In an effort to make startup-related info accessible to everyone, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, IIT Madras, has rolled out an innovative program titled "Startups for All." This is an online platform that aims to help students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in the Indian startup ecosystem with low-cost and verified data that is indispensable for making the right choices.
The launch of the "Startups for All" initiative was honored by the presence of Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu. It happened during the TN Global Startup Summit, which took place recently in Chennai.
A Collaborative Effort for Inclusive Innovation
“Startups for All” is headed by the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST) at IIT Madras and developed in collaboration with YNOS, a startup incubated at the institute itself. The platform is a response to the long-standing information asymmetry that has hindered the growth of early-stage startups and limited access to critical data for new entrants in the entrepreneurial space.
According to IIT Madras, the platform currently hosts comprehensive data, including:
The huge database is made easy through a user interface, and its freemium and pay-as-you-go model allows students and early-stage entrepreneurs, who are usually short of money, to use it at a reasonable expense.
Bridging the Startup Information Gap
The main point of "Startups for All" is that it tries to clear the gap in information in India's startup ecosystem. The platform, by presenting verified, structured, and actionable data, is willing to empower users to make better strategic decisions by finding investors, understanding trends, or schemes of the government.
Dr. Thillai Rajan A., Head of CREST at IIT Madras, pointed out that the project is not just for the founders and investors but also the students, job seekers, corporates, service providers, and policy makers.
Supporting India’s Vision for 2047
With the initiation of this program, India is moving towards its big dream of becoming Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 and having a $5 trillion economy. As India is already the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, initiatives like "Startups for All" are expected to be instrumental in India to lead the way in innovation and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
Looking Ahead: What's Next
IIT Madras, by democratizing access to critical startup data, is not only paving the way for other academic institutions to take up the mantle of ecosystem development but also setting a benchmark. The "Startups for All" platform is expected to evolve further, gaining more features and enlarging its database to include new sectors and regional startup hubs.
This step is a reflection not only of IIT Madras’s dedication to the cause of innovation but also of how crucial access to data is for the creation of a vibrant and inclusive startup environment in India.
To know more about the startup and other information, you can head over to the official IIT Madras website and read the press release.
