The startup ecosystem in India is thriving and growing at a fast pace, and the key growth drivers are start-ups in the enterprise software, fintech, health-tech and ed-tech sectors. The industry ecosystem has welcomed and responded to this wave of growth by creating accelerator programs. Programs like the NetApp Excellerator are an example of such collaboration efforts, designed to cultivate the knowledge-sharing that is critical to the sectoral growth. The program focuses on companies in data-driven areas like Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Big Data, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Hybrid Cloud amongst others.
Just last month, NetApp Excellerator conducted an impressive finale for the Cohort 3 Demo Day, which marked four months of business and technology mentoring for the participating startups. The event saw industry dignitaries, venture capitalists and business leaders from the startup ecosystem, come together and witness the new generation of startups. So far 18 such startups have graduated from this program. Registrations for its fourth cohort are currently open.
As part of the third cohort graduation, all six startups – CloudOptimo, InstaSafe, FirstHive, Praktice.ai, Cardiotrack and Zscore Technologies experienced an environment of learning and expert knowledge and saw themselves grow through NetApp technologies, platforms, tools and other support.
This year, NetApp took its accelerator program a notch higher as it welcomed international participants under its mentorship, Praktice.ai and Cardiotrack. Both startups are headquartered in Singapore and have a global customer base.
Through the mentorship, Cardiotrack, an AI powered cardiac care platform, also launched a new app for patients that uses real time monitoring and expert advice. All the startups onboarded multiple new clients and expanded their business aggressively.
NetApp has been sharing its depth of innovation in data technologies through this experiential accelerator program. The company’s aim is to bring together technology know-how and business processes, and the Excellerator’s alumni have reaffirmed this through their successful stints.
Sharing his thoughts on the impact of the program, Ajeya Motaganahalli, senior director and leader of the NetApp Excellerator Program, said: "The NetApp Excellerator program has been successful mainly because we have consistently helped startups focus on value creation. Valuation and subsequent funding is a follow-on effect which is the most desired outcome for any startup.”
For its 4th cohort, startups will be chosen through a rigorous iterative selection process which will focus on their product capability, performance, in-depth technology know-how and alignment with the program’s objectives. Startups with interests in the areas of hybrid cloud, AI, IOT, data management and adjacent technology domains are invited to apply.
Reflecting on the culture of innovation that ultimately drives NetApp to run this program, Deepak Visweswaraiah, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, NetApp India, concludes: “NetApp has been winning against competitors many times its size through sheer will of innovation in data technologies. In this data-driven world, it’s exciting to see such startups that are shaping the economy through wide-impact initiatives such as healthcare. Our aim is to bring together technology know-how and innovation, and our alumni have reaffirmed our success through theirs.”
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