Young entrepreneurs learnt how to set up a startup

A two-day workshop organized by Chhattisgarh Biotech Promotion Society and Subhash Chandra Bose Incubation Center, Raipur, to teach the tricks of successful startup to entrepreneurs and innovative youth interested in setting up new startups based on agriculture and allied sectors in Chhattisgarh, concluded here today. In this workshop, renowned startup experts of the country guided the participants about the strategy, possibilities, government policies, facilities and grants available for setting up startups, and difficulties and challenges in setting up a startup. Representatives of incubation centers established in various universities and educational institutions of Chhattisgarh, startup operators, new entrepreneurs and students participated in the workshop.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the workshop, Chief Guest Dr. Girish Chandel, Vice Chancellor of Agriculture University, said that there are vast possibilities of agriculture based startups in Chhattisgarh, especially biotech and food processing startups. He said that there is no dearth of talent in Chhattisgarh and many innovative young entrepreneurs here have set up startups. Some of these startups have also been quite successful. Dr. Chandel said that Chhattisgarh Biotech Promotion Society and Subhash Chandra Bose Incubation Center are encouraging and guiding the youth to set up agriculture based biotech startups in Chhattisgarh. Entrepreneurs willing to set up startups in the incubation center are being assisted in setting up startups by providing them working space, guidance, lab facilities, testing facilities, internships etc.

Addressing the function, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation, Mr. Vishwesh Kumar said that in the new Industry Policy 2024-2029 of Chhattisgarh to be implemented from 1 November 2024, agriculture, horticulture, food processing, forest produce, automobiles, gem and jewellery etc. have been identified as thrust sectors and special attention is being given to promote them. He said that in the new industrial policy, provision has been made to provide several facilities, grants and concessions to entrepreneurs setting up startups, in which funding and subsidy will be given for everything from purchasing land to preparing project report, production and marketing for setting up a startup.

Ms. Shweta Pandey, Deputy General Manager of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in Chhattisgarh also addressed the workshop and gave information about financial facilities and loans etc. provided by her bank for setting up a startup. Dr. Lakshmi Jagannathan, Chief Executive Officer of IIIT-B Innovation Center Bangalore also guided the participants about various aspects of setting up a startup.
In the workshop, the country’s renowned startup experts Mr. Chandran Krishnan, Mr. Vaikunth Prasad, Mr. Saurabh Choubey, and Ms. Sonali Jha gave detailed information to the participants about the startup scenario in the country, entrepreneurship development, facilities provided by various incubation centers, grants, government policies and provisions, financial management etc. They informed that today more than one thousand successful startups are being run in the country, out of which 64 percent startups are operating in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Dr. Hulas Pathak, Chief Executive Officer of IGKV Rabi Incubation Center, informed that 364 startups have been incubated by his center, out of which more than 100 startups have received financial assistance of Rs 10.84 crore. More than 900 agricultural products have been brought to the market by these startups and about 5 thousand people have got direct and indirect employment through these startups.