IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and NEDFi collaborated to host the inaugural CONNECT.X Hangout in Guwahati on November 30. The event, which was dubbed Assam's "largest startup networking gathering," sought to connect entrepreneurs with pertinent organizations and individuals by encouraging in-depth conversations punctuated by presentations by professionals in the field.
Along with SK Barauah, the executive director of NEDFi, PVSLN Murty, the chairman and managing director of NEDFi, was the chief guest at the function.
The session presented by seasoned startup advisor and investor Nagaraja Prakasam (partner, Acumen Fund & founding angel, IAN Impact) was the highlight of the meeting, which drew in over 140 company founders, service providers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals from the region.
The seasoned business executive went into detail about the unique advantages and resources of the Northeast and how newcomers might use these along with contemporary technology to launch profitable and long-lasting businesses. During the occasion, he also gave a book signing for "Back to Bharat: In Search of a Sustainable Future."
"The germination of the startup ecosystem in Northeast India could be traced back to 2017 when the prime minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 100-crore dedicated startup fund for Northeast India," NEDFi CMD PVSLN Murty said in his address to the audience. Since then, a number of cutting-edge businesses have emerged in the area, causing the startup ecosystem to change noticeably. A few investors are also present at this networking event hosted by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park in partnership with NEDFi, and it is possible that some of the entrepreneurs taking part will secure investment.
IIM Calcutta Innovation Park's chief operating officer, Pranjal Konwar, gave a brief introduction to the audience, outlining the goal of organizing the networking event. "It is imperative to provide a platform that facilitates connections, interaction, and symbiotic relationships between startup founders and stakeholders in order to further the growth of the startup ecosystem in the region. We've launched a novel networking endeavor called CONNECT.X Hangout as a result of this discovery," he stated.
A component of the larger CONNECT.X effort, CONNECT.X Hangout is a planned annual event that will take place in the upcoming year and is expected to attract participation from around the nation. In Assam's startup environment, exposure and networking are two essential components that need to be given careful consideration. It is anticipated that CONNECT.X would meet these particular needs by building a credible platform that will draw in entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and companies across the country.
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