PANJIM: The Goa Startup Policy 2020, have taken a consultative and participatory approach doing consultation with Goa Government Departments, Central Government DPIIT (Startup India) and Startup Ecosystem Stakeholders in Goa.
The Startup Promotion Cell, DoIT, Goa brings to forefront the key aspects, providing clarity and correct information as there is growing conjecture and speculation on the new Goa Startup Policy 2020 in the making.
The Startup Promotion Cell (SPC) presently has 88 Goa certified Startups. Startup India, DPIIT, Central Government has recognised 69 Goa Startups. It estimates approx 150 Startups in Goa. There are about 12 Incubators & Co-Working spaces in Goa.
For over a month SPC has been conducting online surveys and consultations with all these Startup Ecosystem Stakeholders. Detailed feedback and policy inputs of 105 (cumulative of above list) has been received.
The Goa Startup Policy 2017 had 14 Incentive/Benefits schemes. For these 14 Schemes, SPC received 77 applications. From these 77 applications, 68 applicants were just for 3 schemes, 9 applications were for other 5 schemes while no applications were received for 6 schemes.
The present Startup Policy 2017 was brought in September 2017, period of which was for 03 years which expires in September 2020 – the foremost reason for the new Startup Policy.
DoIT, based on these 3 years of experience, have decided on the schemes to be introduced/edited/modified in the new Goa Startup Policy 2020.
41 Incentive/Scheme applications have been approved out of this 77 applications.
The Goa Startup Goa Startup Policy 2020 have decided to adopt and incorporate the definition from Startup India, DPIIT, Central Government, to extend the reach of the new policy to more Entrepreneurs & Startups.
All Startups, now, in some ways, use IT & IT Tools. For eg a Farmer/Agriculture Startup uses Drones, IT Tools and hence there is need to increase the gambit and scope of the Startup Policy to encompass more diverse Startups and actually all Startup who use IT, ITES for customer reach or internal operations. Earlier policy focused on pure IT Startups.
Goa has the highest % of Women Founded Startups’ across all Indian States as per DPIIT commentary. To encourage and support these Womenpreneurs, there is need to bring in policy, schemes designed exclusively for them. The new policy aims to focus on Inclusive as well as Diversity and be wide and deep.
Importantly the Goa Startup Policy 2020 is being designed keeping in mind the Post Covid-19 world and how the world has changed. The pillars of Goa Startup Policy 2020 are identified – Institutional Support, Access To Finance, Access to Talent, Education & Skill Development and Thought Leadership – the policy will be drafted within these realms.
The New Goa Startup Policy 2020 will be an inclusive and progressive step towards the same vision and objective, i.e to make Goa amongst top 25 Startup destination in Asia and making Goa the most preferred destination for Startups’ in India.
The SPC & DoIT have an open door policy, encouraging and welcoming all ecosystem stakeholders and request they too adorn the same constructive and participative approach.
The policy draft will be put online on Goa Government portal for further inputs and suggestions from any and all.
