Latest news with #KSUM
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Freedom Squares to be set up across Kerala to encourage entrepreneurship among students
T'puram: 'Freedom Squares' are being established across the state to enable students from various fields to share knowledge, collaborate on projects and realise entrepreneurial ideas. These high-tech hubs will be set up in all 14 districts, inspired by the design of Apple Inc's office in California, USA. Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) aims to foster a culture that encourages entrepreneurship and idea generation without disrupting students' education by thinking beyond traditional methods. The first Freedom Square will be set up near the Technocity campus in Thiruvananthapuram on an area of 2 acres. Each square will cover an area of 20,000 square feet, with a base cost of approximately Rs 4 crore. Efforts are being made to gather operational capital and additional funding through private partnerships. Architects, students, designers and engineering students from each district will collaborate to design the Freedom Squares. These spaces will provide students with advanced facilities for mentoring and pitching, along with enhanced learning opportunities through tinker labs, maker spaces and experiment stations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo There will also be provisions for joint research, hackathons, workshops and industry partnerships. The spaces will be made barrier-free to ensure the participation of people with disabilities. The Freedom Squares are expected to be the first of their kind initiative in the country aimed at empowering students for social change by opening new avenues for learning and entrepreneurship. They will play a crucial role in harnessing the potential of the youth for the benefit of the state and serve as a meeting place for like-minded individuals. These high-tech hubs will open doors to opportunities for students and young entrepreneurs to share ideas, collaborate, work continuously, and attract investment, said KSUM authorities in a statement issued here.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
KSUM's Innovation Festival shifts focus beyond startups and tech
One of the more noticeable additions is a flea market that features climate-conscious brands and circular economy models. The programming here is being shaped in part by Maatam, a Kochi-based collective working at the intersection of design, sustainability, and storytelling. 'The future of sustainability is through technology. But, of course, we want to showcase to all, especially those who push at the limits of technology, what's possible, even if it's small-scale,' says Visakha G Raj of Maatam. 'At the end of the day, you don't need to be a brand or a business to participate in climate action. You could be someone who composts, someone who repairs clothes, etc. That's also design thinking. That's also innovation,' she adds. In addition, two discussions are also planned. Titled 'What Can I Do?' and 'What Can We Do?', these bring together climate communicators, renewable energy practitioners, behavioural design experts and community architects to explore both individual and systemic responses to climate concerns. 'We've done product demos, pitch sessions, and investor meets. We'll continue to do those,' said a senior KSUM official. 'But there's growing interest among founders and students alike to understand how their work connects to the bigger picture.'
Entrepreneur
5 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Centre to Plan More Seed Funds & Incubation Centres: Startup India head
Speaking at the inauguration of the Kerala Innovation Festival (KIF) organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in Kalamassery, Venkatesh noted that these efforts go beyond the financial support provided by the IT Ministry. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The central government is ramping up efforts to strengthen seed funding and expand incubation centres to foster the startup ecosystem across the country, said Mamatha Venkatesh, Head of Startup India, during an event in Kochi on Friday. Speaking at the inauguration of the Kerala Innovation Festival (KIF) organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in Kalamassery, Venkatesh noted that these efforts go beyond the financial support provided by the IT Ministry. She added that startups from various sectors could also access assistance from other government departments. Describing Kerala's startup ecosystem as the "most vibrant" in India, she pointed out that the state achieved 100 per cent registration under the Startup India programme. She urged entrepreneurs to leverage central government initiatives such as the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the INR 1 lakh crore Fund of Funds, and the Credit Guarantee Scheme. She also highlighted the encouraging statistic that 48 per cent of startups in the country are founded or co-founded by women. State Planning Board member Mini Sukumaran acknowledged that women's participation in the workforce remains low, despite increasing enrolment of girls in higher education across Kerala. She stressed the need to bridge this gap and said the state government is working urgently on it. The Planning Board has proposed several recommendations to make the gender budget more impactful, she added. KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika said the agency is introducing more initiatives to support angel funding for early-stage startups. "Kerala currently has four angel networks, and the success of more startup ecosystems will attract further interest from angel investors," he said. The Kerala Innovation Festival features over 100 participants from sectors such as film, music, technology, fintech, and social entrepreneurship. This two-day event celebrated a decade of the Kerala Startup Mission, which was launched with the Technology Startup Policy in 2015.
