The highly-anticipated fifth episode of the Founders Club Meet recently concluded, bringing together entrepreneurs and startup enthusiasts for an in-depth exploration into the world of bootstrapped startups and effective strategies for raising the first funding. The event, held at Surendrababu Timblo Hall, GCCI, was organided by the Startup & IT Promotion Cell – Department of Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications, Goa, and had significant support from startup stakeholders.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan envisioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a commitment to building a self-reliant India. Swayampurna Goa, initiated by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, supports this vision by encouraging self-reliance in all sectors. The initiative actively engages startups in community training programmes with the emphasis on skill development and entrepreneurship. Also, the ongoing initiative led by the Government of India Vikisit Bharat Sankalp Campaign creates awareness about various schemes. Establishing Goa as a vibrant hub for entrepreneurial ventures and making sure everyone is well-informed about and involved in the growth of the state.
Aligned with this vision, the Founders Club is an initiative led by Minister of Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications, Printing and Stationary, Government of Goa, Rohan A. Khaunte to create a dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystem. The club brings together industry experts and mentors who assist entrepreneurs throughout their journey. It is a vibrant community that encourages invention and collaboration. The minister’s dedication has transformed the Founders Club into a successful model in which creators thrive and continue to progress. The initiative is molding the future of entrepreneurship together.
This engaging event brought together funding experts from the banking sector, incubators, and EDC who shared their insights into effective strategies for raising the first round of funding and several success stories. The esteemed panelists included Gopal Kerkar, Lead District Manager, North Goa, State Bank of India; Ashok Parab, Assistant Manager, EDC Ltd; Abhimanyu Rathi, Director, Venture Builder, Build3; Abhishek Pratap Singh, Incubation Manager, Atal Incubation Centre – GIM; Joish M. Murthy, Senior Manager, Infra and operations, BITS BioCyTIH Foundation and Kiran Mehta, Head- Incubation and Innovation, FiiRE.
With a large gathering of participants, primarily startup founders, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, and other key startup stakeholders, this event highlighted its critical role in encouraging the growth of Goa’s startup community.
D. S. Prashant, CEO of the Startup & IT Promotion Cell – Goa, expressed the organisation’s commitment to nurturing and supporting the startup ecosystem. He emphasised the importance of practical insights and strategies for overcoming the challenges of acquiring the first funding by stating, “This event not only equipped attendees with practical insights but also immersed them in real-world experiences and success stories. Our goal is to create a comprehensive guide that will allow startups to navigate the complex funding landscape throughout their entrepreneurial journey.” His message was a rallying call to all entrepreneurs to take ownership of their startup initiatives.
As another successful event comes to an end, both organisers and attendees are looking forward to the next edition of the Founders Club.
