India’s startup ecosystem has grown exponentially in the recent past. It has made a name for itself in several industries and encouraged entrepreneurs to put forth their ideas. With the Government being involved, the startup ecosystem has gotten a massive push by receiving investments, access to mentors, and incubation programmes. In 2006 Kerala government founded KSUM (Kerala Startup Mission) with the aim to aid tech-based startups by assisting them with the proper environment to function with their ideas.
The Kerala Startup Mission will be soon launching the ‘Startup Commons’ platform in order to assist technical and business support to the startup ecosystem. ‘Startup Commons’ will serve as a one-stop solution for people/companies who are trying to access technical support, promotions, investment, etc. The platform will act as a booster for these startups. The platform will be launched in the month of February. It is being discussed that these services might be free in the first year of the programme.
Anoop P. Ambika CEO of KSUM said,“Initially, we will list the various service providers from lawyers and HR professionals to marketing consultants and content creators under the Startup Commons. The idea is to eventually turn it into an online platform to be rated by the users.” He further added “we have often come across complaints about the dearth of quality and viable vendors for assisting start-ups. Startup Commons, among other things, proposes to bridge this gap. It may also eventually help create a service economy around the start-up ecosystem, thus generating jobs”.
Anoop P. Ambika, CEO of KSUM
Under KSUM there are currently 3900 startups registered, 6 lakhs plus sq feet space for incubation centre, 67 incubators, 370 mini-incubators, future technology labs, IOT labs and MIT Super Fab lab (digital fabrication). KSUM has been actively assisting new and old startups since the year 2017 and has currently provided funds of over Rs 25 crore as the first and major seed capital. KSUM had received over 8,000 innovative ideas which were presented to them by tech firms and 23 Vidyarthi startups. Out of which 2000 were narrowed down and eventually 550 ideas had been awarded innovation grants. Even after the pandemic and the kind of restrictions people faced, in 2021 KSUM managed to back about 170 startups by giving them grants worth Rs 689.15 lakhs.
The following are KSUM’s achievements to date: recognized by UBI Global as the World No. 1 Public Business Accelerator in 2019, State has been ranked as Top Performer in the State Startup Ranking 2019 by DPIIT, State has been ranked as a Top Performer in the State Startup Ranking 2018 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Chief Minister’s Award for Innovation in Public Policy for the year 2016.
KSUM which was early called T-TBI (Technopark Technology Business Incubator) is focused on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship by keeping the ecosystem active. TBI is government-affiliated and the centre for incubation activities in Kerala. Presently 165 tech startups are incubated in Technopark achieving a success rate of 96% plus. T-TBI won the Award for ‘Worlds 2nd Best Science-Based Incubator’ instituted by CSES, UK and Techno-Policy Network, the Netherlands, T-TBI Won AABI Incubator Award, T-TBI won the Golden Peacock national training award 2014, won the National Forum for People’s rights Appreciation award 2013, State Startup Ranking – 2021 – Top Performing State by Startup India.
