HYDERABAD: Five of the 22 shortlisted start-ups found investor’s acceptance as the second edition of start-up event The August Fest concluded here on Sunday.
The event saw 2,000 registrations, 160 start-up applications and nearly 25 investors, including angel investors and seed funding companies.
Of the 22 start-ups shortlisted for pitching, including Zupit, Menias, Ekeeko, Adnest and Happyweddings.net, five companies, namely Guruhub, Game Corp, Svaark, BigLeap Digital, YAWP Mag, got green signal from investors for funding. Investors, however, didn’t announce the quantum of funding for each venture or sign term sheets on Sunday. The event also had an Ideas Camp, organised for engineering students and young professionals. They were asked to produce innovative ideas in 24 hours, of which five were picked up. These will be nurtured over a period of 18 months to be transformed into start-ups. “As many as 22 start-up resource providers, including incubators, accelerators and co-work space companies, have put up stalls to create a sustainable start-up ecosystem,” said Ramesh Loganathan, organiser of The August Fest.
The event saw over 40 plus sessions involving eminent speakers like Ashok Rao, global president, TiE; Bharatanatayam/Kuchipudi exponent Ananda Shankar Jayant; Rajiv Chilaka, creator, Chhota Bheem; Ganesh Nallari, dentist-turned fashion designer; and investors Sharad Sharma, co-founder, iSpirit; and Vishal Gondal, founder, Indiagames. The first edition of The August Fest was organised by Suresh Perugu, Kiran Chowdary, Subba Raju of East Sleep and Drink Start-ups.
METRO RAIL BY NEXT UGADI
The much-awaited Hyderabad Metro Rail will commence its maiden ride on March 21, 2015, on the occasion of Ugadi, said NVS Reddy, managing director, Hyderabad Metro Rail. “We will encourage creativity at all metro stations. We welcome ideas from public,” he said.