A mentoring success story on how an entrepreneur faced with the failure of Plan A successfully transitioned to Plan B that really worked – Raj Bhat – NEN
Mentors Meeting Place
Thousands of Professionals wish to make their expertise available to MSMEs 
How do they reach the MSMEs?
MSMEs want relevant Professionals to mentor them to grow their business How do they find such Professionals?
Bringing them together for a win-win situation 
Presenting
a free online platform, for Professionals to submit their profiles in a simple format and for MSMEs to identify and reach experts they need, through a refined search mechanism
The endeavour is to enable optimal match-making between Professionals and MSMEs and thus create a win-win for all.
IdeasXchange
If you have an idea that needs another brain to make it work; or a prototype that needs an out-of-box solution; or a start-up that needs investment advice, this is your place. IdeasXchange is a great new discussion forum that leverages the collective intelligence of fellow entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and even dreamers. Hop on!
Funding Landscape in India for Technology Startups
Funding Landscape in India for Technology Startups, http://www.venturecenter.co.in/funding/funding.php
Our unique, online, free database of funding sources for entrepreneurs continues to grow. Please visit the link above to stay informed of new government schemes, angel networks, etc.
Also, do visit and join the unique Venture Center library, focused on technology innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization: http://www.vcenterlibrary.org/
Course on Managing Growth & Financing,
Course on Managing Growth & Financing, http://www.mcciapune.com/EVENTdocs/GrowthandFinancing1.pdf
UNIDO, MCCIA, IVCA & Indian Angel Network will together offer a 1-day course on Managing Growth & Financing for SMEs – on Tuesday, July 6 at MCCIA Trade Tower, ICC Complex, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune. Speakers will be invited from industry, financial and academic institutions and will discuss financing options, best practices, growth potential, etc.
——————————————————-
India Innovation Initiative -i3-2010
Call for Application for India Innovation Initiative 2010 – Last date 15th July 2010
Call for Application for India Innovation Initiative -i3-2010
Objective
The objective of the India Innovation Initiative project is to create an innovation eco-system in the country by sensitizing, encouraging and promoting innovators and facilitating commercialization of the innovations.
Who can participate ?
Participation is open to all innovators in the age group of 18 years and above.
This includes :
All colleges, universities and Institutes.
Innovators from R&D Institutions and Labs.
Entrepreneurs, Industry professionals and Freelance Innovators.
Grassroot Innovators through NGOs and Rural development organizations.
Important dates in snapshot
1. Start Date of Registration May 2010
2. Last date for receiving entries 15th July 2010.
3. Announcement of shortlisted names for the regional Fairs 3rd week of August
4. Regional Fairs 15-30 Sept, 2010
5. i3 National Fair End of October, 2010
To promote and inculcate a spirit of innovation in India, many steps have been taken by both the government of India as well as by Industry leaders to encourage application of breakthrough technology ideas in the society.
Addressing the need to expand the young innovators initiative to those above 18 years &include a wider scope of participation from all potential innovators, CII &DST have now joined hands with Agilent to launch the nation-wide innovation competition for all innovators above the age group of 18+, “India Innovation Initiative – i3″.
i3 aims to capture the innovative ideas from the Indian innovators in the age group of 18 years and above, including students, innovators from R&D Institutes &Labs, Industry professionals and individual innovators/Entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators etc.
After the last year’s great response i3 this year has decided to have four regional fairs for preliminary selection of innovations which it will receive from all over India. Each region will shortlist innovations based on creativity, innovation, implementation strategy and relevance.
We expect to receive over 500 innovations per region. Innovations will be selected by a Novelty search which will be conducted by APTDC and TNTDPC .Only those innovations which are patented or have the high potential of being patented will be selected for the Regional Fairs.
Further the most potent and relevant innovations ( approx.40 ) will be selected for the national i3 fair by a panel of expert jury. The winners will be chosen at the National Fair once again by a panel of eminent jury.
Their will be cash prizes, awards, recognition and support to winners.
Evaluation will be based on:
i) Maturity level of the innovation
ii) Business Potential
To participate and know more about this registration procedures visit – http://bit.ly/b2lUCY
Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
(15th June 2010 – 31st July 2010)
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) invites proposals from Indian Biotechnology Companies under the Biotechnology Industry Partnership Programme (BIPP), a Government partnership with industry for support on a cost sharing basis for development of novel and high risk futuristic technologies mainly for viability gap funding and enhancing existing R&D capacities. BIPP has been initiated under Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Programme (BIRAP), a unique initiative of DBT being implemented in partnership with ABLE and BCll to nurture R&D and innovation in Biotech Industry. Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCll) is the BIPP Management Agency and will ensure maintenance of strict confidentiality ofthe proposals as per DBT norms.
Key Features ofthe Programme
* Supports:
- Large, medium, small scale companies; start-ups on cost sharing basis
- High risk, discovery linked innovation
- Accelerated technology development
- Evaluation and validation of biotech products
- Indigenous discovery, innovation and technology to products
- Products of national relevance or public benefit
* Varying models of grants, loans or grant + loan available.
Who can apply?
A single or consortia of Indian “for profit” company (ies) – Small, Medium or Large having DSIR* recognized in-house R&D unit(s). An Indian Company is defined as one in which more than 51 % of the ownership is held by Indian citizens (including NRls).
The proposals can be submitted:
- solely by an Indian Company; or
- jointly by an Indian Company and National R&D Organizations or Institutions; or
- by ‘a group of Indian Companies along with National Research Organizations etc.
(*The companies who are in the process of obtaining DSIR recognition may also apply along with the proof of application to DSIR. However, the final decision on such applications would be subject to theirgefting DSIR recognition.)
How to Apply?
Proposals are required to be submitted online only. To submit a proposal online, please follow the following steps: .
- Log on the BIRAPwebsite (www.birapdbt.nic.in)
- If you are a registered user, log-on using the credentials, else you need to register your company with by clicking on New User Registration.
- In case of new user registration, a computer generated password would be sent to the email-id provided atthetlme ofreqlsfratlon.The password can be changed later.
- Once you login, you would be navigated to the page displaying BIPP link.
- Click on the BIPP link under Programmes and the active call would be highlighted.
- Click on the new call and proceed towards proposal submission.
- Further details on How to submit a proposal would be available in the BIPP User Guide available on the website.
- The proposals should be submitted on or before 31 st July, 2010.
Company User Registration is open round the clock. Online Proposal
Submission would begin from 15th June, 2010. No Hard Copy to be
submitted, Proposals submitted online only would be considered.
For details contact
Dr. Renu Swarup, Advisor Incharge BIPP, Department of Biotechnology,
Block No: 2, 7th ~Ioor, CGO Complex, lodi Road, New Delhi – 110003, India
Email: swarup@dbt.nic.in
Last date for submission Of Proposals – 31 st July, 2010
Detailed guidelines for the scheme Including eligible project categories to be
supported are available at http://dbtindia.nic.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=680;
http://www.birapdbt.nic.in/programmes.php
How she makes wealth from waste
Mitticool: A refrigerator that runs without electricity
Tata Motors to introduce Air Car
Tata Motors is taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Landrover-Jaguar deal, then the world’s cheapest car and now it is also set to introduce the car that runs on air, compressed air to be specific.
Enterprisers.in 