The Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, unveiled the ‘Investor Information and Analytics Platform’ developed by IIT Madras. This platform serves as a comprehensive hub for startups, offering seamless access to Venture Capitalists (VCs), investor networks, government schemes, and various other components essential for navigating the startup landscape.
Designed to integrate information across different levels, the platform acts as a centralized resource for entrepreneurs to explore details on government agencies, incubators, VCs, and banks that actively invest in startups. Developed by the researchers at the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST) of IIT Madras, this initiative aims to significantly benefit startup founders, entrepreneurs, and young Indians aspiring to create innovative products and services for India and the global market.
During the launch, Rajeev Chandrasekhar remarked, ‘Congratulations on launching this platform. I believe you are certainly addressing a gap in our visibility of the innovation ecosystem—how vast, deep, and diversified our startup innovation ecosystem is. I view this as a valuable resource for researchers who will study and utilize it to comprehend the growth within the ecosystem.’
The platform, boasting a feature named ‘StartupGPT,’ utilizes AI technology to provide a conversational interface. This function enables users to easily access information by asking queries in simple language, facilitating real-time data retrieval. To ensure sustainability, the platform offers full access at a nominal cost, aiming to maximize the benefits for entrepreneurs.
Featuring information on over 200,000 startups, nearly 11,000 angel investors and 5,000 VCs, about 1000 incubators, more than 100 government agencies that fund startups, and approximately 550 supportive banks, this platform serves as a comprehensive repository for the startup ecosystem.
IIT Madras collaborated with YNOS Venture Engine, an incubatee startup of the institute, to develop this platform. This technical partnership, leveraging private sector enterprise strengths, ensures the platform remains up-to-date and accessible 24*7 for users. The platform can be accessed via the following link: www.ynos.in.
Emphasizing the platform’s role in fostering innovation and startups in India, Prof. Thillai Rajan A, Head of CREST, IIT Madras, stated, ‘Platforms such as these play a crucial role in democratizing access to information and capital, accelerating the commercialization of innovation. The biggest beneficiaries would be the hundreds and thousands of young entrepreneurs who would easily identify the experts, investors, and mentors most appropriate for their ventures.’
