizers have scheduled mentorship sessions through July on topics like sustainable technologies, local resource utilization and marketing. Top performers will receive further coaching ahead of the September semi-finals in three regions. The national final takes place in Ho Chi Minh City the following month.

According to Chairwoman Vu Kim Hang, the competition also fosters community through workshops on knowledge sharing and partnership opportunities. Now in its second decade, the Green Entrepreneurship Program has incubated nearly 1,000 green startups across Vietnam. These agri-preneurs effectively leverage indigenous assets to develop health-conscious, environmentally-friendly products and jobs in rural areas.

By driving sustainable innovation from the ground up, the contest empowers a new generation of entrepreneurs committed to eco-friendly agriculture. Past winners have shown staying power in Vietnam’s market by implementing standards that protect both profits and the planet. With support like expert training and cash prizes, the 2024 edition aims to discover Vietnam’s next crop of visionary green startups.

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India’s burgeoning startup culture continues to gather speed at an extraordinary pace, powered by the entrepreneurial zeal and talent of the country’s youth, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the inaugural Startup Mahakumbh conference in New Delhi. Mr. Modi praised the youth for choosing the path of job creation over seeking employment, noting that over 1.25 lakh innovative startups have emerged with more than 110 achieving unicorn status.

The PM outlined key policy support provided by the government including the Startup India initiative which aims to fuel entrepreneurial ideas and connect promising ventures to funding. Announcing a Rs 1 lakh crore grant for research and innovation in sunrise sectors, he expressed confidence that startups will play a central role in achieving the goal of transforming India into a $5 trillion economy.

Statistics released by organizers indicate that Startup Mahakumbh saw unprecedented participation with over 3000 delegates in attendance. Over 2000 startups participated alongside 1000 investors, 100 unicorns and representatives from 300 incubators and accelerators from India and abroad. Future entrepreneurs and visitors swelled the numbers to over 30000 participants, making it a historic event that will bolster all stakeholders in India’s burgeoning tech and innovation driving startup landscape.

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Technology giants Kakao Ventures and Microsoft Korea are searching for innovators with their new GenAI Startupthon competition. Beginning applications now through March 22nd 2024, this challenge invites developers and early-stage startups to craft service prototypes utilizing the powerful but untapped possibilities of generative AI.

Participants will be immersed in Azure’s generative AI tools and training. Through a March 30th workshop on prompt engineering strategies, competitors will gain insights on directing models towards socially beneficial applications. Armed with this expertise, teams then have 18 days to design and demo a working product harnessing generative AI.

Creativity, commercial viability and technical execution will be assessed for winners on April 18th. Beyond a 10 million won grand prize, exposure to investors could mean the beginning of a thriving business. With Azure credits also provided, the sole barrier to participation is imagination.

Kakao Ventures and MS Korea are investing in Korea’s future – one defined by responsible, people-centered progress. Their GenAI Startupthon sheds light on a technology poised to automate tasks while augmenting human potential. The question remains: what problems will the innovators solve, and what new realities will they bring to life?

Stay tuned as a new generation of startups takes shape at this intersection of opportunity and responsibility.

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The Jammu and Kashmir administration has big plans for startups in the union territory with the launch of an ambitious new startup policy called Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy 2024-27 that aims to establish 2000 new startups and position J&K as one of the top startup hubs in India by 2027.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha launched the highly anticipated J&K Startup Policy 2024-27 at the Avinya Startup Summit, outlining a strategic roadmap to foster entrepreneurship and innovation.

The policy targets establishing 2000 startups through investing in incubation centers, providing seed funding, mentorship and specialized support including financial assistance for patent registration and marketing.

A key highlight is the formation of a Rs. 250 crore Venture Capital Fund with initial funding of Rs. 25 crores to help early-stage startups with critical financing and scaling up of viable business models.

Giant leap for startups & innovators! Today launched ‘New Jammu & Kashmir Start-up Policy- 2024-27’. New policy has been meticulously drafted to establish 2,000 startups in UT by 2027, underscoring our commitment to foster a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/pGIWRoqSSG

— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) March 3, 2024

Currently, J&K has over 700 registered startups focused on diverse sectors like construction, IT, agriculture and food processing. The policy survey found that majority seek support for branding and marketing while more incubator collaborations are needed.

Sinha called on investors, financial bodies and academic institutions to partner in implementing the groundbreaking policy and unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of J&K’s youth. “The policy will position J&K as a leading startup ecosystem nationally in the coming years,” he added.

Official Document of Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy 2024-27

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The Walt Disney Company has announced the 10th anniversary of its Disney Accelerator program, which nurtures innovative companies worldwide to advance the future of technology and storytelling.

As Disney Accelerator enters its 10th year of investing in groundbreaking startups, Disney revealed the five companies selected for the 2024 program. These companies specialize in leveraging emerging technologies as tools to ignite human creativity and imagination, helping to shape the future landscape of media and tech.

“Disney has always pioneered innovation, adopting technological shifts to enhance experiences and bring timeless stories to life,” said Bonnie Rosen, GM of Disney Accelerator. “The program allows us to continue this legacy of innovation and the ethical use of technology to empower storytelling. As we commence the 10th year, we welcome leading companies who share our belief in the unparalleled power of human creativity and imagination to bring Disney magic to fans globally.”

