TS Govt to procure services from start-ups

Hyderabad, Aug 29 (INN): The India's largest Startup Conference--The August Fest, third edition, organized to celebrate art and entrepreneurship kicked off here in Hyderabad at JRC Convention Center on Saturday.

The two day festival organised by Eat, Sleep and Drink Startup will conclude on Sunday.

The Festival kicked off by Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary IT, Govt. of Telangana delivering inaugural key note address "Is Innovation Possible in Government?" The definitive answer to this question is No and Yes, said Jayesh Ranjan. Entrepreneurship and Innovation are the two words least heard in Government. It is because of lack of incentive system in Government Machinery to foster creativity. At the most, such innovations or new ideas, if at all any porposed are just recognised, he said.

Another reasons for absence of innovation or creativity in government is there are far too many stakeholders. It is difficult to find their alignment. Lot of negative energy gets circulated. But, there are some good examples too, he hastened to add. Telangana being a newest state, things are slightly different, he said.

Innovation and Technology plays a major role in the proposed 100 smart cities project announced by the central government.

He informed that T-Hub, the India's biggest Technology Incubation Center in the country will be inaugurated by both Ratan Tata and Governor of Telangana in next ten days.

Replying to a question he said, Government is going to offer free space to small companies in twin towers in Financial District. These are located behind GMC Balayogi Stadium and have been lying vacant for so many years. Now startups and small companies will be provided office space free of cost here he said.

Further, Jayesh Ranajan added that infrastructure built in the T-Hub is the pride of the India. He also unveiled the plans of second phase of T-Hub, which will have 300,000sq foot of area and 4000 seating capacity. And it will be ready by the time when World IT Congress to be held in city in 2018, he said.

Telangana Government is creating a Citizen Engaging Portal, which is mandated by the Smart City plan and guidelines, Jayesh Ranjan informed.

It is observed by us that most regional innovations are happening in Apps Developments. Apps comprise of 60 to 70 per cent of regional innovations. So government is embarking on developing 'Talangana App for You'. Government is in the process of drafting Guidelines for App Developers/Development. M-Governance is also the priority for us in the government. All kiosk based citizen services, will be soon converted into Mobile Platform, he said.

Replying to another question Jayesh Ranajan informed the 4000 plus gathering, he said we want to come out with state policy on incubation. He also said, government will procure goods and services wherever they are available from Start Ups to encourage them he said. .

Speaking on the occasion Kiran Maverick, Founder of Eat, Sleep and Drink Start Ups, the organization behind 'The August Fest' said, that the fest is featuring for the first time global ecosystem contributors from Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, South Korea, Turkey, U.K and America.

This unique fest is organized in support with Government of Telangana; ISB, the premier business school and T-Hub, India's largest technology incubator.

The August Fest is an event that has brought together the whole startup ecosystem in India for the first time, Kiran added.