Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday launched the Startup India-Odisha Yatra at the State Secretariat here.
Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said the objective of the Yatra is to scout innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Stating that the Yatra van would travel to 60 educational institutions across the 16 districts of the state, he said selected ideas would be put to three days intensive acceleration programme and the best 50 innovators would be provided incubation and mentorship support to convert their ideas into startups.
During the yatra, 500 innovative ideas were likely to be pitched.
Expressing happiness over the registration of 175 startups with the Startup Odisha Initiative in the last eight months, Patnaik said the government has targeted 1000 Startups by 2020.
The Yatra will cover educational institutions in Khurda, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada and Ganjam districts.
During the period, 10 boot camps will be organised at Fakir Mohan University, Balasore; Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla; Government Engineering College-Keonjhar; KITT, Bhubaneswar; NIT, Rourkela; Vikram Dev College, Jeypore; Government Engineering College,Kalahandi; NIST, Berhampur and BPFTIO in Cuttack where boot camps, ideation workshops and idea pitching sessions would be organised for the benefit of innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The winners of the boot camps would get cash prizes, legal consultation, advisory services and mentorship support.
Present on the occasion, MSME Minister Prafulla Samal said the main objective of the yatra is to create awareness about the startup eco-system in tier 2-3 towns and encourage the aspiring entrepreneurs and youths to set up their ventures in the state.
Besides, the Yatra would be of one month’s duration and will conclude with a grand finale in Bhubaneswar.
MSME Secretary LN Gupta said Startup Clubs would also be formed at each of the educational institutions falling on the Yatra route during the period.
