THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ten startups with riveting ideas will compete in the grand finale of the ongoing Global Impact Challenge (GIC), jointly organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and the US-based Singularity University (SU), at Technopark here on Saturday.
The finalists were selected from the 24 startups that pitched their ideas on Friday. The KSUM had selected 25 finalists. They included 11 in healthcare, eight in the environment and six in education. GIC aims to foster moonshot innovations and startups that positively impact the lives of people, with an ability to scale and impact a billion people worldwide in 10 years.
The six-day India GIC, which will conclude on Saturday, aims at identifying inspiring startups that find solutions addressing global challenges in learning, healthcare and environment sectors. The boot camp of the event was launched on an opening day and the pitch day was held on Friday.
The best idea in the grand finale will be taken for the SU Incubation Programme that lasts nine weeks. Speaking on “GIC Incubation Programme” Rejina Njima, director of Global Impact Competitions, Singularity University, noted that the GIC is a platform to identify outstanding entrepreneurs, leaders and technologists. “We are looking for people who are technologists, problem experts and accomplished entrepreneurs. They must have innovation solution for an urgent global grand challenge,” she said, adding that the GIC has the commitment to launch and create viable startups.
Besides India, the GIC is currently being held in Japan and South Korea. Dr Jayasankar Prasad, director, ICFOSS and leader, SU Trivandrum Chapter, spoke on the occasion. Professionals as well as startups, who wish to attend the finale, may register via http://bit.ly/2018gicindia