PANJIM: In its continued efforts to accelerate the startup ecosystem in India, Microsoft for Startups organized the sixth edition of Highway to a 100 Unicorns in Goa. Organized in association with the government of Goa, Microsoft aims to engage with innovators and entrepreneurs in the State via a day-long event packed with technology workshops by Microsoft experts, business mentoring sessions by industry stalwarts and networking with key ecosystem stakeholders including members of the state government.
The impetus on innovation and entrepreneurship in India is helping startups to steAm from not just metropolitan hubs like Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, but also other Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. However, a key challenge faced by startups beyond Tier 1 cities is growing their businesses while keeping operations cost-effective. The lack of cutting-edge technology support and dearth of mentorship from ecosystem players also adds to the problem of scaling. In a bid to address these challenges, Microsoft for Startups has launched Highway to a 100 Unicorns, a series of events dedicated to enabling startups across Tier 2 cities.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Startups attending the event will receive guidance and mentorship through technology workshops on subjects like Azure, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Identified top startups in the “Emerge X – Goa” program will receive Azure credits and select startups will also be invited to pitch for access to the Microsoft ScaleUp program.
Lathika Pai, Country Head, Microsoft for Startups – MENA and SAARC, said, “Through Highway to a 100 Unicorns, we are reaching out to start ups beyond the metropolitan hubs, engaging with innovators in Tier-2 cities and helping them scale at their place of origin. We’ve had a phenomenal response from the startup ecosystem in each of the Tier-2 cities through our EmergeX competition. The Goa government and Microsoft for Startups will be hosting the Founder Bootcamp, a deep mentoring program curated for the top Emerge X startups from across the country.”
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Information & Technology, Goa, said, “As an investment destination for service based industries, especially IT companies, Goa offers an unparalleled combination of a clean environment, physical safety, skilled manpower, air connectivity and quality of life, in comparison with any state or city in India.”
Earlier this year, the platform selected 55 top tech startups from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala and Telangana through the ‘Emerge-X’ competition. The top three startups from each of these States and from Goa, gain access to a year-long mentorship program and a three-day founder bootcamp between March 6 and 8 in Goa. The three days are structured around tech, business and focused 1:1 mentorship sessions respectively. With some of the finest world-class Microsoft mentors from the country and across the world as well as renowned members of the country’s startup ecosystem, the founder bootcamp helps enable hyper scale for startups globally.
Microsoft for Startups enables startups to reach customers across the globe by leveraging the cloud marketplace, enterprise sales team and partner ecosystem. With its strong focus on Microsoft for Startups, an advanced technology platform, a rapidly growing partner ecosystem, and the venture fund M12, Microsoft is uniquely positioned to help startups embrace the next phase of growth and evolve from being market ready to enterprise ready.
