BUSINESSWORLD launches startup acceleration initiative

BUSINESSWORLD, one of the leading business media brands has launched BUSINESSWORLD ACCELERATE, a multi-city startup acceleration initiative with the objective to support and encourage entrepreneurial aspirations in the country and empower budding entrepreneurs.

Talking about the initiative, Anurag Batra, says chairman, BUSINESSWORLD, said, “ACCELERATE is a program built on knowledge and intelligence acquired over the years. It has its foundation in a vision to create a platform for early stage startups focused towards speeding innovation, fostering business growth and accelerate entrepreneurial aspirations in the country.”

The program will have four stages, in the first phase education institution-partnered initiative focused towards nurturing entrepreneurial aspirations of the young, on-campus students, and providing them with the right skill-sets to translate such ideas into prototypes. The second phase will focus on MVP startups, across categories, with the objective to provide a knowledge base, and achieve customer traction. This vertical will also focus on facilitating involvement by experienced professionals as mentors.

The third phase, will engage with early stage companies through a tailor-made program. The focus will be to assist such startups with market connect and customer acquisition and help them achieve the right scale, in line with investor expectations.  Lastly, the final stage is is designed to empower larger business entities and businesses to set up incubation projects within their fold, in line with strategic interests or as part of CSR initiatives. Through this relationship, the Accelerate team will continue to support such larger organizations and will make available relevant infrastructural support to expedite growth of incubated startups.

The program will kick start in February 2014