NSDC International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Skill Development Corporation, has acquired a 10 per cent stake in Startup Stairs, an initiative of AVPL International promoters.
The investment underscores NSDC International’s attempt to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among rural start-ups in emerging sectors such as drones, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC, and MD of NSDC International, said the partnership is not merely about financial support but also building a self-reliant India where every entrepreneur has access to the resources and guidance needed to thrive.
“By nurturing about one lakh rural entrepreneurs, we aim to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where creativity and skills converge to create sustainable solutions,” he added.
DPIIT-recognised incubator Startup Stairs aims to support innovation in futuristic sectors such as drones, EVs, AI, robotics, and AR/VR.
Deep Sihag Sisai, Founder and Director of Startup Stairs and AVPL International, said with the recent launch of dedicated portal, Drone Planet, the company aims to support drone start-ups by providing mentorship, networking opportunities and marketing access.
“We are also planning to introduce similar platforms for other sectors as part of our vision to transform this initiative into a Unicorn in the coming years,” he added.
Startup Stairs aims to drive AVPL International’s success by incubating drone entrepreneurs and providing them with expertise, resources and funding in exchange for equity.
The proprietary platform, Drone Planet, will facilitate start-up hackathons every 3-6 months, allowing participants access to expert mentorship and robust networks.
While NSDC International will extend its expertise in skilling and marketing to support youth entrepreneurs, Startup Stairs will focus on providing seed-stage acceleration and expert guidance across market strategies, legal frameworks, finance and product development.
NSDC, a nodal skill development agency working under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is a unique Public Private Partnership that aims to catalyse the creation of a large and quality vocational training ecosystem in India.