Geospatial Innovation Accelerator

  • IIT Tirupati’s Navavishkar i-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF) will be the nodal agency for coordinating with and supporting the other GIAs. It will do so under the guidance of GDPDC (as the overall apex body), DST (it’s NGP Division being responsible for ‘innovation’), DST’S Geospatial Innovation Cell (GIC) and NIGST SoI. It shall act as the core hub for this activity.
  • One incubator in each state (typically a TBI or TIH affiliated with DST)  will be responsible for nurturing and supporting startups/ industries working on solutions, leveraging corporate partnerships, and working closely with SoI’s Regional Geospatial Directorates.

Selected GIAs

GIAs- Role, Scope of Work, and Deliverables

GIA Role

Program Design and Development:

  • Develop a comprehensive accelerator program tailored to the needs of geospatial startups.
  • Ensure the program is designed separately for early-stage startups & growth-stage startups. Activities such as selection, mentoring and scaling may be planned appropriately as may be relevant to the stage of the startups.
  • Incorporate virtual and physical components to support a wide range of participants like running challenges online, organising workshops etc.

Startup Recruitment and Selection:

  • Conduct outreach and marketing to attract high-potential startups and entrepreneurs in the geospatial field.
  • Manage the application process to collect and share information on participants who demonstrate innovation and scalability in their business models.

 Mentorship and Resource Provision:

  • Facilitate access to industry experts, mentors, and advisors who specialize in geospatial technologies and business expertise, especially in the context of the three chosen sectors.
  • Provide startups with resources such as office space, technical tools, and access to geospatial datasets and APIs.

Networking and Partnerships:

  • Develop partnerships with local and international geospatial firms, academic institutions, and government bodies.
  • Organise networking events to connect startups with potential investors, partners, and customers.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

  • Implement a framework to monitor the progress of startups and measure the impact of the accelerator program.
  • Provide regular reports to stakeholders on key performance indicators, challenges faced, and success stories.

Sustainability and Scaling:

  • Explore opportunities for financial sustainability of the accelerator program through sponsorships, grants, and partnerships.
  • Assist successful startups in scaling their operations beyond the accelerator program.

Scope of work

Early-stage startups:

  • These are startups who are at the pre-revenue stage but have a product/service POC. Or early-stage revenues.
  • Through the mechanism of ‘Grand Challenge’/’Call for entries’, GIA should identify early-stage startups who have a product/service addressing specific Problem Statements in agriculture, transportation/infra, and livelihoods/skills.
  •  Ensuring the deployment of at least 5 POCs in an ‘accelerator mode’, in the designated district of the region where the GIA is located, by providing these startups with the right mentoring and other support.
  • Facilitate a funding mechanism for such early-stage startups in line with the guidelines contained in this document.

Growth-stage startups:

  • These are startups who are revenue-generating (>Rs 1 cr), and have achieved some success in the market.
  • They should: (a) either have a product/service that addresses specific Problem Statements already identified by SoI/GDPDC (through sectoral consultations) in agriculture, transportation/infra, and livelihoods/skills; OR (b) they have an innovative product/service that addresses other important Problem Statements in these sectors. 
  • Using their market knowledge and network, GIA needs to identify and on-board at least two such startups quickly to be ready for the go-live date for Operation Dronagiri.
  • While these startups (because of their relative maturity) may not need active hand-holding, however, GIA should ensure smooth coordination so that these startups can participate actively in the sectoral use-cases or Problem Statements in the designated district of the region where the GIA is located.
  • These startups may be evaluated by DST for funding as per its guidelines for growth-stage startups, and GIA should facilitate the process.

Corporate connect & on-boarding:

GIA should use its extensive network of relationships to bring in at least 3 corporate partners (from Agri, Transport/Infra, Livelihoods/Skills sectors) who want to be active part of Operation Dronagiri for implementing their Problem Statements in the designating district.

  •  Facilitate and coordinate the same.

Innovative geospatial sectoral solutions:

  • Most incubators have good sectoral expertise in one or more of Agriculture, Transportation/Infra, or Livelihoods/Skills.
  • Based on such expertise and insights, the GIA should propose and discuss innovative geospatial solutions for such sectors that may then be deployed in the designated districts in partnership with startup or corporate partners.
  • Leverage other local relationships (incl. with state governments) to ensure smooth implementation.
  • Coordinate closely with SoI's State Geospatial Directorate in all respects, and ensure smooth communication at all times.
  • Coordinate closely with GDPDC Secretariat, and ensure smooth communication at all times. 

Deliverables by GIA

Quantified:

  •     5 POCs with early-stage startups.
  •     On-boarding and going live with 2+ growth-stage startups.
  •     On-boarding 3+ corporate partners.

Other:

  •      Propose, discuss and implement innovative geospatial solutions in one or more of the TIH/TBI’s sectoral areas of expertise.
  •      Share expertise and experiences with other GIAs.
  •      Timely progress reports on startup development, challenges, and milestones.
  •      Final report summarising the outcomes of the accelerator program, lessons learned, and recommendations for future initiatives.