iStart Rajasthan is the flagship program of the Department of Information Technology & Communication, Government of Rajasthan to enhance innovation, create jobs and facilitate investment in the State. The state has created an integrated startup platform called iStart Portal to enhance the quality of startups and to provide facilities to startups. iStart Portal platform is a 100% online public or private startup recognition, startup upgrading, startup skill building, startup promotion, startup funding and startup acceleration platform, which is today one of the largest state-run and managed startup ecosystem in the country, with 5000+ startups associated with it.
The state government has set up a web portal www. istart.rajasthan.gov.in to provide all information related to startups in one place. This portal is a one-stop gateway for all the incentives prescribed under the policy. www. istart.rajasthan.gov.in is the platform for the complete implementation of the startup policy. It provides a dashboard for monitoring and access to the iStart program to government officials, startups, mentors, students, teachers/lecturers mentors, schools, administrators etc. The facilities provided to startups through this platform are as follows:
QRATE
QRATE is the country’s only startup rating mechanism. It is an assessment program under which startups are tested at regular intervals, based on which all startups are provided financial assistance and incubation facilities. It also provides a detailed report on the startup’s investment potential. The assessment report helps startup founders to strengthen their business plans. Under this program, boot camps are organized to refine their product, strategy, business plans, and market positioning and work on their shortcomings and limitations.
INCUBATION
The incubation program provides free space, connectivity, computer hardware, infrastructure, mentorship, market connect, VC and investor connect, exposure to national and international organizations/experts etc. The incubation program is designed to help startups achieve attrition through mentor engagement, rapid iteration cycle and fundraising preparation. iStart Nest works with a wide network of investors and advisors to help startups advance and grow their innovations. The program has incubation centres in Jaipur, Technohub and iStart Nest incubators in Bharatpur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Pali and Churu. A total of 2000 seats are available for startups across all the incubation centres (Virtual Incubators and Incubators tied up with iStart).
Techno Hub is the largest startup hub in the country, the most advanced, transformative, robust, and efficient startup infrastructure, the most valuable milestone in the startup ecosystem, accommodating more than 295 startups and having 1,50,000 sq. ft. of incubation space. Techno Hub is a one-stop solution for startups with facilities like free space, connectivity, easy funding, mentorship, market connect, video conferencing and investor connect. Techno Hub will provide a complete support system to budding startups to accelerate the startup ecosystem in Rajasthan.
INNOVATION CHALLENGE AND STARTUP AWARDS
To harness the potential of start-ups in Rajasthan to develop innovative solutions to issues prevalent in the state/ society, the government organizes various competitions like Innovation Challenge and Startup Awards under the Startup Policy-2022. The state government department will share challenges for the participating start-ups, who can provide solutions to the problem based on the theme. Startups will be awarded after the winners are decided by the evaluation committee based on the criteria notified by the government from time to time.
SCHOOL STARTUP AND RURAL iSTART
The iStart program has been expanded to enhance efforts to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation among school students of Rajasthan. The program has been initiated to inculcate an entrepreneurial mindset in school students of Rajasthan and provide them with a solid foundation for their journey as future entrepreneurs. Since its inception, 59000+ students and 2500+ schools have registered themselves on the iStart portal. The registered students are provided with knowledge about self-employment, and live business ideas and a certificate is given to the participant on completion of the module.
The Rural iStart program has been launched to expand the reach and impact of the growing start-up ecosystem in the state to rural Rajasthan. The program aims to ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation in rural Rajasthan and transform agriculture and rural development in the state. Under the Rural iStart program, a total of 800+ rural startups have registered themselves on the iStart portal so far.
EBAZAAR PORTAL
As per the provisions of the budget announcement for the year 2023-24 by the Honourable Chief Minister and the Finance Department’s notification number G.S.R.143 dated March 17, 2023, startups registered in iStart can be given direct work orders of up to Rs 25 lakh by various government departments. So far, work orders have been given to 81 startups by various government departments.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Rajasthan has been one of the leading states in the country to start the startup program. The new startup policy was released by the state government in the year 2022. Through this policy, the state government has a provision to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh 40 thousand to the startup in the idea/prototype phase (this amount is Rs 3 lakh for women startups), up to Rs 60 lakh in the seed phase and up to Rs 2 crore to the startups in the form of loan and financial assistance of up to Rs 5 crore in the form of equity.
ATAL INNOVATION PROGRAM
To create a conducive environment for building a holistic ecosystem resulting in large-scale innovation, enterprise creation and employment opportunities.
The Atal Innovation Programme will incorporate opportunities in coding, robotics and VFX which will act as a catalyst towards establishing a creative economy and skills in the state. (In Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Bharatpur districts).
Also Read: India’s Governance Leap from Policy to Progress
ISTART LAUNCHPAD PROGRAM
To ignite the spirit of entrepreneurship among school and college students of the state and convert their ideas into potential businesses, as announced in the Budget Year 2023-24, the State Government through the Department of Information Technology and Communication is establishing and operating a total of 66 I-Start Launchpad Nests (in 33 selected schools and 33 selected colleges) in 33 districts of the state in collaboration with the School Education Department. Through these Launchpad Nests, students of schools and colleges can avail mentorship and workspace for activities related to entrepreneurship, innovation, emerging technologies and prototyping.
Views expressed by: Archana Singh, Secretary And Commissioner, Department Of Information Technology & Communication, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Be a part of Elets Collaborative Initiatives. Join Us for Upcoming Events and explore business opportunities. Like us on Facebook , connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us on Twitter, Instagram.
"Exciting news! Elets technomedia is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest insights!" Click here!
