Zone Startups India to host seventh edition of its programme to take tech startups to North America

Zone Startups India, a tech-focused accelerator operated by the Ryerson Futures network, today announced the seventh edition of its Next BIG Idea (NBI) contest. It is an annual programme which engages startups, incubators, co-working spaces, investors and industry players. 

As part of the programme, Zone Startups India will be hosting roadshows in 21 cities across India throughout July. The roadshows will allow participating companies to understand how the North American market suits their products, giving them an opportunity to apply and interact with the jury, the organisation said in a statement. 

Applications to the startup programme can be made from 28 June, 2019 to 30 August, 2019. This year’s NBI team will visit cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Vizag, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar and Jaipur in order to spur applications. Under this year’s programme, 13 technology startups will be identified. 

The objective of the Next BIG Idea contest since its inception has been to identify and support hi-tech, high-potential Indian startups that seek to expand their operations internationally and are actively looking at the North American market, the organisation said in a statement.

The selected startups gain access to a bespoke market access programme which includes mentorship, industry connections, investor meetings and exposure at an international level, the statement added. 

Startups such as CitrusPay, Sokrati, Heckyl, Vidooly, ShieldSquare, Plackal, Flip Technologies, AdSparx, Konotor, Data Resolve, Uncanny Vision, Gray Routes and Sequretek comprise the alumni network of Next Big Idea contest. 

Last year, the contest became part of the Canada-India Bilateral Entrepreneurship Initiative supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. 

Launched in 2013, Mumbai-based Zone Startups India has operated six editions of the NBI programme. As many as 39 Indian technology startups have benefited through a soft landing programme across Canada and the US, the statement said. Its network comprises of Barclays’ Rise Accelerator, Thought Factory with Axis Bank, Gateway91 and Palavar Accelerator with Lodha Group.