Annexure

Assam has been actively fostering a positive perception of startups, particularly in its Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, through various events such as hackathons, ideathons, and summits. These initiatives aim to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship across the state. Here are some notable events:

Northeast Startup Festival

The Northeast Startup Festival is a comprehensive program designed to unite various sectors of the startup ecosystem across Northeast India. It encompasses hackathons, business summits, startup conclaves, investor meetings, and other competitions. The festival aims to accelerate trade and commerce between Northeast India and Southeast Asian countries, promoting socio-cultural and economic exchanges. The 2022 edition featured events like the Northeast Hackathon, Women Entrepreneurship talks, and the South East Asian Connect program. ([North-East Hackathon])

MeitY TIDE 2.0 Northeast Techathon - X4

Organized by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, this event is Northeast India's largest hunt for ICT-based business ideas. Held across five states, including Assam, in August and September 2024, the Techathon aimed to identify and nurture innovative ideas. In Assam, events were held at Gauhati University Institute of Science and Technology and Jorhat Engineering College, recognizing startups like Hatk Media LLP and Outplayed. ([IIMCIP])

Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024

This business idea competition, an initiative of the Women's Cell, Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Assam, aims to foster entrepreneurship among women aged 18 to 50. The final pitching round and bootcamp were held in August 2024 at Assam Startup, The NEST. The event received over 1,500 applications, with more than 350 women entrepreneurs shortlisted to present their ideas. The initiative offers a total prize fund of Rs. 5 lakhs and extensive mentorship support for over 300 women entrepreneurs. ([Assam Tribune])

North East Startup Unlock - Kickstart 3.0

Scheduled for April 28-29, 2024, at IIT Guwahati, this event aims to ignite entrepreneurial spirit and unlock the potential of new business ideas with on-the-spot investment opportunities. It offers a platform for startups to pitch in front of an investor panel, participate in panel discussions, and engage in networking opportunities. The event is designed to accelerate the journey toward success for emerging entrepreneurs in the Northeast region. ([Skill Club India])

CONNECT.X Networking Meet

Organized by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park with support from the Ministry of Electronics and IT, CONNECT.X is recognized as Assam's biggest startup networking event. The third edition, held on March 20, 2024, in Guwahati, aimed to build a collaborative network of startups and allied entities. The event featured panel discussions with entrepreneurs, prize distributions for winners of the MeitY TIDE 2.0 Techathon - X3 (Assam Edition), and provided a platform for startup founders to showcase their offerings and engage in one-on-one interactions. ([Assam Tribune])