Three innovative startups—Live2.ai and NeuralGarage from India, and Creatively Squared from Singapore—have been named winners of the L'Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program for the SAPMENA region. This achievement grants them the opportunity to pilot their solutions with one of L'Oréal's global brands, gain exposure across 35 international markets, and benefit from a year-long mentorship with industry leaders. The program, launched in May 2024, underscores L'Oréal's commitment to fostering personalized, inclusive, and sustainable beauty solutions. Aseem Kaushik, Managing Director of L'Oréal India, lauded India’s role as a hub of entrepreneurial talent, recognizing the innovative solutions emerging from its startup ecosystem.
Amazon India has joined forces with Startup India, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), to help Indian startups thrive through e-commerce. The partnership will provide eligible startups with access to Amazon’s marketplace, mentorship, and go-to-market support. Additionally, Amazon’s Saheli program will empower women entrepreneurs with tailored learning programs and access to a wide range of Amazon services. The collaboration also promotes the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR), aimed at fostering cooperation among key players in India’s startup ecosystem.
The government has launched 'Bhaskar', a digital platform aimed at enhancing India's startup ecosystem under the Startup India initiative. Led by the DPIIT, BHASKAR will centralize resources and foster collaboration among startups, investors, mentors, and service providers. The platform aims to create the world’s largest digital startup registry, providing personalized IDs for easier networking, searchability, and discovery of opportunities. This initiative aligns with India’s goal of becoming a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting over 1,46,000 DPIIT-recognised startups.
Kasturi Chitre, a renowned food scientist and quality assurance expert, has been appointed as a mentor for the MAARG program by Startup India. She will guide four innovative startups in the food and beverage sector, leveraging her nearly 15 years of experience. MAARG connects startups with industry veterans to foster growth through expert mentorship. Kasturi’s role is deeply fulfilling, allowing her to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Her mentoring focuses on high-quality standards, technological advancements, and regulatory compliance. Her thought leadership and industry impact are well-documented, and her dedication to innovation and quality assurance in food science is widely recognized.
Google, in collaboration with India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched an initiative to train 10,000 startups in artificial intelligence. Announced at Google I/O Connect in Bengaluru, the program offers eligible startups up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, an AI-first programming curriculum, and a launchpad to expand their services. Google will provide access to its Gen AI models, Gemini and Gemma, along with language tools from Google DeepMind India to support services in local languages. Google also announced expanded access to powerful AI models like Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemma 2, and plans to host a GenAI Hackathon and AI Startup Bootcamp in India. Additionally, Google has reduced fees for its Google Maps Platform and introduced the open-source AI model Gemma 2 to Indian developers.
The Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Dollygunj held a Startup Boot Camp, empowering over 100 students to transform their ideas into businesses. Organized by the Industries Department, the event focused on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Students learned about the Startup India scheme, startup procedures, and government benefits. Mr. Venkatesh Ch, Principal of ITI, emphasized the rewards of forming startups. Mrs. Sunitha Kumari, Assistant Director (Tech) at the Directorate of Industries, urged students to actively pursue their ideas. Unicorniz Innovations Pvt. Ltd. showcased their AR/VR software, enhancing the event's success. The boot camp concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr. Shahid Khan, marking the event as a resounding success.
Tyre manufacturer Michelin, in collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has launched the AI Startup Challenge to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in India. Hosted on the Startup India portal, this 12-week challenge invites AI startups to showcase their capabilities. The top three startups will receive paid pilot projects from Michelin and opportunities for global contracts and incubation support. The AI Startup Challenge starts with outreach and applications in July 2024, followed by shortlisting and mentorship, culminating in a demo day in September 2024. Michelin India's Managing Director Shantanu Deshpande emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, anticipating active participation from Indian startups to create global solutions.
