Start-up contest to kick off in Kochi on Oct 20

With an aim to test innovative skills and technical knowledge of fledgling electronic start-ups, city-based Maker Village, one of India's largest incubators, will team up with Bosch to host an event on October 20.
At the event titled 'Bosch DNA Grand Challenge', to be held at KINFRA Hi-Tech Park in Kalamassery, young entrepreneurs will take up exciting challenges intended to encourage innovation in electronic product design and development, according to a release here today.
Ernakulam District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirullah and Bosch Senior Vice President R K Shenoy will inaugurate the event, which will have brainstorming sessions on 'Startup Ecosystem in Kerala' and 'The concept of electronics startups as a key initiative in Kerala'.

Maker Village, focusing on electronic products, is a state-of-the-art public-private partnership (PPP) model incubator in partnership with central and Kerala governments, KSUM, IIITM-K and Startup Village as well as Bosch.
Chief Consultant of Maker Village, S Rajeev said most of the electronic start-ups fail to convert prototypes into desired products.
"Hence, we will give the participants a set of minimum five challenges based on product requirements. The solution to the problem statement should broadly fall into the categories of smart city solutions, Internet of Things (IoT), wearables, robotics and embedded electronic products," he said.

The best solutions will be selected and offered pre-incubation for three months at Maker Village to develop a prototype. Bosch will sponsor the pre-incubation.

The teams can also choose to work from their own premises or make use of the facilities offered, it said.
"Bosch will offer prototype support of up to Rs 50,000 per team. Bosch and Maker Village will support with maker space and mentorship," Rajeev noted.