Bhubaneswar: Internet giant Google and the state government are reportedly exploring ways to collaborate to provide back-end support to startups in Odisha.
This collaboration assumes significance against the backdrop of Odisha’s ambitious plan to emerge as one of the country’s top three startup hubs by 2020, and facilitate at least 1,000 start-ups over the next five years.
According to a report published in the national daily
- Google, under its Cloud Startup Programme, will provide free credits to early-stage companies so that they can focus on building a business
- It will take the responsibility of scaling and securing their infrastructure. The start-ups have to meet certain criteria, said a Government official.
- The state government has recognised about 250 startups, which may partner with Google for mentoring.
- On an average, the state government is awarding recognition to 20 new start-ups under the Start-Up Odisha initiative.
- Of the total startups recognised by the state government, 50 are in the tech domain.
- The state is also planning to start the second leg of the startup Odisha Yatra in October.
- In the first phase, about 50 institutions were covered in the 15 out of the 30 districts in the state. Plans are afoot to cover the remaining didtrdist in October to promote grassroot-level innovations.
- For facilitating ease of doing business to the fledgling companies, Odisha has a relaxed criterion for startups on the lines notified by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.
