NetApp has launched its second batch of accelerator programme with a focus on B2B start-ups in the areas of AI, robotics and analytics as data-driven business models are beginning to find acceptance.
NetApp Excellerator, which was launched earlier this year, is an effort to help start-ups create market-ready products and solutions by providing access to the technology companies’ expertise, along with its ecosystem of partners and customers.
Additionally, the start-ups get a grant of $15,000, get access to NetApp’s technologies, co-working space, assistance in HR, and legal and tech support to those who finish the four-month programme. “We do not own any equity in these ventures. It is an equity-free grant and they get to keep their Intellectual Property (IP),” said Deepak Visweswaraiah, Senior Vice-President & Managing Director, NetApp India.
Tracking progress
Visweswaraiah said after a start-up graduates from the accelerator programme, NetApp tracks their progress through alumni programmes, events and alliance partnerships. “As alumni, they continue to have access to mentorship and go-to-market opportunities with NetApp, as well as access to other organisations and influential individuals in the ecosystem.”
Amongst the six start-ups that have gone through the exercise, Nanobi, a start-up that focusses on developing an analytics platform, offers services to prepare, analyse and visualise complex data, while eliminating the need for multiple technologies.
This helps their customers make meaningful decisions. Similarly, DataKen aids its customers who have large and complex IT infrastructure to maintain and run effectively.
“Through algorithms, we have automated the processes of monitoring IT hardware, software and help proactively in assessing the health of the IT networks,” said Suresh Kumar Gokarkonda, CEO, DataKen. One of the successful start-ups, which was a part of the NetApp accelerator programme is SigTuple, which digitises pathological slide images and runs cloud-based image processing for diagnosis in pathology labs. SigTuple was also a part of the Google Accelerator Programme in 2017.
Abhishek Purohit, co-founder and VP — Product Strategy and Partner Enablement, said that the connections and mentorship provided by companies like NetApp help understand enterprise customers better as they have worked with many multinational giants over time.