Odisha Top performer in national Startup ranking

Bhubaneswar: Amidst continuous efforts by the government to ensure Odisha becoming a startup hub, the Centre now recognised the State as the top performer in national startup ranking.

This was revealed at State Startup Council Meeting chaired by State Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at Secretariat Conference Hall on Thursday.

A total number of 27 states and 3 union territories had participated in the national level ranking exercise. The ranking was done on the basis of 38 parameters in 7 key reform areas such as policy implementation, incubation support, seed funding support, angel and venture capital funding support, simplified regulations, easing public procurement, awareness and outreach, MSME Additional Chief Secretary Laxmi Narayan Gupta informed while outlining the issues for discussion at the meeting.

Reviewing the progress of startup policy implementation, CS Padhi approved a proposal of setting up startup hubs in big cities of the State for promoting startup ecosystem and attracting investment.

He directed to prepare a detailed business plan of the proposed hubs for its effective management and operation.

The meeting also decided to organise a national level startup conclave in Odisha to strengthen local startup ecosystem.

Padhi directed to make the conclave outcome oriented in terms of attracting investment in innovation startups.

Notably, as many as 592 startup ventures have been registered so far through Odisha Startup Portal out of which 423 including 138 women led startups have been recognised by the Startup Council.

So far 73 startups and incubators have been awarded financial grant and other support. Around 110 mentors have been registered and 12 incubators have been made functional. A total number of 12 Nodal Agencies have been empanelled for recommending the innovative startups and 66 entrepreneurship-cum-startup cells have been set up.