Google has announced a joint initiative called MeitY Startup Hub with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to provide startups in India with training, mentorship and learning materials to build world class applications.
As part of the initiative, Google has launched a programme called the Appscale Academy, which will provide training to local startups in the early and mid-stages to build and scale apps for gaming, healthcare, fintech, edtech and social impact among other categories.
The programme will accept applications till 15 December and will shortlist 100 startups from them based on parameters created by a panel of industry experts, members of MeitY Startup Hub, and Google Play.
Google has also created a curriculum, which covers data safety, security practices, monetization, UX design, and global market expansion. Incorporating these elements in the early stages of the app building process will make the apps more secure and compliant as per global data regulations.
During the training, the startups will also have access to virtual instructor-led webinars, self-learning material, and mentorship sessions led by Indian and global industry professionals. The startups will also be given opportunities to pitch their solutions to venture capitalists.
“It is heartening to see India’s startups increasingly drive local app innovations that have the potential to go global. We must fuel this growth story and encourage them to drive meaningful solutions for the world,” Ajay Sawhney, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said in a statement.
Purnima Kochikar, Vice President, Google Play Partnerships, also pointed out, “We are excited to see India’s thriving startup ecosystem not only solve for India but also reach global audiences. At Google Play, we believe Indian startups and developers have the ability to set an example for the rest of the world to follow.”
She added that the partnership with the MeitY Startup Hub will help further tap into the tremendous potential of this ecosystem and help them build sustainable and scalable global businesses.
As part of the six-month programme, the selected startups will get trained through a curriculum designed to help them drive high-quality apps for a global market, including sessions on data safety and security practices, monetisation, UX design, and global market expansion.
Indian not is home to one of the fastest-growing app user markets in the world, but is also hosts a vibrant ecosystem of startups and developers that are impacting millions of people in the country through their solutions, as well as has the potential to drive global app innovations.
Applications for the Appscale Academy will be open till December 15, 2021. Out of the applicants, 100 startups will be selected based on defined qualitative and quantitative parameters by a panel of industry experts, members of MeitY Startup Hub, and Google Play.