The 2024 Disney Accelerator participants are:

• AudioShake – AI audio technology to make sound interactive and customizable
• ElevenLabs – Voice AI to create realistic, adaptable audio
• Nuro – Autonomous electric vehicles for delivery
• PrometheanAI – Tools for virtual world-building with natural language
• StatusPro – Immersive sports gaming in VR/AR

For a century, Disney has pioneered technologies to enrich storytelling and experiences. The 2024 companies align with Disney’s commitment to responsibly exploring AI’s potential to unlock human creativity.

Since launching in 2014, Disney Accelerator has connected over 60 startups worldwide with Disney’s creative teams. Program participants receive guidance from Disney’s leadership. The 2024 program will conclude with a Demo Day at Walt Disney Studios in Spring 2024.

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Global cloud leader Amazon Web Services (AWS) is fueling India’s burgeoning spacetech industry with the launch of a new startup accelerator program. By teaming up with Hyderabad-based incubators T-Hub and Minfy, AWS aims to provide early-stage space technology ventures with the tools, resources, and expertise needed to thrive.

Through this initiative, high-potential Indian startups will be selected for support ranging from cloud architecture training by Minfy experts to business planning guidance from T-Hub advisors. AWS itself will evaluate applicants based on factors like innovation potential, market fit, and technical skills. The goal is to help emerging spacetech companies harness advanced cloud technologies to solve problems, lower costs, and rapidly scale their solutions.

AWS Director Shalini Kapoor highlighted the accelerator’s role in realizing their commitment to India’s space sector through a 2021 partnership with ISRO and IN-SPACe. By nurturing local talent through collaboration with these stakeholders, the country’s space industry is poised for tremendous growth. AWS aerospace lead Clint Crosier reinforced how cloud computing will prove crucial to the future of the field by enabling data-driven innovation and more efficient operations.

Participating startups stand to gain cloud expertise, business insights, networking opportunities and fundraising support – critical resources that can help accelerate their progress in India’s booming spacetech landscape. Estimated to reach $77 billion by 2030, this accelerator launches at an ideal time to fuel the next generation of space technology leaders.

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Are you a start-up with an innovative solution that could transform the service industry? Do you want access to experienced mentors and a global client network to help take your business to the next level? Then Sodexo’s Global Accelerator programme is not to be missed!

This accelerator, a first of its kind initiative from Sodexo, is calling for applications from start-ups working in key areas like data analytics, sustainability, consumer experience and operational efficiency. Selected start-ups will receive invaluable support through mentorship, industry knowledge sharing and collaboration opportunities with Sodexo’s extensive client base.

The programme is focused on boosting innovation and driving continuous improvement across Sodexo’s services. For start-ups, it presents a life-changing chance to work directly with a global leader, gaining insights and partnerships to accelerate growth. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by – applications close February 25!

Sodexo is seeking solutions in high priority spaces like using data to improve communication and decision making, measuring carbon impact, enhancing consumer flexibility and capturing customer feedback. They also welcome novel ideas that can streamline workflows through digitization.

By collaborating with start-ups, Sodexo ensures it stays at the cutting edge of trends. For innovators with game-changing solutions, this programme fast tracks scaling by teaming up with an industry expert. Don’t delay – submit your application today for this chance of a lifetime!

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Sharjah is making a bold push to cement its status as a hotspot for entrepreneurs and small businesses with the launch of a massive new program. The emirate kicked off the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival this week, a two-day extravaganza aimed at cultivating the next wave of startups and empowering freelancers.

With hundreds of talks, workshops and competitions on tap, the festival is delivering a comprehensive catalyst for innovation. Founders can meet investors and industry leaders to pitch concepts while gaining valuable skills and insight. Ideas that generate buzz stand to secure early funding support. It’s a full-court press to nurture emerging companies from seed to growth.

This enormous undertaking underscores Sharjah’s dedication to SMEs and micro-businesses. As a driver of economic progress, nurturing entrepreneurs is priority one. The new initiative comes as free zones unveil unprecedented perks like instant licenses processed in under an hour. Competitive rates on operations and facilities remove hurdles.

As the regional scene matures, experts forecast the next phase of startups will tackle uniquely local problems. Sharjah is putting itself in prime position to spawn those solutions. With its intense support system and pro-business policies, expect many founders to take root in the emirate.

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In a significant move to showcase India’s booming startup ecosystem, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under the Indian Government has announced plans to host ‘Startup Mahakumbh’. Scheduled from March 18-20 in Delhi, the three-day exhibition will witness the participation of thousands of innovators from the country.

Announcing the event, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that Startup Mahakumbh is envisioned as the largest confluence of startups ever held in India. It aims to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s youth and thriving culture of innovation on a global stage. With over 80,000 recognized startups in India, the exhibition provides a mega platform to network, showcase solutions, and fuel greater collaborations.

International investors and delegates will get a comprehensive view of emerging sectors like technology, healthcare, fintech and their potential. By bringing all segments of the vibrant startup universe under one roof, Startup Mahakumbh hopes to fuel conversations around building an Atmanirbhar Bharat. It promises to be an extravaganza that underscores India’s emergence as a leading startup hub.

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