Startup Odisha’s Yatra and Xpress 2023: Shaping the State’s Startup Ecosystem

• Strives to Cultivate Innovation, Encourage Entrepreneurship, and Harness Ideas from Students and Innovators Statewide.
• Odisha’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, to Inaugurate Odisha Startup Yatra and Startup Xpress 2023, Advancing the Vision of Cultivating 5000 Startups by 2025 in Odisha.

September 8th, 2023: Startup Odisha, an initiative led by the MSME Department of the Government of Odisha, proudly announced the launch of two groundbreaking initiatives: Odisha Startup Yatra and Startup Express 2023. These initiatives, designed to nurture and empower young talents at the grassroots level in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship, are set to be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik, on September 11th.

The primary focus of these initiatives is to prepare and guide these budding minds to tap into the vast opportunities within the startup ecosystem. Startup Odisha plans to engage with educational institutions across all 30 districts of Odisha, involving over 200 colleges and 60 schools, thereby impacting the lives of more than 25,000 students. These endeavors will encompass a series of engaging activities, including Van Camps and Boot Camps aimed at scouting innovative ideas. Startup Odisha’s comprehensive approach involves conducting more than 200 Van Camps in colleges and 60 in various schools, followed by over 120 Bootcamps, with a goal of generating more than 3,500 unique ideas.

The previous edition of Startup Odisha Yatra achieved significant milestones, spanning 30 districts, conducting 30 Bootcamps, hosting 114 Van Camps, and engaging with over 100 colleges. This effort resulted in the emergence of 1,350 innovative ideas, involving 10,270 students. Among these, 22 top ideas were selected for an acceleration program culminating in a demo day, where 11 finalists were awarded INR 1 lakh each.

The upcoming edition of the Startup Yatra seeks to elevate this initiative further. It aims to invite at least 50 shortlisted ideas for a 3-day Acceleration program. Following this, the top 25 ideas will be invited to O-Hub for a demo day, out of which 10 will be granted seed funding of INR 3,00,000 each to help develop their ideas into viable startup ventures. A dedicated mobile application has been created to facilitate the collection of innovative ideas from young innovators.

In addition to the Yatra, the Startup Xpress 2023 will invite the top 20 ideas for a final pitching session, where 10 ideas will receive a cash prize of INR 10,000 each, encouraging these young students and nurturing their entrepreneurial spirit.

Shri Pratap Keshari Deb, Industries, MSME, and Energy Minister, highlighted the importance of Startup Yatra 2023, stating that it plays a crucial role in realizing Odisha’s mission of fostering 5,000 startups by 2025. He emphasized that these initiatives, with their track record of nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among women, will be transformative, propelling the state’s startup ecosystem towards growth and success.

Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman of Startup Odisha, expressed that Odisha Startup Yatra and Startup Xpress 2023 signify a significant leap for the state’s startup ecosystem. With over 1,700 startups, 42% of which are led by women, and supported by 27 incubators, Odisha has firmly established itself as an entrepreneurial hub. These initiatives aim to empower students by offering insights, a platform for idea pitching, and a pathway to the acceleration program. The journey aspires to enhance entrepreneurship, spark innovative breakthroughs, and unite the state in its quest to become a hub of transformative ideas.

Shri Saswat Mishra, Principal Secretary of the MSME Department, Government of Odisha, emphasized that Odisha Startup Yatra and Startup Xpress 2023 represent a pivotal moment for the state’s growing startup landscape. These initiatives are poised to empower students by providing them with invaluable insights and opportunities to pitch their ideas. They also offer a clear pathway to assist them in building successful startups. The enthusiasm and eagerness of the youth to bring new ideas to life will exemplify the transformative power of entrepreneurship.

The grand finale of the Odisha Startup Yatra and Startup Xpress journey will take place in Bhubaneswar. At this event, students will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas, compete for cash prizes, and gain access to mentorship opportunities and legal guidance provided by Startup Odisha.