The Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai (TEAM), an industry body representing tech ventures from the city, has initiated a conversation with the government of Maharashtra to introduce policy tenets that will further facilitate ease of doing business in the city for tech-led ventures and entrepreneurs.
The association, in its recommendations to the newly-formed Maharashtra government, is outlining the initiatives taken by other innovation ecosystems in India and globally to encourage startups, and how it can adapt some of the best practises and learnings to further accelerate the state’s technology & innovation environment.
“Maharashtra boasts the most startups in India. We have an opportunity to have a single-window clearance system that unifies and simplifies the experience in building of Maharashtra,” Naiyya Saggi, spokesperson for TEAM and a member of its governing council said.
As of July 2024, India has over 140,000 recognised startups, with Maharashtra having the highest number at 25,044, followed by Karnataka at 15,019, Delhi at 14,734, and Uttar Pradesh with 13,299 such enterprises, data provided by the industry body suggests.
TEAM’s members include Haptik, Pharmeasy, Dream11 parent firm Dream Sports, The Good Glamm Group, Rebel Foods, and Zepto, among others. It also hosts the Mumbai Tech Week between February and March every year, which sees participation from policymakers, tech leaders, and investors.
“We can follow the lead of the SWIFT model and innovation leadership model implemented by various states across the country,” Saggi added.
Kerala State Startup Mission (SWIFT) includes initiatives such as online clearance mechanism which facilitates the process of obtaining licenses, permits, and clearances from relevant departments and agencies. Entrepreneurs looking to set up or expand their businesses in Kerala can approach the single window clearance boards at the state, district, and industrial area levels to issue clearances within 30 working days.
The SWIFT initiative covers facilitation of licenses, clearances, permits, no-objection certificates (NOCs), and statutory clearances for industrial parks, estates, and other industrial areas for startups setting up shop in the state.
The body also suggested that technological interventions, and setting up a dedicated cell for startup innovation, like Telangana, would further benefit the cause of tech startups in the city and in Maharashtra, as a whole.
Some of the technological interventions that can be implemented include the use of AI chatbots to help startups through the registration process, and using data analytics to to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the approval process.
“By streamlining regulations, implementing AI chatbots and blockchain, and empowering a dedicated chief innovation officer, Mumbai can unlock its full potential and become a breeding ground for the next generation of entrepreneurs,” Saggi said.
