Startup Innovation Thrives in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi: A significant milestone in India’s entrepreneurial landscape was reached as twelve startups, nurtured at the Department of Science and Technology (DST)-backed incubator, celebrated the reception of grant agreements totaling ₹50 lakh at a recent event in Tamil Nadu.
This gathering highlighted the burgeoning creativity emanating from tier 2 cities.
These ventures, fostered at the DST-supported Sona Inclusive Technology Business Incubator (i-TBI), were awarded grants under the DST–NIDHI initiative, aimed at propelling their innovative business concepts. This announcement was made during the ‘Think Salem 2025’ startup conclave.
Furthermore, the Sona Incubations ‘Startup India Seed Fund allocated ₹60 lakh to five promising startups.
The diverse range of initiatives emerging from Salem includes healthcare devices, mobility solutions, sustainable technologies, drones, and advancements in food innovation and applied deep-tech, indicative of the maturation of the local startup ecosystem.
“Among the five startups selected for the ₹60 lakh grant from the Start-Up India Seed Fund, overseen by Sona Incubation Foundation, are businesses focused on diaper waste management, millet-based food products, and an ed-tech enterprise that delivers immersive learning experiences,” stated Dr. S. R. R. Senthilkumar, Executive Chair of Sona Incubations and Principal of Sona College of Technology.
At the forefront of high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) is NervePro, a deep-tech healthcare startup from Salem, which has engineered an affordable, portable nerve-monitoring system.
This innovation aims to safeguard facial nerves during high-stakes ENT and skull-base surgeries, having successfully concluded a proof-of-concept validation study.
In addition, IswiftPro–Min-Sakthi, another Tamil Nadu startup, leverages IoT and AI to digitalize appliance-level energy consumption. This platform facilitates precise forecasting and promotes energy efficiency through smart billing solutions for households and institutions.
Salem’s DroneTribes has reached TRL 6, having developed indigenous drones targeted towards agriculture, security, and training, with operational prototypes already deployed in the field.
Kanyakumari’s Cabocab, a ride-hailing service, operates in Tier-3 cities throughout India. With a TRL of 9, this startup aims to enhance last-mile connectivity by providing swifter transport solutions beyond metropolitan hubs.
Dr. T. S. Rao, Senior Advisor (Retd.) at the Union Department of Biotechnology, emphasized, “Innovation achieves significance only when it serves a public purpose. Transition ideas from the laboratory to society through quality, scale, and public-private partnerships.”
Startup founders hail from various regions, including Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirupur, Trichy, Hosur, Kanyakumari, and Hyderabad, with their Technology Readiness Levels varying from initial proof-of-concept to sophisticated prototype validation.
Sivakumar Palanisamy, Vice President and Chief of Staff at StartupTN, remarked, “AI will infiltrate everyday life. The future belongs to startups that reconfigure challenges, customize solutions, and cultivate skills—rather than those pursuing urban prestige.”
Source link: Zeenews.india.com.
