SAP, a global leader in business management software, has launched its startup studio in Bangalore to incubate early stage startups. It will be a 12-month accelerator programme under which, apart from providing financial support to startups, it will also provide space, access to technology infrastructure, mentoring and business consulting.
It will primarily scout for startups in the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data domains, retail and healthcare segments.
As per Bernd Leukert, member of SAP’s executive board, they will initially start with 75 seats for the first 10 startups and then will leave all options open. “Depending on individual outcome, we might become an equity stakeholder, just have a financial engagement or create a strategic partner programme,” he added.
The company has selected seven startups for its initial programme:
CloudKare: The founding team comprises four IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur alumni, viz. Rajat Mangla, Aakash Bhardwaj, Gulshan Gaurav, and Pratik Sahu. It is a cloud-based healthcare startup engaging patients, doctors and hospitals on a single platform. It is based in Bangalore.
Blubirch: A reverse logistics service provider, it aims to pioneer smarter approach to create sustainable value from unutilised inventory. With offices in Bangalore, Mumbai and Singapore, Blubirch offer services across the globe. The core team includes Jeby Cherian, Sapan Kumar Jain, Amit Goel, Giridhar K, and Mukunda Rao.
Niki.ai: Niki is a chat-based, artificial intelligence powered shopping assistant. It is co-founded by Keshav Prawasi, Sachin Jaiswal, Nitin Babel, and Shishir Modi. It is based inBangalore.
Sellerworx: An ecommerce marketplace solution provider, it helps businesses to promote their products and grow their business online. The startup is co-founded by Venkat Potluri, Ganesamurthi, and Chandramouli. It is based out of Bangalore and Mumbai.
Rapportworx (Stratawiz): It’s a sales performance management platform which uses social techniques, game mechanics and analytics for better engagement. It is based in Pune.
Ecolibrium Energy: An energy management IoT company, it provides energy intelligence to commercial & industrial consumers, and utilities. The insights increases operational efficiency by optimising energy usage and improves asset utilisation. Based out of Ahmedabad, its core team includes Chintan Soni, Harit Soni, Parthiv Patel, and Purvi Maheshwari.
Moglix: It specialises in B2B procurement of industrial products such as MRO, Fasteners, Electrical, Hardware, Pneumatics and safety items. It is headquartered in Singapore with its India office in Noida. The core team includes Rahul Garg, Joyjeet Maity, Manish Gupta, Mohit Gulyani, Partha Dash, Piyush Malviya and Pankaj Kumar.
“SAP India plans to offer 2 year sabbaticals for employees to pursue a startup venture….what a terrific policy. Very exciting new corporate accelerator added to the Indian landscape. NASSCOM for startups & NASSCOM Product Council look forward to helping SAP make this initiative super successful in the coming years,” said Ravi Gururaj, founder and CEO, Qikpod, in his Facebook post.
The company said that it has been involved with startups here for at least two years now. It runs a social entrepreneurship and innovation programme in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (SAPCIIE) at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
