STPI receives over 6000 applications for the CHUNAUTI Start-up Challenge Contest
- About 1820 applications qualified for the next round, 111 applicants selected for presentation
- The edtech, agri-tech and fintech sectors have attracted maximum applications
- State-wise, Maharashtra leads the tally followed by Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi, 1st April 2021: Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has received approximately 6708 applications for the Challenge Hunt under Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) by Advancing Uninhibited Technological Intervention (CHUNAUTI). The program aims to identify around 300 startups working in identified areas and provide them with a seed fund of up to Rs. 25 Lakh and other facilities. The government has earmarked an amount worth Rs 95.03 crore over 3 years for the program. About 1820 applications qualified and 111 applicants were selected for the presentation round. The consolidation of scores and the finalization of results is underway. The final list of selected startups will be announced soon that will be incubated by STPI and be provided with stipends/seed funding and other facilities to set up their venture.
Maximum applications were received for ed-tech, agri-tech and fin-tech sectors at 767(42%) followed by jobs and skilling, linguistic tools and technologies and healthcare sectors at 312(17%) and 308(17%) applications, respectively. In terms of regions, Maharashtra leads the tally with 215 applicants followed by Uttar Pradesh (199), Odisha (138) and Madhya Pradesh (129). CHUNAUTI, The NextGen Startup Challenge was launched by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister of Electronics & IT, Communications, Law & Justice, Government of India in August 2020. The objective of the initiative is to identify and support solutions for sectors and domains that has emerged as a priority in the post-pandemic world. The key domains against which proposals were invited under CHUNAUTI are Edu-Tech, Agri-Tech & Fin-Tech Solutions for masses, Supply Chain, Logistics & Transportation Management, Infrastructure & remote monitoring, Medical Healthcare, Diagnostic, Preventive & Psychological Care and Jobs & Skilling, Linguistic tools & technologies.
Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI, said, “We are enthused by the overwhelming response from participants on CHUNAUTI. The initiative underscores our commitment to supporting startups across India, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It aligns with our vision to foster an innovative ecosystem for the development of indigenous software products. The selected startups will receive end-to-end support through financial assistance and mentorship that will encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the key sectors.”
NGIS is a pioneering initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) & STPI to build a world-class incubation ecosystem for identifying & nurturing startups working towards path-breaking software products for addressing the futuristic problems in business & society, and transforming them to become tomorrow’s unicorns. Along with MeitY, STPI, MSH, STPINEXT, a vast spectrum of industry, academia, investment & funding agencies have joined hands to support the innovative product-focussed start-ups comprehensively.
NGIS is focused on 12 Tier-II locations in the country viz. Agartala, Bhilai, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Dehradun, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mohali, Patna & Vijayawada. It aims to support 300 start-ups/entrepreneurs/SMEs in the field of IT/ITeS/ESDM for 3 years. Startups pan-India can apply and become NGIS beneficiary. Each NGIS location has a dedicated chief mentor along with a ‘mentor pool’ and knowledge partners. The services offered by NGIS to its beneficiaries include Physical infrastructure (including state-of-the-art incubation and dedicated Software Product Security Testing (SPST) facility), Mentoring, Access to VCs for funding support, Advisory Services (such as HR, Legal, Accounting, IPR/Patenting) along-with financial incentives like the seed funding of up to Rs. 25 Lakhs.
About CHUNAUTI:
A NextGen Startup Challenge Contest: The first Startup Challenge Contest under NGIS christened CHUNAUTI – Challenge hunt under NGIS for advanced uninhibited technology intervention is an online challenge to find the products & solutions to address the issues/challenges faced during and post-pandemic situation. CHUNAUTI is looking to identify and support the solutions that can support Government, industries & public at large for their seamless operations and enabling them to face the varied difficulties & bottlenecks during and post-pandemic situations.
The products/solutions can be proposed keeping in view the focus areas such as Edu-Tech, Agri-Tech & Fin-Tech Solutions for masses, Supply Chain, Logistics & Transportation Management, Infrastructure & remote monitoring, Medical Healthcare, Diagnostic, Preventive & Psychological Care, Jobs & Skilling, Linguistic tools & technologies. Portal for CHUNAUTI contest is open for potential startups and the last date of submission of ideas on the portal was 7th September 202
