Back to Bharat-In Search of a Sustainable Future written by Nagaraja Prakasam launched at Guwahati event.
Guwahati: Start-ups got a unique opportunity to connect with experts and professionals at the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park initiated networking event called Connect.X Hangout on November 30. The event was conducted at the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) convention center in Guwahati and the NEDFi was an associate partner.
Entrepreneurs got the opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, professional service providers, and leading personalities from the startup ecosystem at the meet. Apart from entrepreneurs, the meet also featured youngsters who are looking for jobs and students on the lookout for internship opportunities.
Speaking to Business North East, Pranjal Konwar, the COO of IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, said the organization has been active in the Northeast region since 2017.
Pranjal Konwar- Chief Operating Officer, IIM Calcutta Innovation park
"I saw the startups here do not have ecosystem partners like lawyers, accountants, mentors, investors, as well as future employees and interns which is why we launched Connect.X, to bring everyone in the same room", he said. Konwar opined that the program would benefit start-ups by finding the right partners to help them scale up and ascend to the next level.
CMD Of NEDFi PVSLN Murty in his opening remarks congratulated the organisers and greeted the participants who joined the hangout. "For the northeast, one needs to see differently. It is because firstly, the terrain is difficult, there is lesser population in larger pockets, and huge natural resources that are not yet exploited, and cost-intensive", he said, emphasizing the need for more funding so that more projects can take off. He further underlined the need to use local resources so that more employment opportunities can be generated for locals.
CMD NEDFi, PVSLN Murty
Aziz Ali, the founder of Assam’s first fintech firm, Hookolu Pay told Business North East that such platforms can be "quite beneficial" for local businesses. Ali launched an NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) during the event. "The specialty of this card is that one need not carry separate cards for travel on metros, or buses. So this is such a card which can be used in all the metros in India. The users need not carry cash with them all the time and it is operational in offline mode also", said the innovator.
Barsha Sharma, founder of Ezaar Collective, also had a productive time at Connect.X Hangout where she got an opportunity to launch her company's website. "Ezaar is an apparel and accessories brand of products made out of fabric waste material. We make diaries, scrunches’, poster sets, mobile sling bags, pouches, and several other products", she informed Business North East.
Pooja Bagaria, Regional Manager, ONDC
The Penguin-published 'Back to Bharat-In In Search of a Sustainable Future' by US-returned Nagaraja Prakasam was also launched at the event. "My book addresses the present economic dilemma for Indian entrepreneurs and consumers, looking at the past and present situation of both India and the developed world to find a way forward", he said.
Nagaraja Prakasam author of 'Back to Bharat- In Search of a Sustainable Future',
Guest of Honour, Connect.X Hangout
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