The National Startup Advisory Council, a governmental body aimed at garnering insights from prominent figures within the startup ecosystem, has announced the appointment of 28 non-official members to this committee.
According to an official government statement, this council boasts a diverse array of members, encompassing founders of renowned startups such as BYJU'S, Ola, Zoho, and Snapdeal. Additionally, representatives from prominent venture capital entities like Aarin Capital, Accel, Sequoia Capital India, Kalaari Capital, and Softbank India have been included.
The non-official members are set to serve a two-year term and will play a pivotal role in advising the government on initiatives crucial for fostering a robust startup ecosystem, nurturing innovation, and facilitating the growth of startups across various sectors in the country.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had established the National Startup Advisory Council back in January 2020. The council shoulders several key responsibilities, which include:
Promoting Innovation: A focus on innovation across all economic sectors, extending its reach to semi-urban and rural areas.
Supporting Creative Ideas: Backing inventive concepts that hold the potential to evolve into impactful products.
Simplifying Operations: Streamlining regulatory compliance and reducing operational costs to facilitate smoother operations for startups.
Diving into the roster of influential personalities within the council, notable startup founders include:
Lizzie Chapman from ZestMoney
Abhiraj Singh of Urban Company
Kunal Bahl from Snapdeal
Deepak Garg of Rivigo
Krishna Kumar from Cropln
Sanjeev Bhikchandani of Info Edge India
Sridhar Vembu from Zoho Corp.
Kris Gopalakrishnan from Axilor Ventures
Mohandas Pai representing Aarin Capital Partners
Gopal Srinivasan of TVS Capital Funds
Ramesh Byrapaneni from Endiya Partners
Prashant Prakash of Accel
Manoj Kohli representing Softbank India
Rajan Anandan from Sequoia Capital India
The council also includes esteemed individuals nominated by the government, encompassing various sectors:
Amitabha Bandyopadhyay from IIT Kanpur
Kunal Upadhayaya representing IIM Ahmedabad
Renuka Ramnath from the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
Venkatesh Shukla representing The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE)
Sharad Sharma from iSpirit
Uday Kotak from CII
Uday Shankar representing FICCI
Subba Rao Pavuluri from Anath Technologies
A Boost for Innovation: The combined wisdom and experience of these diverse leaders promises to fuel India's entrepreneurial spirit and drive innovative solutions across sectors.
Stronger Policy Framework: The NSAC's recommendations will shape government policies on regulatory simplification, funding access, and talent development, paving the way for a more nurturing environment for startups.
National Startup Advisory Council With renowned names like Rajan Anandan (Sequoia Capital India) and Manoj Kohli (Softbank India) on board, the NSAC can attract global attention and investment to India's burgeoning startup scene.
With a comprehensive blend of expertise spanning startups, venture capital, and industry associations, the National Startup Advisory Council is poised to usher in a new era of innovation and support for budding entrepreneurs across India's diverse business landscape.