BENGALURU: In keeping with its plans to develop Bengaluru as a global start-up capital, the state government on Friday assured it would soon unveil a start-up policy that would be a model for the world. The government will also announce the setting up of a start-up fund along with the new policy.
The assurance came at an interaction that AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi had with CEOs of start-ups in the presence of Industries Minister R V Deshpande and IT-BT Minister S R Patil.
CEOs of start-ups — Big Basket, Skanray Technologies, Dusters Hospitality, Portea Medical, Id Freshfoods, Healthkart, Robosoft Technologies, President TiE and Mandi Trades — were among those who interacted with Rahul.
Deshpande told reporters after the interaction that heads of around 15 to 16 start-ups presented a slew of suggestions to create the best ecosystem for nurturing start-ups. “We have formed a start-up council. We will incorporate their suggestions in the new policy It would the best and a model for the world,” Deshpande said.
Rahul Gandhi, who had held a similar interaction with start-ups in New Delhi earlier this year, wanted the Karnataka government to hold one more round of more focused deliberations with start-up fraternity before finalising the new Start-up Policy, Industries Minister R V Deshpande said. Deshpande said Bengaluru was at the 15th place on the list of world start-up hubs.
Several suggestions on improving the facilities for funding, registration, incubation and other aspects of the start-up ecosystem came up for discussion at the interaction. Deshpande declined to mention the likely size of the start-up fund. A few representatives from the food products sector wanted the state government to bring in an amendment to the APMC Act to enable them to procure agriculture products directly from farmers.
Meena Ganesh, head of Portea Medical, who was part of the group which interacted with Rahul said she was happy at the way Rahul gave a patient hearing to all their suggestions.
She expressed hope that Karnataka would provide the best of incentives and policy initiatives to help the start-ups thrive.