NASSCOM & Ottawa Kick Off 10K Entrepreneur Exchange Program

To provide global exposure to Indian entrepreneurs, NASSCOM 10,000 Startups in partnership with Invest Ottawa announced the launch of a start-up exchange program aimed at connecting the vibrant community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors from Ottawa to the emerging start-ups from India. Vidhya Shankar, Head of Funding Partnerships and Alliances at NASSCOM 10,000 startups signed the MoU at the NASSCOM’s Startup Warehouse in the city, in presence of Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa along with Bruce Lazenby President and CEO Invest Ottawa and Saad Bashir Director, Economic Development, City of Ottawa.

Speaking on the occasion, Vidhya Shankar, Head of Funding Partnerships & Alliances at NASSCOM 10,000 startups commented, “We are privileged to have partnered with Invest Ottawa today for this unique startup exchange program. It is an incredible opportunity to broaden our start up ecosystem, enabling an exchange of diversified ideas that can help entrepreneurs ensure growth, scalability and sustainability for their ventures. This initiative is a progressive step towards making the dream of a start-up driven nation a reality.”

The program will achieve several goals including:

·         Introducing Indian entrepreneurs to creative talent via participation in accelerator programs, providing potential growth opportunities in Ottawa

·         Access to ecosystem partners in each other’s geographies including Incubators/Accelerators, Angel and Institutional Investors, Industry Bodies and mentors to grow their businesses domestically and internationally

• Providing a platform for entrepreneurs and start-up incubators/accelerators in India & Ottawa to collaborate on projects that will strengthen or enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystems in their respective communities

“We are pleased to be associated with a renowned Industry body like NASSCOM which recognizes Ottawa, Ontario as the gateway into the Canada startup ecosystem. Additionally, we are delighted to introduce Ottawa’s startups to both a repository of talent as well as expansion opportunities in India. The exchange program will bring in newer opportunities for innovators from both countries and will equip them with a global business perspective” said Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa.

Last year, NASSCOM had signed an MoU with TiE Silicon Valley to facilitate a start-up exchange and collaboration programme in the US. With this program, it aims to expose Indian startups to the world as the ecosystem continues to accommodate startups beyond the peripheral of the country.