CEOs, startup founders to join Modi for 'Startup India Movement'

Startup founders, venture capitalists, angel investors and CEOs will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16 to launch the 'Startup India Movement', the commerce and industry ministry said on Tuesday.

As many as 1,500 startup founders from across the country will convene at the event aimed at celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of India's youth.

"The closing session will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will formally launch the initiative and unveil the Startup Action Plan," said a ministry statement.

As indicated by Modi in his radio programme "Mann ki baat", the event will unveil the full action plan for the 'Startup India Movement', highlighting the schemes and initiatives the government will take to address various aspects needed to develop a conducive startup ecosystem in India.

The day-long workshop will feature panel discussions on "Unleashing Entrepreneurship and Innovation: What do Indian Startups Need to Grow and Prosper", "Celebrating Women: Stories of Innovative Women Entrepreneurs", "How digitisation will change India's future", "Making Indian Healthcare Leapfrog" and "Financial inclusion is within reach".

As a special feature, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha will chair a panel discussion on "Show me the money: How do we capitalise entrepreneurhip", the statement said.

"A unique question and answer session titled 'Face-to-Face with Policy makers' is also being organised wherein secretaries of key government ministries and departments will answer questions on how government will be creating an enabling ecosystem for Startups," the statement said.

Questions will be answered by secretaries from the departments of revenue, human resource development, corporate affairs, financial services, economic affairs, science and technology, biotechnology, electronics and information technology, micro, small and medium enterprises and skill development.

Uber founder Travis Kalanick, Softbank CEO and founder Masayoshi Son and WeWork founder Adam Nuemann will feature in interactive talks.

Internet giant Google's session titled "Launchpad Accelerator" will involve live pitches to potential investors from early stage startups, the statement said.

Live telecast of the event is planned in IITs, IIMs, NITs, IIITs, central universities and youth groups in as many as 350 districts across the nation.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in association with Invest India, iSpirt, YourStory, NASSCOM, SheThePeople.tv and Kairos Society along with the youth wings of industry bodies FICCI and CII are organising the event.