KOCHI:
As the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is holding this week a landmark summit to strengthen its HNI network, persons with financial assets of value above one million US dollars are set to invest in top startups in the state and elsewhere in the country.
The fifth edition of ‘Seeding Kerala’ will be held here on February 7 and 8, bringing in leading investors and experts from the India’s startup ecosystem besides senior government officials from the state and central governments.
The two-day event at Kochi Marriot Hotel in suburban Edappally will see the participation of 80 select startup ventures from the state and 200 investment experts. The focus, typically, will be on angel investment that is essential for startups to proceed.
HNIs can continue to register via https://seedingkerala.com or contact at 9995093745, organisers said today.
Seeding Kerala 2020, overall, aims to attract torchbearers of all leading angel networks in the country. “We are bringing together Kerala’s HNIs to reinvigorate the network,” said KSUM Chief Executive Officer Dr Saji Gopinath.
“We are partnering with leading angel networks and industries to co-host sector-specific sessions for the benefit of the attendees. Seeding Kerala 2020 expects to facilitate a more dynamic early-stage investment ecosystem in the state.”
The Friday-Saturday event envisages funding those upstart businesses that have outstanding ideas and models but are financially struggling to hit the market. It will hold meetings between investors and entrepreneurs, presentation of startup ideas and analysis of various business models they propose.
The key areas of focus will be investor awareness, investment opportunities, investment strategy, co-investment opportunities, understanding of angel investments and the associated risks, ensure the delegates to be part of the National Angel Group, be a mentor or co-founder with startups and nurture a network with top investors, organisers revealed.
As many as 150 individuals with high investment capacity will participate in Seeding Kerala, along with 10 investment funds, 14 angel investors, 30 startup entrepreneurs and as many corporates. There will be masterclasses on angel investing and lead angel investing, pitch for startups, an IPO roundtable and panel discussions on ‘Unicorn First Checks’ and ‘Remarkable Business Case Studies from Kerala’.
Seeding Kerala also features an ‘Investor Café’ providing special interaction facilities between investors and 30 startups elected from a national contest.
The sessions will be addressed, among others, by Infosys Co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, 100X.VC founder Sanjay Mehta, Indian Angel Network Co-founder Padmaja Ruparela, Dr Aniruddh Malpani of Malpani Ventures and Virginia Tan who is founder partner of Teja Ventures that accords priority to women entrepreneurs.
KSUM, as a 2006-founded nodal agency of the Kerala Government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state, undertakes planning, establishment and management of technology business incubators and accelerators so as to promote technology-based ventures by creating the infrastructure and environment.
