Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), a nodal agency of the State governmet, and Zone Startups India, which runs accelerator programmes, have jointly launched an initiative to promote startups in the revenue stage.

Zone Startups is the global brand of early-stage tech accelerators and venture funds operated by Toronto, Canada-based Ryerson Futures Inc.

Product-market fit

Christened the “Kerala Accelerator Programme”, the joint initiative will help the startups to achieve the right product-market fit through a curated customer validation process.

Ajay Ramasubramaniam, Director, Zone Startups India, said that this would be the their first direct engagement with a State government in India.

Saji Gopinath, CEO, KSUM, said that exposure is a key challenge for startups from Kerala. “We hope this accelerator programme to bridge this challenge and ensure that startups attain product market fit and growth faster.”

Interested startups can apply at https://startupmission.kerala.gov.in/k-accelerator by January 18. The fee is ₹1 lakh but Kerala-based founders can get a scholarship to the extent of 90 per cent from the KSUM.

Live-cum-virtual sessions

The structured three-month virtual accelerator programme commencing on February 5 comprises a mix of live and virtual mentoring sessions, including visits by mentors to Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi to interact with the participants.

There will be weekly reviews, customer interactions and an end-of-programme ‘demo day’ with investors. Selected start-ups will attend a week-long programme in Bengaluru and Mumbai from February 12 to 16.

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