KOCHI:
Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) concluded its pioneering six-day programme with a ‘Women Startup Summit 2020’ that made a clarion call for launching businesses that can improve the living standards of common people.
State IT Secretary Mohammed Y Safirulla, while inaugurating the Saturday event, said new-age entrepreneurs should make greater use of modern technology that can resolve issues such as waste management and water shortage.
The prize-winners at the summit should not lose time in hitting the market with their innovative gadgets, he told the 750 delegates at the event the KSUM organised in association with Startup India, TiE Kerala and Indian Women Network of Confederation of Indian Industry.
Kerala State IT Mission Director Dr Chithra S announced the winners and felicitated the change-makers at the summit. KSUM-incubated Riafy Technologies of Kochi was declared the Best Inclusive Startup, while IIMK Live of Kozhikode became the Best Inclusive Incubator. Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Kodakara (Thrissur district) was chosen the Best Inclusive IEDC.
Federal Bank Executive Director Shalini Warrier highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in future technologies. AI has enabled her bank’s recruitment wing to bring down expenditure by 75 per cent, she added.
The most-awaited competition named ‘She Loves Tech India 2020’ saw close to 100 participants vying for honours with their women-friendly products. Bioscan Research Pvt Ltd qualified for the international level, while the runners-up were Spookfish Innovations, *** AI, Infinite Circle Inc and *** India Pvt Ltd. The event also announced the winners of Hackathon.
At ‘She Loves Tech’, 12 entrepreneurs presented their products to invite potential investors. As many as 28 entrepreneurs got expert advice from KSUM’s Investor Café.
The summit, which aims to boost female presence in entrepreneurial ventures, held sessions on the chances women get in launching technology startups and the challenges they face in the process.
The speakers included She Loves Tech Co-founder Virginia Tan, Startup India Hub Chief Aastha Grover, Tech Ready Women Academy founder Christie Whitehill, India Angel Network Cofounder Padmaja Ruparel, Pure Living founder Lakshmi Menon, Open Financial Technologies Co-founder Deena Jacob, media person Rekha Menon, Chemmanur Academy Director Anisha Cherian, Cognizant AVP Maya Sreekumar, Amazon Strategic Initiative Head Deepti Dutt, AWE founder Seema Chaturvedi, Adobe Head of Programmes Garima Babbar, Meena Accenture Interactive MD T J Lightwala and Sunrise Hospital MD Parveen Hafeez.
KSUM is the state government’s nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities.
