Startup Odisha, led by the MSME Department of the Odisha Government, recently finished a successful two-day event aimed at strengthening the state’s support system for startups. This event showcased Odisha’s strong commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, with a particular emphasis on making incubators even more effective.
The two-day session aimed to create a dynamic platform for existing and potential incubators. Discussions were held on best practices and their vital role in the startup ecosystem. Additionally, the initiative seeks to establish at least one incubator in each of district of the state. There are a total of 30 districts and Startup Odisha is already overseeing 27 incubators. The event featured notable speakers who shared insights into incubation’s critical contribution to nurturing startups.
Among the distinguished speakers was Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman of Startup Odisha, who shed light on the significant strides achieved by Startup Odisha. Mr. Uday Wankawala, CEO of AIC-RMP, talked about incubation ecosystem’s essential role in fostering and scaling startups. Representatives from the Startup India Team provided critical insights into government initiatives designed to bolster the incubation network.
Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman of Startup Odisha, said that the capacity-building session has proven instrumental in providing a vital platform for incubators to not only share their invaluable experiences but also glean insights from industry experts. It has stimulated discussions on strategies aimed at building up Odisha’s startup ecosystem. Such collaborative efforts are important in nurturing the innovation-driven growth of startups in the state.
The event also showcased the success stories of startup founders who have thrived with the support of incubators. Abhishek Gautam of Ambula Technologies, Sriman Rabishankar Dash of GauravGo Games and Paritosh Anand of Vatsalya Wellness shared their inspirational journeys. Mr. Chintan Bakshi, Partner at CIIE-IIM Ahmedabad, emphasized the vital importance of industry-academia collaboration in fueling innovation and entrepreneurship.
