CeBIT India: start-ups network, tie up with global names

Alok Nidhi Gupta, founder-Director of Talent Recruit Software, a bootstrapped start-up that sells smart recruitment software to over 100 customers in India, is an excited man.

Gupta struck a deal on the first day of CeBIT India, which began on Wednesday in Bangalore. “The stall opposite ours is of a recruitment start-up called Human Network. The founder took one look at my TalentRecruit software demo and said this was exactly what he had been looking for. I clinched my first customer within an hour of opening,” Gupta told BusinessLine .

“I have been participating in Bangalore ITE.biz for the last two years but this year the scale is much bigger thanks to CeBIT India,” said Gupta, who is confident of closing this fiscal year with ₹5 crore in revenue.

Gupta’s company is one of 26 start-ups at the +91 Startup Challenge pavilion sponsored by Infosys and organised by CeBIT India to connect Indian entrepreneurs, global media, consultants, support programmes, angel investors and venture capitalists. The objective is to help start-ups showcase talent to an international audience.

The mood among the 200-odd start-ups was distinctly upbeat on day two of CeBIT India, with collaborations being facilitated with some of the top businesses in the world. For instance, Arizona-headquartered Iveda Solutions, which specialises in IP video hosting and real-time remote surveillance services, is at the fair to sell its solutions through partnerships with Indian firms.

Taiwanese firms Infomax Communication and GTA Electronics are seeking to collaborate with Indian firms to transfer technology, manufacture locally and sell in the India market.

Alex Kuo, Chief Strategy Officer of Iveda Solutions, said he is partnering with Bangalore firm AnexGate to sell in India. “We are a Safety Act designated company (by the US Department of Homeland Security) and our focus is on the Indian enterprise market,” he said.

AnexGate, a division of Smile Security & Surveillance, specialises in network security, secure connectivity and cloud video surveillance hosting. It has over 1,000 customers in India and is exporting to Taiwan, the US, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Chile.

Rahul Gupta, MD of Smile and Chairman of the MAIT-SME chapter, said: “We can make world-class ICT products in India. I am exporting to Taiwan, would anyone believe that?”

Hosur-based start-up Prematix Software Solution has partnered with Hong Kong firm Cilico Microelectronics to manufacture handheld POS devices that facilitate e-tax collection. It is looking to partner with many more at the fair.

The STPI pavilion played host to 127 of the most innovative start-ups. They were selected to participate in CeBIT India from 21 States.

“The biggest benefit for start-ups is visibility to potential investors. CeBIT India’s online catalogue of all the participating start-ups and their innovative products, applications software and contact details will be accessible to every interested party around the world,” said Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI.

A committee has been formed to select the top 10 start-ups from the 127 companies. They will be taken to CeBIT Hanover 2015 free of cost, he said. Similarly, the top five of the 26 start-ups from the +91 Start-up Challenge will get to be a part of the Indian Pavilion at CeBIT Hanover 2015.

IESA President MN Vidyashankar said that of the 40-plus start-up applications, the best six were shortlisted to participate in CeBIT India.

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