International Startup Foundation hosts the Investor Connect Workshop
An effort to equip startups to fast-track the Fund Raise with guidance from the Experts
The International Start-up Foundation, a prominent not-for-profit organisation supporting the growth and development of the start-up ecosystem, in association with International Startups Network Pvt Ltd (ISN) a global incubation city that will house startups around the world to host International Startup Festival (ISF) 2024 for the 1st time in Hyderabad. It is scheduled from 26th to 28th September 2024 at the Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI), Gachibowli, Hyderabad. An Investor Connect Workshop and the Curtain Raiser for ISF 2024 were organized today at T-Hub. ISF 2024 will be a unique platform for startup founders to connect with peers and investors, collaborate on innovative projects, and outline a growth path for their ventures.
An Investor Connect Workshop was organized for registered startups, enabling them to get insights from the experts to fast-track the fundraise. The workshop was organized with the aim to mentor over 100 startups and enabling them in their funds raise. More than 10 mentors including Mr JA Chowdary – Key Architect – Indian Tech Industry, Founder ISF, Mr Rajesh Raju – MD Kalaari Capitals, Mr Shobu Yarlagadda – CEO & Co-Founder Arka Media Works, Mr Prasad Vanga – Founder & CEO, Ant Hill Ventures, Mr Sateesh Andra – MD Endiya Partners, Mr Sanjeev Deshpande – Country Head – NTT Data, Mr Sridhar Rampalli – Managing Partner – Pave Stone, Mr Vikrant Varshney – Co-Founder & Managing Partner – SucSEED Indovation Fund and Mr Srinivas Rao Mahankali – CEO T- Hub along with a large number of startup founders attended the Investor Connect Workshop and the Curtain Raiser for ISF 2024.
The theme of ISF 2024 is ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI,’ with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation across various sectors, including Healthcare, Education, Agritech, Food Technology, Fintech, and Rural Innovations. ISF 2024 aims to address challenges faced by startups and create opportunities for sustainable growth, The festival will feature over 600 startups, with more than 300 participating in the Startup Expo. In addition, it will feature over 800 global angel investors, 300 venture capitalists, and 250 CXOs, offering a global outreach and an excellent opportunity to network. ISF 2024 will also recognise promising startups and outstanding innovators.
Speaking about the International Startup Festival 2024, Mr JA Chowdary, Key Architect of the Indian Tech Industry and Chairperson and Convenor of ISF, said, “The International Startup Festival is designed to complement the global startup ecosystem, promoting collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth. This year we are hosting the International Startup Festival in Hyderabad for the first time. The theme, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the AI Era, aligns with our vision to integrate AI technologies into grassroots entrepreneurship, enabling startups to address real-world challenges and contribute to societal development. The Global CXO Summits in the USA and Jamaica set the stage for what promises to be an extraordinary gathering of innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the globe at ISF 2024.”
Adding to this Dr. Siva Mahesh Tangutooru, Director at ISF Network said, “ISF 2024 will see participation from over 50,000 startups from India, USA, and other countries. The top 100 startups will be selected as finalists, offering them an exclusive opportunity to pitch onstage and secure funding. These startups were shortlisted from the Investor Connect Workshops held in Pune, Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh, USA, Europe and now in Hyderabad. ISF is the only platform that has a special focus on Rural Innovation – and hosts a Rural Economic Forum to promote innovation at the grassroots tech-enabled level to find tech enabled solutions for the rural economy.
To encourage the next generation of innovators, ISF is the only forum that hosts a Junicorn Roundtable. It will also feature engaging discussions on critical areas such as Health-tech, Fintech, agri-tech, Defence & Spacetech, EdTech, Consumer Tech, VLSI & Embedded Tech, and more. Special roundtables will cover topics like Women in Business, Global Capability Centres, and Junicorns, providing a platform for thought leaders and policymakers to address grassroots challenges and propose impactful solutions. The three-day Startup Expo to provide a vibrant environment for delegates to network with startup founders and explore innovative products and solutions. The expo will feature pavilions from more than 15 countries and various Indian states, showcasing the diverse and dynamic startup ecosystem.”
According to Mr Balaji Reddy, Founder & Chairman of International Startups Network Pvt Ltd (ISN), “We are delighted to be associated with the International Startup Foundation to host the 1st International Startup Festival in Hyderabad. We are setting up a Global Incubation city, which will house startups around the world. It will have its Networking club and co-workspace – housing Investor VC Studios, Mentors, corporates to connect Businesses to Startups. This will be the largest Incubator in the world based in Hyderabad. ISN will also act as a physical incubation partner for ISF and create a vibrant ecosystem for startups.”
ISF 2024 is likely to be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana Shri A Revanth Reddy with several policymakers, Industry Leaders, and successful startup founders sharing their insights to develop successful enterprises. The International Startup Festival 2024 is Powered by Vamshiram Builders and Co-Powered by NTT Data.
