Zone Startups India Announces 7th Edition of Next Big Idea
Next
Big Idea – a platform for Indian startups to get a soft landing opportunity in
the US market
Under
the program, 13 hi tech hi potential Indian startups will be identified
Applications
open from 28th June
Selected
few will be taken on an all expense paid 2 week trip to Canada
Idea
is to understand global startup ecosystem practices to set up business outside
India
NBI
supported by Govt of India and Canada under bi-lateral entrepreneurship
exchange program
Mumbai, June 28th, 2019: Mumbai-based Zone
Startups India, one of the largest tech accelerators in India has announced the
7th edition of its annual Next BIG Idea contest. NBI 2019 will invite
applications from tech startups across the Country to be selected under the
program. The Next BIG Idea is an annual feature of Zone Startups India that
engages stakeholders including startups, incubators, co-working spaces,
investors, industry & other enablers through roadshows in 20+ cities across
India.
Zone Startups India
team will be hosting roadshows across 21 cities to launch the contest pan-India
throughout July 2019. These roadshows allow a number of promising companies to
understand the North American market fit for their products, thereby giving
them an opportunity to apply for the program and going through multiple rounds
of selection process & speak to global jury members. The applications for
the contest will be accepted online from 28th June 2019 till 30th August
2019.
NBI 2019 team will be
visiting upcoming startup hubs like Hyderabad, Chennai to tier 2 and 3 cities
like Vizag, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar and Jaipur in order to invite applications for
the program. The idea is to find the most deserving growth stage startups who
have global aspirations to expand their business.
Launched in 2013, Zone
Startups India has successfully operated 6 editions of the program till date,
that has benefited 39 Indian tech Startups, through a soft-landing program
across major tech hubs in Canada and the US.
The objective of the
Next BIG Idea contest, since inception, has been to identify and support
hi-tech, hi-potential Indian startups that are seeking to expand
internationally, and are actively looking at the North American market. The
selected startups get access to a bespoke market access program which includes
mentorship, industry connects, investor meetings and a great international
exposure.
The alumni network of
Next BIG Idea Contest comprises of startups that have successfully raised
multiple rounds of funding, as well as, startups that have made exits through
mergers and acquisitions - some of the
names being, CitrusPay, Sokrati (selected in 2013 but chose not to go in the
midst of their funding round), Heckyl, Vidooly, ShieldSquare, Plackal, Flip
Technologies, AdSparx, Konotor (acquired by FreshDesk), Data Resolve, Uncanny
Vision, Gray Routes, Sequretek, Plackal (acquired by Sheroes) etc.
In 2018, the contest
came to be a part of a larger Canada-India Bilateral Entrepreneurship
Initiative supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India - which allowed Zone Startups India to increase the number of benefactors
to 13 entrepreneurs each year, for a period of 2 years 2018 and 2019. Dr. Anita Gupta, Director, DST India,
says, "The Department of Science and Technology , Government of India
supports bilateral entrepreneurial platforms which enables Indian Startups to
go global . Next Big Idea scouts and connects best tech based startups with
International markets like Canada. Exposure to Canadian Startup Ecosystem
through a well structured program provides access to relevant stakeholders,
market and networks are the key takeaways for Startups. I wish the 7th edition
of NBI a great success. "
“If we had not gone
through the NBI program, we would never have given a serious thought to looking
at Canada as a potential gateway to the North American Market. It was an
eye-opener in a lot of ways.” says Pankit
Desai, Co-founder & CEO, Sequretek, winner of Next BIG Idea 2017.
Sequretek has since raised INR 27 crore led by Unicorn India Ventures in
September 2018 and set up an office in the US in Dec 2018.
With the 5th edition, a
new addition was made to the Next BIG Idea contest, in the form of the Aditya
Jha Entrepreneur India Award - for recognising social entrepreneurs who have
translated their innovative & impactful ideas into technology driven
businesses. The winner receives a grant of INR 5 Lakhs during Next Big Idea
winner announcement.
“We are delighted to be
partnering with Zone Startups on the Next Big Idea Competition for the 7th
edition this year. The Next Big Idea is a great example of how Indians and
Canadians can collaborate to achieve revolutionary social and business success.
Canada is the best start-up partner that any of you could have. That is
because, in a world where many countries are closing doors and putting up
walls, Canada remains open. We are a country built on diversity that welcomes
entrepreneurs from all over the world, and Indian entrepreneurs have proven to
be a very good fit. I am looking forward to the continued success of
innovation, convergence of ideas and partnerships through Next Big Idea! Good
luck to all the participating young entrepreneurs!”, says Annie Dubé, Consul General, Canada.
Last year, the Next BIG
Idea contest roadshows were hosted in 20 startup hubs from across the country,
and attracted over 1,100 applications, from which 13 startups got an
opportunity to explore soft-landing in major Canadian cities.
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