Viacom18 joins hands with #StartUpIndia to launch MTV KICKSTART

Viacom18 along with #StartUpIndia, which is an initiative of The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) today announced the launch of India's largest outreach program for young entrepreneurs ‘MTV KICKSTART’ to woo bright young minds brimming with exciting ideas. MTV KICKSTART will be an annual program that will equip the youth of India to start up. Supporting MTV, the iconic youth brand, in its unique initiative – MTV KICKSTART, #StartUpIndia is all set to bridge the gap between ideas and investors and give young India a helping hand in making their entrepreneurial dreams come true.

Amitabh Kant, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) said, "I am excited about our association with Viacom18’s MTV for instituting a platform called MTV KICKSTART. The multi-platform program will help us engage with the dynamic youth of India, help them start-up with ease and inspire a new generation to follow their dreams and become successful entrepreneurs.”

Delivered through engaging and interactive content through television, web, mobile and social media, MTV KICKSTART will work towards educating the youth about the ecosystem of start-ups. The program will aim to educate through personal and informal interactions with start-up kings, investors, advisory and much more.

Speaking about the initiative, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18 said, “Viacom18 has always been at the forefront of being the catalyst of change within the media and entertainment space in India. We are in the business of entertainment that enriches the lives of our audiences through meaningful content and by engaging with them across multiple platforms. We now wish to extend the catalyst role to the start-up space as well by being a part of the journey of young entrepreneurs who dream to create a better tomorrow for India. The government of India has done a commendable job at addressing the need of the hour by instituting initiatives such as #StartUpIndia to encourage young Indians to become entrepreneurs. Through the launch of MTV KICKSTART, we are delighted to partner with #StartUpIndia to cultivate a culture of innovation within India and help young minds create exciting new ventures that drive India’s growth story.” 

Explaining the concept of the initiative further, Ferzad Palia, Head – Youth and English Entertainment, Viacom18 said, “India is brimming with young untapped energy keen on making ideas come to life and we at MTV, believe that as the largest platform for everything related to the youth, it is our responsibility to recognize, channelize and mobilize this energy by providing the youth with the right tools to make ideas happen. MTV KICKSTART is our way of driving India’s growth story by helping its biggest asset – the youth – to write their own narratives for the Make In India initiative laid down by our government. I am thoroughly delighted and extremely grateful that the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has chosen to partner with us in our endeavor to give wings to the untapped potential of the Indian youth.”

Launched as an annual property, MTV KICKSTART is a multi-platform initiative which will reach out to young aspiring entrepreneurs through multiple touch-points. The initiative will start with a massive outreach plan that will run through 52 weeks, reaching out to 300 colleges across the country and heavy media buzz across TV and Digital. MTV along with #StartUpIndia will be hosting Start-Up Festivals (2 day events) across tier 1 & 2 cities to allow youth to have a personal interaction with the top entrepreneurs and investors in the nation.

Translating on to the small screen as a reality TV show, MTV KICKSTART will have youngsters fighting out for their pie of the funds from the investors. As a reward, the winners will get seed funding for their idea. A massive award show is also planned during end of this program to recognize and felicitate best entrepreneurs under 30 years from various sectors. The initiative will be driven by iconic youth brand MTV and will also witness unprecedented media push across the entire might of Viacom18 and Network18 media assets, and be relayed across MTV India channels in over 40 countries