Kerala: Startup centre for budding entrepreneurs

MALAPPURAM: The district administration is contemplating to launch a district level Startup innovation centre in Malappuram to tap the talent of young entrepreneurs and students here. The project introduced by collector Amit Meena will soon begin with a platform for exchanging innovative ideas and provide guidance for the young entrepreneurs.  A meeting of entrepreneurs, heads of technical institutes and experts from mentoring organisations in the district has decided to form a Startup society as a prelude to the formation of the centre.

Professional organisations, engineering institutes and other industrial agencies will be made members of the society. The ambitious project will be supported the Kerala Startup Mission. "Besides being a start up incubation, this will be a district level forum for promoting and exchanging ideas of students and other experts. We will support the budding entrepreneurs, students and professional graduates in the district by providing proper guidance to develop their innovative ideas," Amit Meena said.

The district administration and district panchayath would support the entrepreneurs with various schemes of state and union governments, he said. "This pool of talent will also be channelised for the projects of the district administration to find out solution for the local problems along with helping them improve," collector said. According to the district administration and mentors, the district has huge number of young entrepreneurs compared to other districts.

“A comprehensive survey will be conducted in the district to find out the talents and the areas which are to be focused. The progress of the project will be assessed every month,” said V. Ummer Koya, director of the Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Malappuram who is also part of the project.