Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker is giving an impetus to the startup ecosystem in the East and Northeast India. The company has declared the names of the 6 startups selected under its Nurture program, conducted jointly with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP).
The selected startups – DriverShaab, Route2Jute, OiHelp, Hopun Innovations, Backyard Creators and Salutem Ridegear – extend solutions in the domains of driver aggregation services, jute-based accessories, hyperlocal delivery services, development of micro electric cars, non-surgical wearable hearing devices and safety apparel.
| Startup | Solution |
| DriverShaab | Next-generation agile driver aggregation platform |
| Route2Jute | Revival of jute industries and social entrepreneurship- Jute-based sustainable accessories and fashion apparel, made by prisoners |
| OiHelp | Robust last-mile hyperlocal delivery service and logistics- pick up and drop service as well as ride-hailing |
| Hopun Innovations | Building a 2-seater micro electric car for intracity travel for private as well as commercial use |
| Backyard Creators | Impulse – The world’s first non-surgical wearable hearing device for individuals with congenital hearing loss |
| Salutem Ridegear | Manufacture of safety apparel for two-wheeler riders, defence personnel and agricultural safety gear |
The shortlisted startups were judged on competencies like innovation, business model, relevance to Maruti Suzuki’s business operations, leadership & team structure, and revenue model. These startups will now undertake a paid Proof-of-Concept to assess the viability of their proposed business solutions in a real-world scenario. They were also presented with a cash reward of Rs 50,000 each and secured further mentorship opportunities under Maruti Suzuki’s innovation programs.
The Grand Idea Hunt finale took place in the presence of senior leadership of Maruti Suzuki and IIM Calcutta.
The carmaker says it aims to augment the startup ecosystem across the country through co-creating solutions relevant to the automobile industry, for which it has undertaken multiple initiatives. It collaborates with startups across level of maturity:
Incubation program is targeted towards startups that are in the ideation to proof-of-concept stage
Nurture program extends mentorship opportunities and an enabling growth environment to early-stage startups from the East and Northeast region to shape their ideas to reach a viable product stage
Mobility & Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) engages technology-based startups that are at the budding stage
Mobility Challenge focuses on growth-stage startups
Depending on the level of maturity, the startups are provided an enabling ecosystem with the right mentorship, networking, and growth opportunities under Maruti Suzuki Innovation programs. Selected startups also get an opportunity to test the viability of their solutions across various business verticals of Maruti Suzuki.
