Zone Start-ups has launched Gateway 91, a soft landing program to work with international start-ups and growth stage companies looking to access the Indian market.
Canadian Minister of innovation, science and economic development Navdeep Bains announced the creation of the new soft landing program for international companies looking to expand in India.
He said, “All around the world, confident, ambitious countries are investing in their own future. Formidable energies have led to Zone Startups India partnership among Ryerson, Simon Fraser University and the Bombay Stock Exchange, and the Government of Canada is proud to support this program. This work in the emerging field of financial technology has the potential to turn ideas into marketable solutions.”
Matt Saunders, President of Zone Start-ups, said: “Through programs like Gateway91, Zone Startups will continue to assist early stage enterprise software companies as they look to scale in the Indian market. Our extensive connections and programming continue to attract great founders developing innovative solutions. We’re proud to partner with both the federal and Ontario governments to give Canadian FinTech startups the opportunity to benefit from our leading services to grow and thrive in India.”
The first set of companies expected to be a part of Gateway91 will be selected through a competitive program in Canada and will be announced in early 2017.
“Setting up Gatway91 was a natural extension to what we have been doing at Zone Startups India,” said Ajay Ramasubramaniam, Director, Zone Startups India.
“The ecosystem of mentors, potential partners and professional service providers needed by international startups to succeed in India is something that we have already built. In fact, over the last year, we have supported 16 companies from different areas, helping them with introductions to several potential partners and clients. To a great extent, this also aligns with Government of India’s Invest in India and Make in India vision as these international technology companies will create knowledge economy job opportunities”.
Other corporates from India are in talks with Zone Startups team, to establish a partnership, as they see a natural fit for extending their support and services to this initiative. “We will be announcing a few exciting partnerships over the next few weeks, and make Gateway91, a complete package for accessing the Indian market, and establishing a strong local presence,” he added.
Source: Times of India
