#StartupsVsCovid19: Putting A Spotlight On Indian Startup Innovations And Efforts To Fight Covid-19

Although the end of 2020 signalled a gradual return to normalcy across the world — or, more accurately, syncing with the new normal triggered by the pandemic — the year 2021 has brought even more devastation in India. Only two months into the new year, the country was hit by the second wave of Covid-19.

The second wave has resulted in thousands of gruesome deaths and terrifying scenes across cities and states. The number of new Covid cases registered daily is staggering, and it continues to rise.

Despite the government’s efforts to flatten the curve — with curfews and lockdown-like measures in some cases — the virus is not slowing down. In the past few days alone, hundreds and thousands of people have taken to social media to seek help in arranging hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, and medicines for their near and dear ones.

With official helplines failing to meet the sheer number of requests pouring in, platforms like Twitter are now playing the role of helplines, enabling individuals to seek help from across the country and get genuine and verified leads for their needs.

Given the grim scenario, citizens from all over India are trying to help each other. However, the Indian startup ecosystem is also striving to provide the nation with several solutions to help plug the gaps and holes plaguing the healthcare industry.

Considering the gravity of the situation, we are looking for such stories and innovations and bring them into the limelight. The aim is to help spread the word around for such initiatives to make it a win-win for all. It means someone in need will get the right info without losing valuable time, and you will get access to a larger audience to deepen your reach and create wider impact. 

If you are a startup, an innovator or group of people innovating to help India fight Covid-19, let us know about your initiative and will help you amplify the impact!

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Indian Startup Ecosystem Rises To The Occasion

While the healthtech startups in India have started supporting all stakeholders in the healthcare sector early on, other startups from across sectors are also following suit.

Many founders and product leaders from across sectors are offering consultation to help people who are donating to Covid relief efforts. Then there are the likes of Gurgaon Entrepreneurs who have launched Mission Oxygen to procure oxygen concentrators.

Among the prominent startups joining these efforts are Paytm and Zomato. Paytm is aiming to raise INR 10 Cr to import 30,000 oxygen concentrators, while Zomato has partnered with Delhivery to help hospitals and patients with oxygen and other medical supplies. CRED, too, has joined the initiative by partnering with the crowdfunding platform Milaap. It is aiming to source 1 Bn litre of oxygen by allowing users to donate CRED coins.

While the initiatives mentioned above are trying to resolve the shortage of oxygen concentrators in the country, startups such as TrulyMadly, Hubhopper, SourceFuse, among others, are putting together resources for those in need. These cover areas such as availability of hospital beds, Remdesivir, plasma, and more.

The solutions and innovations from the startup ecosystem are here to help those in need of medicines and information and help India prepare for Covid challenges.

These stories need to be told, and the initiatives need to reach a bigger audience across the globe. To facilitate this, we, at Inc42, are looking for startups, products, and initiatives that are aiming to make a difference in India’s fight against the second wave of Covid. 

If you are a startup working on any such solution, we are looking for stories like yours. We are aiming to help these initiatives reach the right people and ensure participation and contribution from a wider audience by shining a spotlight on them. After all, we are all in this together!

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