Deadline: 30-May-22
The Maharashtra State Innovation Society is pleased to announce the Maharashtra Startup Week to encourage, engage and enable the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It provides startups with a platform to showcase their innovative solutions to the Government of Maharashtra.
Startups from sectors such as education, skilling, healthcare, agriculture, clean energy, environment, water and waste management, smart infrastructure and mobility, governance and miscellaneous are invited to submit their applications.
With the help of multiple ecosystem partners, the top 100 startups are selected to present their solutions to an esteemed panel of judges comprising representatives from the government, industry, academia and investors. During the week-long event, startups from each sector make their pitch to a panel consisting of senior government officials, industry experts, academicians, and corporate partners.
Focus Areas
Startups in sectors that align with the mandate of the Government will be given a preference. Accordingly, seven sectors have been identified along with an additional eighth miscellaneous category for startups.
- Agriculture
- Education
- Governance
- Healthcare
- Mobility
- Skilling
- Smart Infrastructure
- Sustainability – Clean Energy
- Sustainability – Waste Management
- Sustainability – Water Management
- Miscellaneous
Benefits
- 24 startups shall receive Government work orders of up to Rs.15 lakhs each. The Government shall provide startups with access to personnel, data and other means of handholding while the startups pilot their solutions over a period of 6 to 12 months.
- Additionally, the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS) shall partner with multiple investors and incubators for the purpose of the Maharashtra Startup Week. These partner organisations shall consider the top 100 finalists for funding and mentorship. Select startups apart from the 24 winners shall also avail benefits like access to exhibition space and networking with VCs/ ecosystem partners, access to specific ecosystem events, free credits from their partners, international linkages and any other benefits as decided by MSInS.
Eligibility Criteria
All startups from across country that conform to the criteria defined in the Maharashtra State Innovative Startup Policy 2018 are eligible to apply. Accordingly, a startup must:
- Be incorporated as a private limited company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013) OR registered as a partnership firm (under Section 59 of the Partnership Act, 1932) OR as a limited liability partnership (under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) in India
- Have been incorporated/registered within the last seven years (in the case of startups in the biotechnology and/or social sector the period shall be up to ten years)
- Not have exceeded a turnover of Rs.25 Cr in any of the financial years since its incorporation/registration
- Be working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or processes or services, or if it is a scalable business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.
- Furthermore, startups must have a “minimum viable product” and be ready to demonstrate “proof of concept”. Idea-stage ventures shall not be considered at this point.
Evaluation Criteria
- Startups will be evaluated on the following parameters
- Unique Value Proposition
- Leadership Team
- Social Impact
- Sustainability & Scalability
- Relevance for government
- Technology Advantage (if any)
- Post screening, 100 startups will be shortlisted for the pitches which will take place during the Maharashtra Startup Week. The shortlisted startups will pitch to a panel that includes relevant government department officials, industry, academia and investors.
For more information, visit https://msins.in/startup-week
