Posted by Dubai, UAE: Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and India Innovation Hub have announced a partnership with EaseMyTrip and HSBC. Under this tie-up, some 200 Indian startups will be facilitated to showcase their business ideas and innovations to global investors during Expo 2020 Dubai.
In line with the Expo 2020 Dubai theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”- the India Innovation Hub, as part of the India Pavilion, will act as a facilitator for these startups, providing them with a global stage to interact with investors and global counterparts for networking and partnerships.
Focus areas to select startups will be Fintech, AI, Cybersecurity, Health and Tech-enabled platforms in key priority sectors.
This was announced at the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus, DSO’s wholly-owned tech hub and coworking space. It is the largest of its kind in the MENA region, in the presence of Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai and Deputy Commissioner-General for India at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Along with Ghanim Al Falasi, SVP -Technology and Entrepreneurship, Dtec, Nishant Pitti, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com and Nabeel ALBLOUSHI, Managing Director, Regional Head MENA & Turkey, Markets and Securities Services, Corporate Sales – HSBC.
“I am delighted to note that India Innovation Hub and Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) are partnering with EaseMyTrip and HSBC to showcase Indian Innovation to the world at Expo 2020 Dubai,” said Dr Aman Puri.
“India Pavilion’s initiative India Innovation Hub has made a significant contribution to the Startup ecosystem by showcasing over 240 Startups at the Expo 2020 Dubai. With this joint initiative, some of India’s best Innovators and Startups will get an opportunity to engage with their counterparts and key stakeholders at DSO and Expo 2020 Dubai,” added Puri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently declared January 16 as National Startup Day and has called startups the backbone of new India.
“Dubai Silicon Oasis offers world-class facilities to startups and entrepreneurs, streamlining their business set-up and operations,” said Ghanim Al Falasi.
“It is also home to more than 1,000 startups from more than 75 countries, providing a conducive business environment and collaboration platform for like-minded individuals. We look forward to playing a key role in paving the way for these 200 new Indian start-ups and facilitating their expansion into the region,” said Ghanim Al Falasi.
“EaseMyTrip is a unicorn grown in India and now establishing its presence in the Middle East with EaseMyTrip.ae. Indian startups have a lot to add value to the ecosystem here. EaseMyTrip.com is profitable since its inception and completely bootstrapped till IPO,” said Nishant Pitti.
“We are pleased to partner with HSBC, DSO & India Innovation Hub to bring more startups from India. I strongly believe that Indian startups can add a lot of value to the ecosystem in the UAE,” added Pitti.
India has emerged as an innovation hub with the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with over 40 Indian startups joining the Unicorn Club in 2021.
“Tech & New Age Business segment commonly called ‘Startups’ is a key target segment for HSBC India. We have custom-built products and solutions for startups across their growth cycle spectrum of early-stage, growth stage, to Unicorns and beyond>” said Hitendra Dave, GM and CEO – HSBC, India.
“We already bank some of India’s best known, and up-and-coming startups, and we hope to partner more in the coming months and quarters,” added Dave.
More than 500 startups from India will be showcased at India Innovation Hub – a project of the India Pavilion during Expo 2020 Dubai. The project provides a platform to promote start-ups and Innovators of India, by providing them exposure to the global investors’ community through B2B events and activities like Elevate, pitching sessions.
The Indian startup ecosystem today has over 60,000 DPIIT-registered start-ups from 628 districts across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories. India ranks in the top 50 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and is the 5th most startup-friendly country in the world (leading in Asia).
Embodying the true spirit of a self-reliant India, and despite the extreme challenges posed by the global pandemic, over 40 new unicorns came into existence in India, taking the total number of unicorns to 85.