US Ambassador to India, visits Startup Village

Kochi: US Ambassador to India Richard R Verma has visited Startup Village the country's first Public Private Partnership technology business incubator jointly promoted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, Technopark and MobME Wireless.

During his interaction with young entrepreneurs and the Startup Village officials on Friday evening, Verma responded positively to their request for facilitating young entrepreneurs' visit to Silicon Valley in the US.

According to a release, the US Ambassador said he would examine the possibility of supporting a 'Landing Pad', which is being prepared in the Silicon Valley in the US.

The Landing Pad is a platform for start-ups from India to get a first-hand knowledge of the Silicon Valley culture.

The Startup Village officials, including its Chairman Sanjay Vijayakumar and CEO Pranav Kumar Suresh, accompanied by IT and Industries Principal Secretary PH Kurian, apprised Verma of the abundance of talent available in India and also of the challenges faced by startup companies.

Verma, at the same time, was hopeful of stronger cooperation between Indian and US startup companies and offered to actively support the demand for bringing in members of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) to Startup Village.

Established by the Department of Commerce, PAGE is a group of successful American businesspeople eager to share their knowledge and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs at home and abroad.

"The evolving entrepreneurial culture and the rising number of young business aspirants in the state need world-class infrastructure, funding ecosystem and a drastic change in the mindset of the people here," Kurian said.

"While the state government is extending all possible support for encouraging entrepreneurship, we hope to address some of these challenges in a more effective way if we have the support and guidance of investors and mentors from countries like the US," he noted.

"The visit is part of the Startup Village's efforts to maintain strong bonds with the Silicon Valley in the US, which is the birth place of many billion dollar tech companies," Vijayakumar said.

"By building a strong tie-up with the Silicon Valley, Startup Village hopes to reach out to mentors and angel investors who are willing to invest in Indian start-ups," he said.