T-Hub shortlists 20 startups for accelerator programme

T-Hub, in association with Intel India, has selected 20 startups for its Innovate for Digital India Challenge 2.0, that will be competing to participate in an 8-week accelerator program including a 4-day USMAC bootcamp at T-Hub, Hyderabad.

Telangana government's startup development initiative T-Hub, in association with Intel India, has selected 20 startups for its Innovate for Digital India Challenge 2.0.

Among the startups that got selected, Manjeera Digital Systems, Oizom Instruments, Iotrek Technology, Cachefi, Cyrrup and Crimatrix are trying to make cities smarter. Among the other startups that are selected, Shanmukha Innovations, E-DeWeeder and International Nerd Solutions are in the agricultural sector while MEEP, AllizHealth, NeuroTech, iNICU, iCHR, Thyrometer and ErFolg Life Sciences belong to the healthcare space. Gayam Motor Works, Banyan Sustainable Waste Management and Waste Ventures India, which are in the sustainability segment, too got selected. Other selected startups include Matrubharti (education) and NYOKAS (manufacturing).

Challenge 2.0 was launched in collaboration with Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and MyGov. Startups were asked to build solutions that accelerate the government's digitisation drive.

T-Hub received close to 800 applications and the 20 startups were selected after three rounds of screening. Of these 20 teams, 10 will get an opportunity to participate T-Hub's eight-week accelerator programme. Of the top 10 startups, three would be selected for a two-week visit to T-Global Access, Silicon Valley, in March 2017, for additional mentoring from experts in the Valley. The remaining 10 startups will get an opportunity to participate in a one-week ISEED boot-camp to be conducted by T-Hub.

"The next step for the entrepreneurs will be an amazing journey that focuses on scale. Further, through this collaboration, we are sure to enable Indian startups with an opportunity to learn, unlearn, explore, network and scale," said Jay Krishnan, CEO of T-Hub, in a statement.

The Telangana government in partnership with International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Indian School of Business and National Law University launched the first phase of T-Hub with 70,000 sq foot area in November and plans a second phase with 300,000 sq foot space.

Delivering the keynote address at VCCircle India Limited Partners Summit 2016 in Mumbai, KT Rama Rao, Telangana's minister for IT and Panchayati Raj had said T-Hub will anchor an accelerator-focused fund with an initial capital of Rs 125 crore. T-Hub is in talks with investors to launch the fund.