Innovation is an emergent property of a complex ecosystem that starts with the producers of knowledge scientists in universities and public research institutions. This pool of knowledge and skills is critical nourishment for innovation in the wider economy. Both Japan and the US have strong, robust, publicly funded research communities that produce the knowledge that corporations exploit. Indian academia is not producing the knowledge that the corporate sector can build upon.

The packed house at Google headquarters in Venice Beach was burbling with tension and anticipation as 14 company founders from a cross section of UCLA s entrepreneurial ecosystem prepared to compete in the inaugural Innovation Showcase, presented by the Venture Accelerator at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

ThoughtSol Infotech, under the visionary leadership of CEO Mr. Vinet Kuumar, has thrived over the past decade by embracing innovation, fostering an inclusive work culture, and prioritizing customer centricity. In an insightful interview with TimesTech, Mr. Vinet shares the company s strategies for staying ahead, achieving ambitious revenue goals, and exploring cuttingedge technological trends to enhance service offerings.

HNIs, UHNIs offer funding lifeline to startups HNIs and UHNIs invest in Indian startups, providing lifelines during the funding winter. Over 9,000 tech HNIs and UHNIs invest in preseed and Series A rounds. Indian tech startups raised $7 billion this year, a drop of 72% from last year. LPs believe in the Indian startup story. Lead investors play a crucial role in angel rounds.

Startup Odisha to foster strategic partnerships with industry giants like ICAI, NIF, ISBA and NRDC Startup Odisha to launch Startup Yatra Booklets and Brochure Startup Odisha, an initiative of the MSME Department, Government of Odisha is all set to celebrate the grand event STARTUP UTSAVV 2024, which is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the state’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Byjus, Dunzo and a bunch of other startups are in a standoff with some vendors, mostly over charges of delayed payments likely arising from mounting financial constraints within the ecosystem. These companies on their part deny the charges, in several instances accusing the vendors of straying from the terms of their contracts, or citing contractual disagreements for nonpayments.

Online tutor Byjus has agreed to a postmoney valuation of $225 million as it approaches existing investors for $200 million to stay afloat, two people aware of the matter said, a stunning decline from the $22 billion it commanded as the country s most valued startup just two years ago.

Layoffs, corporate restructuring, governance and most importantly profitability: The 14 Indian startups that plan initial public offerings (IPOs) this year are pulling out all the stops to ensure successful market debuts. A majority of these companies are not profitable, and they are cutting costs to improve their financial health.

Global exhibitor Messe Stuttgart India (MSI) on Monday announced its partnership with Startup India and will set up a separate pavilion for new ventures in its exhibition for logistics players next month, a statement said. The MSI is holding LogiMAT India exhibition at India Expo Mart Ltd, Delhi NCR, from February 28 to March 1. It is the satellite show of Europe s biggest intralogistics exhibition, LogiMAT Stuttgart, the statement said.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched two flagship programs, the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) Sensors and India’s first Graphene Center India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG), at Maker Village Kochi in Kerala. MeitY Secretary Shri S Krishnan led the inauguration.