SAP SE (SAP Software & Solutions) today announced the launch of a Start-up Accelerator Programme in partnership with the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at IIM-Ahmedabad to strengthen the local entrepreneurship ecosystem and provide mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs.
Through this programme, SAP and CIIE aim to catalyse assistance from several support organisations such as angel networks, working spaces, fabrication labs, incubators, industry associations, and technology and academic institutions, which have been working towards creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Gujarat, says a press release.
“Entrepreneurs are the emerging leaders of the digital economy. They generate tremendous employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s growth,” said Adaire Fox-Martin, President, SAP Asia Pacific Japan. “The programme seeks to help entrepreneurs from Tier-II and Tier-III towns drive sustainable economic growth and innovation, and make Digital India a reality.”
Scouting for entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs will undergo a three-month, non-residential boot camp and monthly training workshops. They will be paired with domain experts from SAP Labs Bangalore to get insights into the latest technology innovations. The Start-up Accelerator Programme aims to create a pipeline of investable start-ups from this region by scouting for entrepreneurs from Gujarat and providing them with mentorship opportunities.
“Innovation and economic growth are directly linked to Gujarat’s ability to develop individuals with the skills to become a successful entrepreneur,” said Kunal Upadhyay, CEO, CIIE, IIM-A. “We are pleased to collaborate with SAP on this initiative, and we will support this by leveraging our past experience and expertise to fast-track start-up growth through operational guidance, mentoring and access to capital.”
Apart from establishing best practices in the area of entrepreneurship, the Start-up Accelerator Programme will work towards building stronger collaboration between entrepreneurs and different stakeholders. In addition, this programme will help develop a robust ecosystem and support entrepreneurs in areas such as social entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, sports, digital media, clean technology, and agriculture by providing them with operational guidance and access to capital.