1 week Ago By Moneycontrol
Tamil Nadu is now home to over 10,800 registered start-ups, a significant increase from just 2,032 in March 2021, with nearly half of these start-ups founded by women, according to The Hindu. Speaking at the closing session of The Hindu Tamil Nadu Startup Summit-25, T.M.
Anbarasan, the Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), credited this surge to the proactive measures taken by the government over the past four years. Anbarasan announced plans for a new regional innovation center in Thoothukudi during the current financial year. This center will add to the seven existing regional innovation centers already established in Erode, Tirunelveli, Hosur, Salem, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Coimbatore.
The purpose of these centers is to provide a strong foundation for start-up growth throughout the state. Highlighting the government’s initiatives, Anbarasan mentioned that approximately 31.11 lakh students in schools and colleges have been trained in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Under the Tamil Nadu Startup Seed Grant Fund (TANSEED) scheme, over 205 start-ups have received support, including 36 ventures founded by members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) communities. A total of ₹69.99 crore has been disbursed to nurture these businesses.
The Minister also spoke about the ongoing 'Launch Pad' programs, which aim to introduce budding entrepreneurs to the market, along with the establishment of 'Pre-Incubation Centres' in educational institutions across Tamil Nadu to foster early-stage innovation. Regarding the Global Investors Meet held in January of the previous year, Anbarasan reported that around 5,068 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed in the MSME sector alone, expected to create 91,785 job opportunities. Of the signed MoUs, 2,360 companies have already commenced operations, with a combined investment of ₹25,097 crore, while efforts continue to operationalize the remaining companies.
Anbarasan noted that 59,584 new entrepreneurs have emerged through various government schemes. Among these are 21,281 women entrepreneurs, 9,224 entrepreneurs from SC/ST backgrounds, 2,497 from minority communities, and 717 individuals with disabilities. He emphasized that these initiatives are part of the government's broader commitment to promoting equality and social justice, in line with Chief Minister M.
K. Stalin’s vision for inclusive growth. At the event, Anbarasan was honored by Suresh Balakrishna, Chief Revenue Officer of The Hindu Group, in the presence of L.
V. Navaneeth, CEO of THG Publishing Private Limited, and Sivarajah Ramanathan, Mission Director and CEO of StartupTN, as reported by The Hindu..
