OdishaPlus Bureau
Large talent pool, policy-driven state, world-class Startup & Innovation policy, large number of incubators and the critical mass attained by all stakeholders put Odisha at a ‘very advantageous position’ among startup ecosystems in India, said Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman, Start up Odisha.
During an exclusive interview with odishaLIVE on the eve of the ‘Make In Odisha Conclave 2022’, Odisha govt’s flagship biannual investor summit which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Janata Maidan ground on Wednesday, Dr. Rai candidly admitted that the rapid strides made by Startup Odisha hastens to make many resolves achievable.
“We are working towards becoming one among the top three startup ecosystems of the country as mandated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister,” Dr. Rai said confidently.
He said the Odisha Startup and Innovation policy 2016 is the best in its class. It offers exciting grants and incentives to startups. “We also support establishment of incubators and working closely with stakeholders, R&D institutions and academia as the nodal agency. We’ve been able to involve all stakeholders together,” Dr. Rai said adding that Startup Odisha is a ‘very conducive’ organization which made Odisha adjudged as the top performing state by the DPIIT of Govt of India.
“We have the best of incentives, best conducive business environment, world class educational institutions and all sorts of govt stakeholders around us. We are in a position to offer anything and everything that is required to nurture a startup ecosystem” he added.
He said Odisha has the largest share of IT and knowledge-led startups followed by agriculture, food and beverage-based while the remaining share belongs to those in the field of textile, handicraft and tourism. “These are domains where Odisha is very strong,” he said. He said Startup Odisha is extending adequate incentives and support to find consumers and markets.
He said Startup Odisha, on one hand, is recognizing, registering and incentivizing the Startup ecosystem, it is also trying to strengthen the base of incubators, on the other.
He said at present, Odishas has 28 incubators. Plans are afoot to increase the number by offering incentive and motivating institutions across Odisha to set up incubators and run those. “That is how, we will have a great incubator infrastructure across the state which will recruit the startups, nurture those and thus, help us achieve our goal,” he said.
Dr. Rai said, apart from that, the domain expertise of the R&D and technical institutions are being harnessed as mentors which will help the overall startup ecosystem.
Importantly, the Startup Odisha is trying to sensitize people in the state so that they can become Angel Investors. “People having surplus money can come together and make available the network income to invest in the startup ecosystem,” he added.
“Very soon we will be creating mass sensitization,” he said adding, “We are also trying to build and bring an industrial ecosystem in the state.”
He said Startup Odisha will showcase the startup prowess of the state before a global audience during the Make In Odisha Conclave 2022. “The MIO ’22 presents before us a great opportunity to showcase our growth and brand ourselves to draw enough and adequate attention from players who will later indulge and engage with our startup ecosystem. We stand to gain from MIO ’22,” Dr. Rai said.