United News of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Kerala Innovation Festival: AI Filmmaking Workshop for Students
Kochi, July 21 (UNI) Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is organising a free workshop on 'Introduction to AI Filmmaking' this Friday, when the nodal agency's Kerala Innovation Festival will begin in the city. The workshop, which is open to students up to the Plus-2 level, will be held at the Digital Hub under the KSUM in suburban Kalamassery. Varun Ramesh, a prominent AI storyteller and trainer, will lead the workshop. The first 35 students who register will be able to participate, organizers said. For registration: KIF is on July 25 and 26. UNI DS GNK More News LIC enters into MOU with DoRD to promote Bima Sakhi Yojana 21 Jul 2025 | 8:51 PM Hyderabad, July 21 (UNI) Life Insurance Corporation of India on Monday said it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Rural Development (DoRD), Ministry of Rural Development, to promote its Bima Sakhi Yojana in rural areas. see more.. Jharkhand Chamber Executive Meet calls for industrial boost in Santhal Region 21 Jul 2025 | 8:33 PM Sahibganj, July 21 (UNI) The 11th executive committee meeting of the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce was held today in Sahibganj under the chairmanship of Chamber president Paresh Gattani. see more.. Kerala Innovation Festival: AI Filmmaking Workshop for Students 21 Jul 2025 | 7:24 PM Kochi, July 21 (UNI) Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is organising a free workshop on 'Introduction to AI Filmmaking' this Friday, when the nodal agency's Kerala Innovation Festival will begin in the city. see more.. Mahindra Logistics reports wider Q1 FY26 Net Loss of Rs 9 44 Crore 21 Jul 2025 | 7:03 PM Mumbai, July 21 (UNI) Mahindra Logistics Ltd informed the stock exchange today that it has posted a wider net loss of Rs 9.44 crore on sequential basis in the first quarter (Q1) of FY26, as compared to a loss of Rs 5.29 crore in the previous quarter (Q4 FY25). see more..
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
KSUM steps up efforts to help startups find success overseas
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For long, the Gulf has been a land of promise for Keralites. Now, startups too are looking towards West Asia with a glint in their eyes, harbouring hopes of expanding their prospects. And supporting their cause is Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), which has been regularly organising programmes under the aegis of Startup Infinity, a dedicated arm launched in 2023 to aid this endeavour. One such event is happening next week, on July 22, at the KSUM office in Thiruvananthapuram, titled 'Scaleup in the UAE'. 'The event is being co-organised by 'Startup Middle East', a similar body that supports startup aspirations of those based in the UAE,' says Ashok Kurien, senior manager of KSUM. 'About 30 startups have already registered for the July 22 session. While most startups are from the tech and software sector, there are about four to five that are from the hardware side as well,' Ashok adds. Like the Startup Middle East, KSUM has partnered with numerous other bodies, especially in the UAE and Brussels, to help ventures in Kerala navigate the legal and regulatory framework in these countries. At the programmes they routinely hold, information and instructions too are shared on market prospects, client study, and strategies for Indian startups to go global. As of now, there are about 15 startups that have explored prospects abroad, with help from Startup Infinity and its collaborating partner, Startup Middle East. 'Most of it has been in Dubai. About four have explored using our Brussels facility,' says Ashok. The KSUM is also in the process of expanding to other places to enable start-ups from Kerala to keep infinity as their limit when they plan to scale up. 'A bigger event, which would also explore opportunities for Europe, will be held on July 26,' says Chetan N C, KSUM assistant manager (corporate innovation). For the July 22 event: Register at Entry is free and open to all though seats are limited.
