Huddle Kerala sees Cisco, Singularity launch projects

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a fillip to the startups in the state, IT networking major Cisco has announced setting up an incubator in state for Internet of Things (IoT), while Singularity University launched India Global Impact Challenge. The announcements were made at Huddle Kerala, a two day startup ecosystem congregations that began here on Friday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the event that was being attended by 1,350 delegates and 600 startups.  The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is organising the event in association with Internet and Mobile Association of India and IAMAI Startup Foundation.

Cisco is launching the thinQbator programme in association with the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K). NASSCOM foundation will be implementing the programme through its authoritsed partners at college level with the aim of skill and entrepreneurship development. Cisco’s Networking Academy Programme on computer networking would be also launched in association with ICT Academy for schools, colleges, universities and other non-profit educational institutions.

Singularity University’s India Global Impact Challenge would be open to all residents and India. The winner of the challenge will be selected on July 7, 2018 and awarded a prize to participate in the Singularity University Ventures Incubator Programme free of charge. The winners will get training in leadership, structure and foundation for companies, develop a minimum viable product and meet other amazing innovators from all over the world.  The top teams will also be shortlisted for Kerala Innovation Challenge and will have the opportunity to pitch for an innovation grant for implementing the socially relevant solutions in the state.

Huddle Kerala also witnessed the launch of an Innovation Platform of KSUM in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing. It is aimed at connecting all key stakeholders like startups, innovators, academicians and funding agencies. Sharjah Digital Transformation Higher Committee Chairman Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, NASSCOM Foundation chief executive officer Shrikant Sinha, Cisco India managing director Harish Krishnan,  and  Internet & Mobile Association of India president Subho Ray were among those attending the two day event.