IIT Kanpur, MoHUA join to launch ‘Startup Gateway Free Cities’ programme

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) have signed an agreement under the ‘Startup Gateway Free Cities’ programme. Under this program, MoHUA will act as a monitoring agency to support 20 startups at the first phase, excluding the top 10 startups from 30 finalists under the 'Swachhata Startup Challenge'.

MoHUA will also provide funding support to add to the evolving innovation ecosystem globally in the domain of waste-to-wealth. The technology business incubator of IIT Kanpur, Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) has signed the agreement with the ministry.

SIIC IIT Kanpur, as per an institute statement, is an implementation partner for managing the Program under the initiative to support 20 selected innovations/startups by offering mentorship, administrative and handholding support for one year. In addition, 55 startups will be identified during the program implementation and will be provided the adequate support required for their growth, IIT Kanpur added.

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The vision of this collaboration between MoHUA and SIIC, IIT Kanpur, the institute said, is to support 75 startups working at the nexus of technology and social innovation to solve India's waste management challenges by improving waste management efficiency, increasing social impact, and improving transparency of the waste value chain.

The "Startup Gateway for Garbage Free Cities" portal shall remain open across the year. In the initiative's first cohort, 20 startups shall get financial support. The second phase of this initiative shall begin on the portal, wherein any potential startup can simultaneously apply under the relevant incubation mode, it added.