The Kerala Startup mission, an initiative by the Government of Kerala, announced that it has joined hands with Zone Startups India to launch the “Kerala Accelerator Programme”. The Kerala Startup Mission is the nodal agency in the state whose aim is to encourage and support startups in the state.

“Exposure is a key challenge for startups from Kerala,” said Saji Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Startup Mission in a statement. “We are expecting this accelerator programme to bridge this challenge and ensure that startups attain product market fit and growth faster.”

The initiative will be structured as a three month virtual accelerator programme and will consist of live virtual mentoring sessions in addition to which the selected startups in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi will get the opportunity to interact with visiting mentors. Furthermore, there will be a one week residential programme in Bangalore and Mumbai, in which the selected startups will participate.

The accelerator program will most likely commence on February 5, 2018 while the residential program will probably be held in Bangalore and Mumbai from February 12 to February 16. The deadline for applying to the programme is January 18 and interested startups who have already launched their products must apply via the Kerala Mission website. The programme cost is Rs 1,00,000 and Kerala based entrepreneurs will eligible for up to 90 per cent scholarship from the Kerala Startup Mission for participating in the program. Furthermore the travel and accommodation expenses of selected startups will be sponsored by the Kerala Startup Mission.

The Government of Kerala has sanctioned support for established national and international incubators and accelerators to implement programmes aiming at startups in the state.

Zone Startups is the global brand of early stage tech accelerators and venture capital funds operated by Toronto-based Ryerson Futures Inc. Zone Startups India, on the other hand, is a joint venture between Ryerson Futures Inc, BSE Institute Limited, Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, B.C) and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Ajai Ramasubramaniam, Director, Zone Startups India, said that the programme will be the joint venture’s first direct engagement with a state government in the country.

(Picture courtesy: fwdbusiness.com)