CII, TiE and LocalCircles Enable Online Local Communities for Start Ups

• Recent surveys highlighted corruption, inefficiencies, delays top issues for entrepreneurs
• Initiative designed to provide an enabling ecosystem for entrepreneurs
• National Community live & enabling easy information exchange between entrepreneurs  
• DIPP to be given access so policy can be in tune with issues faced  by start-ups on ground
• Entrepreneurship communities to be rolled out in 100 cities as part of the initiative

 
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), India’s premier business association, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Delhi/NCR, leading community of entrepreneurs/start-ups and LocalCircles, India’s leading citizen engagement platform, today announced the roll out of Start Up India online communities initiative. This initiative enables all participants of the Start Up India Ecosystem (Existing and Prospect Entrepreneurs, Investors, Accelerators, Incubators, Mentors, Media, Service Providers, Citizens seeking Start Up Employment, Central and State Government and Others) to get and stay connected at national and local city levels for the cause of making entrepreneurship and doing business easy.

 In a recent survey with over 35,000 unique participants, 98% highlighted that Start Up India must go beyond digital/technology start-ups and promote entrepreneurship at grass root levels. Over 92% of the participants outlined the strong need for local ecosystems that enable entrepreneurs and make starting up/doing business easy. 60% of the participants outlined corruption, inefficiencies and delays as the top challenge for entrepreneurs in the country and need for reform at the local i.e. district and state level for them to be more effective.
 
To affect the desired change by entrepreneurs and start-ups of the country, LocalCircles, CII and TiE have decided to come together and enable online communities at national and local levels for the cause of entrepreneurship. The national community “Start Up India” will enable entrepreneurs and start-ups to share inputs based on challenges on ground, give inputs on various policy matters which will be shared with respective different stakeholders in the Government as well as seek partners, information nationally.  The city level Start Up India communities will enable local entrepreneurial ecosystems in every city bringing together entrepreneurs, start up, established businesses, mentors, investors, service providers, etc. so entrepreneurs can find all that they need locally on fingertips and are able to start a business faster. CII has 64 offices across India and as these city level communities are rolled out, the CII member companies in these cities and offices will also become part of them. TiE, the global community of entrepreneurs will participate in the initiative through its Delhi/NCR and other city chapters in India. 
 
“CII has led the cause of making doing business easy in the country for many decades, working closely with Government and Businesses across India and we are pleased to be connect our CII network to Start Ups and Entrepreneurs”, said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. “CII is delighted that the Central Government is focusing on Start Ups and the Start Up India communities initiative will serve as a great enabler by making trusted information related to setting up and doing business available on fingertips”. “It will also enable Start Ups/New Entrepreneurs to connect with established businesses many of who are members of CII network and can help in mentoring/assisting them”, continued Banerjee.
 
“This initiative is very unique because it allow for the momentum and utility factor of Start Up India to continue after the launch by the Government”, said Sachin Taparia, Chairman and CEO of LocalCircles. “By staying connected at a national level and a city level, we expect that entrepreneurs will easily be able to come together for various constructive purposes including working with Government at district, state and country level to make starting up and doing business easier”. Other start up ecosystem stakeholders like accelerators, incubators, venture capitalists, etc. will also be given access to the community in future, continued Taparia.
 
“TiE is the world’s largest entrepreneurial organization which helps in setting and growing business through mentoring, networking, education, incubating and funding and is committed to the cause of entrepreneurship”, said Geetika Dayal, Executive Director, TiE Delhi/NCR. “We are happy to be a resource partner to the Start Up India communities initiative as with this we will be able to make our resources and events and mentors available to many more current and future entrepreneurs from across India and help them in their journey to success”, continued Dayal.
 
Once access is given to DIPP and other Central/State Government stakeholders, they will be able to directly access the respective circles applicable to them and seek inputs from Entrepreneurs and Start Ups or share updates.