Bhubaneswar: FundStack 3.0, a two-day annual startup investment summit by Startup Odisha, began at O-Hu here on Tuesday.
This event is poised to play a pivotal role in fostering meaningful connections between startups and investors, providing not only crucial funding but also invaluable mentorship and support. The summit will also unlock a multitude of opportunities for key players in the dynamic startup ecosystem.
According to sources, leading venture capitalists and angel investors will be a part of the two-day pitching session. The event will kick off with a roundtable discussion ‘Roundtable with Investors’, delving into the intricacies of the burgeoning startup ecosystem and exploring the vast investment potential inherent in the state. Odisha will formalise strategic partnerships by signing MoUs with prominent investment firms.
Following this, 50 startups will get an opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas and business models to investors and the day will culminate with the announcement of the top 20 startups, showcasing the most promising ventures, who will get slots for exclusive one-on-one meetings.
Wednesday will unfold with pitching sessions, where top 20 startups will get a chance to pitch to the panel of investors in the ‘Speed Dating’ session. The inaugural address will be by Minister of Industries, MSME & Energy, Pratap Keshari Deb. There will also be a session with Your Story founder Shradha Sharma and executive chairman, Startup Odisha, Omkar Rai.
Notably, FundStack 3.0 was launched through a virtual event on October 20 and it was accompanied by the unveiling of a dedicated website for startups to initiate their programme applications. It has been designed with the objective of providing local startups the essential exposure to the funding ecosystem, facilitating a profound understanding of the dynamics of contemporary entrepreneurship. This initiative is on the lines of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s vision to emerge as the premier Startup Hub in India, aspiring to nurture 5000 startups by the year 2025, the sources added.
