Startup India Head Mamata Venkatesh speaks at the inauguration of the Kerala Innovation Festival organized by Kerala Startup Mission at the Digital Hub in Kochi.
The government is considering to infusing stronger seed funds and more incubation centres to enhance opportunities for nascent companies across the country, Startup India Head Mamatha Venkatesh has said.
The move comes in addition to the financial allocations of the IT Ministry, she said while inaugurating the Kerala Innovation Festival organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in Kochi.
The beneficiaries should be careful while utilising the funds, she said, adding that, startups in various sectors can get help from other departments, too.
Terming Kerala’s startup ecosystem as the country’s “most vibrant”, Mamatha Venkatesh said the State alone secured 100 per cent registration under Startup India. One should make full use of the Centre’s GeM (Government e-Marketplace), the ₹1lakh crore Fund of Funds, and the Credit Guarantee Scheme. “It is a matter of pride that 48 per cent of the startups in the country are founded or co-founded by women”, she said.
State Planning Board member Mini Sukumaran said the representation in women workforce continued to stand “very low” despite a steady rise in the number of girl students in the higher education institutions of Kerala. This gap is a challenge. The state government is taking urgent steps to resolve this. The Planning Board has given various suggestions and schemes to the government to make the gender budget more effective.
KSUM Chief Executive Officer Anoop Ambika said the nodal agency will implement more mechanisms for angel funding to startups in their infancy. Currently, Kerala has four angel networks. Success of more startup ecosystems will inspire angel investors.
TiE Kerala President Vivek Krishna Govind said the state’s startup ecosystem enjoyed a “buzz like no other” in the country.
The KIF features more than 100 eminent personalities from diverse fields, including the film industry, music, technology, fintech and social enterprises.
Published on July 25, 2025