Kerala’s startup mission will organise Seeding Kerala to provide learning opportunities for investment in startups.
Aimed at efforts towards creating a dynamic early-stage investment ecosystem in the state and build a vibrant pipeline of high net-worth individuals (HNIs) and local investors who would be willing to park their funds in Kerala’s fledgling enterprises, the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) will hold the sixth edition of ‘Seeding Kerala’ event on March 6 in Kochi, Kerala.
Seeding Kerala 2023 will be attended by more than 40 speakers, over 50 prominent investors from across the country, and 100+ HNIs, startups, policymakers and corporates. KSUM is the Kerala government’s nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
Kerala’s Finance Minister K N Balagopal will kick start the flagship event, followed by deliberations on investment in startups and meeting of stakeholders with government officials and investors in the startup ecosystem. KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika said any investor who has already invested in startups or looking for investing in fledgling enterprises, creating a new angel network, or planning to onboard with existing angel networks can attend this programme. This year, we are expecting around 200 investors and HNIs from Kerala to participate in the event, he pointed out.
Equity funding for startups
The conclave will also strive to identify new partners for the state government’s Fund of Fund Scheme that provides equity funding for startups. Among the prominent angel investor groups, who will mark their presence at the event, are 100X.VC; Chennai Angels; Indian Angel Network; Lets Ventures; ORIOS Ventures; Unicorn India Ventures; Special Invest; and SEA Fund.
For high net-worth investors, the programme will facilitate investment education and awareness; investment and co-investment opportunities with startups; one-on-one with India’s prominent venture capital and angel investors; interaction with policymakers; and networking with more than 50 investors. It will also help them understand Kerala’s startup investment ecosystem, turn into a mentor or co-founder with startups, and become a part of National Angel Networks.
Seeding Kerala to offer awareness on investment education
The stakeholders’ meeting will curate critical points for developing investment frameworks for Kerala’s early-scale startups for the next five years. On March 5, there will be an exclusive “Seeding Kerala- Investor Cafe,” a one-on-one matchmaking of about 40 curated startups and investors for funding opportunities and mentoring at KSUM. HNIs will also be able to attend the Investor Cafe to meet potential startups one-on-one, who are seeking investment.
Seeding Kerala is expected to provide an opportunity for the HNIs to network with leading investors and angel networks, peer HNIs, and startups from the country, for exploring investment opportunities, and contributing to the development of the startup ecosystem in Kerala.