CII Karnataka Focuses on Startups

The CII Karnataka announced a slew of initiatives aimed at startups, particularly those in the B2B space, on Tuesday. CII Karnataka chairman Arjun M Ranga and vice chairman Vijaykrishnan Vekatesan announced the formation of a Startup Task Force, which will work in specific areas to further strengthen Bengaluru's vibrant startup ecosystem and take those in tier-II cities to the next level.

The CII has identified a few areas where startups struggle despite having great ideas. According to Ranga, the task force would provide them with a variety of services such as access to large corporations, mentorship from CEOs, assistance with proof of concept (PoC) at large industries, and connecting them with angel/venture investors. "We will assist in establishing opportunities for them to work with large industries."
The CII intends to build a new ecosystem for startups and assist them in overcoming some of the challenges they face. Several startups develop an idea and create a prototype, but they are unable to run a test module or pilot it due to a lack of access to larger industries. The CII's startup task force would step in and act as a bridge, according to task force convenor Laeeq Ali.