Countdown begins! All you want to know about PM Modi’s grand 'Start-up India' launch on Jan 16

As the clock ticks away, countdown has already begun for Narendra Modi’s ambitious ‘Start-up India, Stand Up India’ initiative – what also is our Prime Minister’s New Year gift to the visionary and the young desi talent which wants to set up new businesses and innovative projects.

The high-profile event waiting to be formally launched on January 16 will be the first-of-its-kind platform to facilitate face-to-face interactions between founders of at least 1500 Indian startups. Not only will the creative lot share their views and ideas with each other, but they will also be able to share their plight and suggestions with the global counterparts and government for solutions to problems plaguing the startup industry in the country.

Scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley in Vigyan Bhawan at 9.30 am, the event will see Prime Minister unveil the Start-Up action plan highlighting government initiatives for developing a start-up ecosystem in India in front of thousands of national and international biz masterminds.

At a time when there’s just 10 days left for yet another Modi dream to realize and excitement is running high, we bring you all the crucial developments that will be taking place at the ‘Startup India, Standup India’ launch - one of the most-awaited events to kick-off this year!

· The event will be a non-stop day long global workshop on startup Entrepreneurship and will include panel discussions on topics:
Unleashing Entrepreneurship and Innovation - What do Indian Startups Need to Grow and Prosper; Celebrating Women: Stories of Innovative Women Entrepreneurs; How digitization will change India’s future; Making Indian Healthcare Leapfrog; Financial inclusion is within reach

· The event shall also feature interactive talks with global leaders and venture capitalists such as Mr. Masayoshi Son (Founder and CEO, SoftBank), Mr. Travis Kalanick (Founder, Uber) and Mr. Adam Nuemann (Founder, WeWork).

· A delegation of at least 40 top chief executive officers (CEOs), venture capitalists, angel investors from Silicon Valley will be coming down along with the participation of 2000 new age ventures to encourage India's young entrepreneurs.

· Google will provide $15,000 on-the-spot equity funding to start-ups while conducting an innovative session titled “Launchpad Accelerator” where startups can make live presentations about their business ideas.

· Nikesh Arora, President and Chief Operating Officer, SoftBank will also be interacting with participants and guiding them on raising funds.

· A virtual exhibition is also being organized as part of the event to showcase some of the unique and innovative work done by Start-ups in the country.

· A panel discussion is also likely on “Show Me the Money: How do we Capitalize Entrepreneurship?” and would be chaired by Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha.

· Apart from sessions on themes such as digitisation, women entrepreneurs, healthcare and financial inclusion, there will also be a session titled “Face-to-face with Policy makers” with top secretaries to the Government of India where representatives of startups can ask them questions on subjects concerning their domain. (The panel will comprise of Secretaries from Department of Revenue, Department of Human Resources and Development, Department of Corporate Affairs, Department of Financial Services, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Department of Skill Development. Additionally, the panel will have representation from Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)).

· The event, that is to conclude with the Prime Minister’s address, would be telecast live at all IIMs, IITs, NITs, central universities and among youth groups in over 350 districts.

With the congregation of global majors, Indian startups, angel investors, VCs and government, an entire ecosystem under one roof, need we say Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Startup India is set to grab attention from world over.

A major revolution is in the making and we have got our eyes on it!

(Image credit: Reuters)