KSUM to hold Investor Café on March 7, a day after Seeding Kerala
Kochi / February 21, 2023
Kochi Feb 21: Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is organising an Investor Café on March 7, aiming to guide nascent firms and financiers on funding opportunities through a pool of business angels and venture capitalists.
The event will be a continuation to KSUM’s March 6 ‘Seeding Kerala’ that seeks to create a dynamic early-stage investment ecosystem in the state. The idea is to build a vibrant pipeline of HNIs (high net-worth individuals) and local investors who are keen to park their funds in Kerala’s fledgling enterprises.
The March 7 Investor Café at KSUM’s Integrated Startup Complex in Kalamassery north of the city will be led by 25 top investors comprising angel investors and venture capitalists (VCs) from across the country. Applications can be made at https://seedingkerala.com/. Of them, 40 select startups will be given a chance to interact with private investors.
Also, startups will be shortlisted with priority to those in the early and steady revenue stage or having raised earlier investment. The matchmaking will be based on sector and stage preference from investors. The major VCs include Hyderabad Angels, Ah Ventures, Speciale Invest, Orios venture partners, Unicorn India Ventures, Venture Way Startup Ecosystem Private Limited, Lead Angels and Kerala Angel Network.
The March 6 ‘Seeding Kerala’ will be held at Hotel Marriot at in the city, deliberating on investments and meeting of stakeholders with government officials and investors. It will be attended by more than 40 speakers and 50 leading investors, besides 100-plus HNIs, startups, policymakers and corporates. To be inaugurated by Finance Minister Shri K.N. Balagopal, ‘Seeding Kerala’ will identify new partners for the government’s Fund of Fund Scheme that provides equity funding to startups.
KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika said the programme can be attended by anyone who has invested in startups or is looking for investing in fledgling enterprises. “The idea is to create a new angel network and a pool of HNIs who can invest in our startups,” he said.
The stakeholders’ meeting will curate critical points for developing investment frameworks for Kerala's early-stage startups for the next five years. ‘Seeding Kerala’ provides HNIs an opportunity to network with leading investors, angel networks, peer HNIs and startups across the country. It can further explore their investment opportunities and contribute to the development of the startup ecosystem in Kerala.
KSUM is the Kerala government’s nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
