To boost the startup ecosystem in India, social media giant Facebook on Tuesday launched training and mentoring facilities for entrepreneurs across nine cities. Google also announced the second batch of 10 startups, which will be part of its Launchpad Accelerator mentorship programme in India.
Google’s Launchpad Accelerator India is dedicated to support Indian startups that use technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to create solutions that address the nation’s core needs.
The final 10 selected startups are based out of cities across the country, including Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi, Google said in a statement.
The second batch will be provided a targeted programme, designed around the challenges of India, and how technologies like AI and ML can be leveraged to address their scale and complexity.
The startups part of the new class are Opentalk, THB, Perceptiviti Data Solutions, DheeYantra, Kaleidofin, FinancePeer, SmartCoin, HRBOT, Savera.ai, and Adiuvo Diagnostics.
Similar to the first class, the 10 startups will undergo an intensive one-week mentorship bootcamp, followed by in-person engagements over the next three months.
“Given the growing maturity of India’s startups, our programme focuses on providing startups with incremental knowledge and tools, gleaned from our experience of building products for users around the world,” said Paul Ravindranath G, programme Manager, Launchpad Accelerator programme, India, Google.
Facebook Hubs
Called “Facebook Hubs”, these centres will help foster innovation and support for the community, by hosting mentor hours and training, workshops, roundtable discussions across 20 locations in nine cities -- Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Navi Mumbai and Goa.
The social media giant has partnered with co-working space provider 91springboard for a year-long programme, which will include activities like learning and skill development programmes for startups and entrepreneurs to help scale their businesses.
“Facebook Hubs stem from our mission to provide startups with the infrastructure, mentorship and support they need to grow and scale their operations ethically and sustainably,” Satyajeet Singh, Head of Product Partnerships, Facebook India and South Asia, said in a statement.
“We have worked with hundreds of startups through our various programmes and by teaming up with 91springboard we hope to reach out to more, to fuel India’s startup ecosystem with a vision to build businesses of tomorrow,” Singh said. (with inputs from IANS)


Source: hindustantimes.com