Pilani, India: Manasi Kirloskar, Executive Director & CEO Kirloskar Systems Ltd, shared her thoughts during a keynote session on the theme ‘New Age Startups Ecosystem’ with some of the brightest minds not only in India but globally at BITS Pilani. Manasi Kirloskar stated that today, many startups have achieved success that is unparalleled and unprecedented. Startups and their young successful founders stand for innovation and disruption, which is relevant for every business to stay competitive. India has amazing advantages of having tremendous potential for startups because of huge market, entrepreneurial mindset and rapid increase in people attempting startups. As a result, India has today emerged as the world’s third largest startup ecosystem, after China and the US. Speaking about it she explained how assets, services and expertise are areas of disruption wherein startups are taking India by storm.
The asset platforms spans across various categories such as transport aggregators like the rented cab aggregators (Ola, Uber, Wiwigo ), rickshaw aggregators (jugnoo, TukTuk, telerickshaw), carpooling (Orahi, riseI, Ridingo), rented accommodation (Oyo, Stayzilla), old assets, classifieds portals (Olx, Quikr), and food and beverage aggregators ( Foodpanda, Swiggy, Faasos). A similar disruption is taking place in the services category where platforms such as Helpr, Housejoy, Handyhome, Mr Right and UrbanClap have made the delivery of domestic help or household chores services possible at doorsteps of users.
These platforms are very popular in tier 1 & 2 cities and have built significant trust among participants. They are helping in organizing an unorganized sector of skilled professionals such as mechanics, laundry workers, house maids and plumbers who are now finding jobs more easily.
Another initiative that has further boosted the growth of startups in India is the government’s ease of doing business policies. The Indian government has floated at least 50 sector-specific and sector-agnostic schemes for startups, which include Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS), Bank Credit Facilitation Scheme, scale-up support to establishing incubation centres, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) etc. The government has also recently amended their rule so as to give priority to products from Indian startups in official procurement. With the cooperation from the government and industry support, Startup Ecosystems are the future of India.
Post her keynote session, Ms. Kirloskar visited the Inspired Karters on the BITS Pilani Campus where the students built and exhibited automobiles. The students explained the mission of their team. Ms. Kirloskar mentioned that it was interesting to understand from the students the efforts put in to make a better automotive driver by their passion.
