MeitY Startup Hub Investor Connect Programme Coming To Jaipur On March 9

In an effort to empower emerging startups in the state of Rajasthan with essential guidance and mentorship, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub will be organising the ‘MeitY Startup Hub Investor Connect Programme’ in Jaipur on March 9. 

Part of a nationwide series, the inaugural edition is powered by Inc42 and supported by JECRC university, Jaipur. This collaborative initiative aims to connect startups with investors who can help them with funding and scaling and simultaneously, allow MeitY’s incubation centres to build stronger investor networks.    

Through the Investor Connect Programme, 100+ promising startups from 10 zones across India will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of investors and local investors and seek feedback and opportunity to raise funds.

The Jaipur edition will be held at the JIC Incubation Centre at JECRC university, which is supported by TIDE 2.0 (Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs) — a scheme under MeitY to promote entrepreneurship. Recognised by MeitY and Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, JIC claims to have disbursed grants exceeding INR 5 Cr out of over INR 10 Cr to support startups in their early stages of growth. As a result, it claims to have successfully incubated 60+ startups in the state.

“Bringing this programme to JECRC university isn’t just about serving Jaipur’s high-growth entrepreneurship ecosystem, but also igniting a spark of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within the university’s bright student and entrepreneur community,” said Jeet Vijay, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub (MSH). 

JECRC university said that it currently has 16K+ students from over 30 states and union territories in India and promotes diversity and dynamic learning. To promote a strong sense of community building, it also has an alumni network of 22K+ graduates.

The programme will convene over 50 investors and industry experts such as Sanat Mondal, VP & principal at IAN Alpha Fund; Rishiraj Kalita, AVP at Huddle Ventures; Manoj Kumar Agarwal cofounder & managing partner Seafund and Dhanush Ram, investment manager, Speciale Invest. 

The investors will assess each startup and provide them with valuable feedback on refining their pitches and business models — potentially unlocking doors to funding and growth.

Participating startups are part of various programmes and schemes like SAMRIDH and TIDE 2.0 and centers of excellence by MeitY —  all geared towards providing crucial incubation support to young startups.

Why Jaipur?

Selecting Jaipur as the launchpad for our multi-city programme was a strategic decision. The recently published fourth edition of the Startup Awards & State Ranking Awards recognised Rajasthan as a “top performer” in startup activity for 2022.

Jaipur itself has blossomed into a prominent startup hub, not only within the state but also across the country. The ‘Pink City’ is home to half of Rajasthan’s registered startups and its proximity to established hubs like Delhi and Gurugram fosters a favourable business environment. This is further enhanced by a host of educational institutions nurturing young talent and cost-effective infrastructure in terms of rent and cost of living.

This edition also highlights the potential of collaboration between academia, government and private entities to unlock opportunities for the state’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.

With a commitment to foster innovation, JECRC’s JIC claims to have impacted over 20K students and nurtured a culture of entrepreneurship in the state. It also boasts a network of 200+ industry leaders to offer valuable connections and mentorship opportunities to aspiring founders. Moreover, JIC’s credit-based Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) course is taught by industry experts, entrepreneurs and innovators to equip students with practical skills and knowledge.  

Notably, the incubation centre launched JIC Startup Policy 2.0 on National Startup Day recently, with an aim to empower startups and solidify its commitment to catalysing entrepreneurial growth in the state.

Startups from numerous incubation centres supported by MeitY including Atal Incubation Centre at Banasthali Vidyapeeth, JIC by JECRC university and IIT Jodhpur’s incubation centre will present their business models to a jury of investors and HNIs (high net worth individuals) who specialise in sectors like healthtech, agritech and fintech. 

Therefore, demo day attendees can expect to witness a diverse range of startups showcasing their innovative use of technology to disrupt traditional sectors and drive progress across various industries.

Through the MeitY Startup Hub Investor Connect Programme, Inc42 is committed to providing startups across India with access to critical networking opportunities and investor connections, ultimately accelerating their journeys towards the next stage of growth.