CM to launch KSUM’s LEAP membership card and open renovated HQ
KSUM incubation facilities across Kerala gear up to rebrand as LEAP Coworks space
Trivandrum / July 31, 2023
Thiruvananthapuram, July 31: Further empowering its startups and fostering their culture of innovation, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is launching a statewide membership card of LEAP (Launch, Empower Accelerate, Prosper) Coworks and opening its refurbished headquarters in the state capital tomorrow so as to accelerate the growth of the ecosystem in a way that bolsters socio-economic development.
Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the launch of a statewide membership card of LEAP Coworks and also the opening of renovated headquarters of KSUM on Tuesday at 11 a.m. The venue is Thejaswini Building at Technopark Phase 1.
The pioneering initiative comes as part of the government’s mission to transform industry incubators into co-working spaces to provide further impetus to innovation, collaboration for a successful startup ecosystem. For this, KSUM is engaged in transforming its incubation centres, partner incubation centres and IEDC-owned incubation centres into a vibrant co-working space called LEAP Coworks.
As part of this ambitious programme, the new KSUM headquarters in Technopark will be rebranded as LEAP Coworks space. By this move, KSUM expects to provide standardised co-working spaces across the state for the startups.
KSUM CEO Shri Anoop Ambika, while revealing the benefits of rebranding and LEAP Coworks space, said the new space aims to create an environment that nurtures innovation, encourages networking and facilitates the success of startups and entrepreneurs. “This statewide rebranding will reflect our mission better to provide comprehensive support and resources to startups and entrepreneurs in Kerala,” he added.
The LEAP Coworks space will offer state-of-the-art infrastructure, well-designed workspaces and meeting rooms, besides high-speed internet connectivity and other essential amenities required for a productive work environment.
The CEO noted that KSUM, even after the transformation into a coworking model, will continue to provide valuable incubation support services to startups, including mentorship programmes, business development assistance, access to funding opportunities and expert guidance. “LEAP Coworks space will foster a vibrant community of like-minded individuals and startups, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking. We will also organise regular events, workshops, and networking sessions to facilitate meaningful connections,” he added.
Through LEAP, KSUM will introduce flexible membership plans to accommodate the various needs of the startups, including hot desks, dedicated desks and private office spaces. These plans will provide startups with the flexibility to scale their operations as they grow. Also, LEAP will become a single access point for entrepreneurs to enter the startup ecosystem besides facilitating access to the schemes offered by KSUM including various grants, seed loans, market access, mentors connect and investor connect.
Tomorrow’s launch of the LEAP Coworks membership card is expected to unlock a world of possibilities and opportunities for startups. This exclusive card will give startups, professionals, angels and venture capitalists “unparalleled access” to KSUM’S premium facilities. Also, the membership card will facilitate subsidised access to all LEAP centre facilities besides providing access to book Flexi Workstations and KSUM's partner incubation centres across the state.
The other notable benefits of the membership card include additional subsidies for KSUM partnering events, talent acquisition support, cloud credits, uninterrupted internet and electricity, internship drives and tech training, five days of access to flexi seats free of cost at any facility every month, 25 per cent subsidy on all major events done by KSUM, access to LEAP centres across the country, access to startup infinity centres across the world, startup matchmaking opportunity, startup co-founder matchmaking opportunity and access to investors.
KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
