Odisha’s Startup Initiative, Startup Odisha, Takes Center Stage as Host of Startup Utsavv 2024

Startup Odisha organized the STARTUP UTSAVV 2024 event, spearheaded by the MSME Department of the Government of Odisha. This initiative, dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, united key players such as industry leaders, government officials, startups, incubators, academic institutions, mentors, and various stakeholders.

The event featured distinguished attendees, including Pratap Keshari Deb, Minister of Industry, Energy, and MSME; Subroto Bagchi, Chief Advisor of the Government of Odisha for Institutional Capacity Building; and Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman of Startup Odisha. Notable figures from the startup and entrepreneurship realm, such as top student innovators, women entrepreneurs, and winners of innovation challenges, also participated, sharing insights into the state’s commitment to promoting innovation.

A highlight of STARTUP UTSAVV 2024 was the felicitation ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions across categories. Awards went to entities like KIIT Technology Business Incubator, AIC-Nalanda Institute of Technology, and DBT ILS Bioincubator. Recognition extended to startups making an impact internationally and those securing external funds in 2023-24.

The event facilitated strategic alliances with industry giants through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). Noteworthy collaborations included those with NRDC, ISBA, ICAI, and NIF. Additionally, Startup Odisha and SIDBI signed an agreement for the SIDBI Seed Fund Programme.

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, emphasized the importance of nurturing future entrepreneurs through initiatives like Odisha Startup Yatra and Odisha Startup Xpress. Minister MSME, Pratap Keshari Deb, encouraged youth to embrace entrepreneurship for job creation, with the government providing robust support.

Dr. Omkar Rai highlighted the success of Startup Utsavv 2024 as a celebration of achievements within Odisha’s startup ecosystem. The event showcased over 1800 recognized startups, including more than 700 women-led ventures, with impressive external funding of Rs 500 Crores.

The Ask Me Anything session with Subroto Bagchi emphasized addressing real-world problems, shifting from a job-centric mindset, and showcasing women entrepreneurs as role models. The event also launched Startup Yatra Booklets to support aspiring entrepreneurs and featured sessions on Design Thinking, the role of academic institutions, and intellectual property support for entrepreneurship. The day concluded with inspiring success stories from notable startups in Odisha.