By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 1, 2017 : Odisha government on Monday launched a web portal for startups to promote entrepreneurs in the state. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the website here with an aim to create an ecosystem for startups.

“I am glad that while carrying forward out startup initiative, Odisha startup portal is being launched by MSME department today. Odisha startup portal will be a one-step platform for startups, incubators and investors in Odisha for the purpose of registration and availing benefits under the Odisha Startup Policy. My government has recently made an upward revision in the benefits that are available to the startups and incubators under the Odisha startup policy. I believe the startup portal will act as a catalyst in boosting the startup ecosystem in the state and achieving the Mission-1000 startups by 2020,” Patnaik said.

Meanwhile, the state government has doubled the monthly allowance to startups to Rs 20,000 a month whereas the marketing and product development assistance has been enhanced three-fold to Rs 15 lakh.

The portal integrates information with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and StartupIndia to lessen duplication of efforts in filing of information. Moreover, a single page registration with minimum documentation greatly enhances ease of its use, official sources said.

A four-week online learning and development programme developed by UpGrad in association with Invest India has been made available on startup Odisha portal to educated Odisha youth on entrepreneurship. The programme consists of six modules on idea identification and assessment, understanding basics of finance, law and business planning, fundraising and pitching. The training programmes comes free, sources added.

“The journey has just begun with the collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders, we will make a difference,” MSME Secretary LN Gupta said on the occasion.

Among others, MSME Minister Jogendra Behera, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, OSDA Chairman Subroto Bagchi and members from the startup ecosystem were present.