GSF Accelerator to launch an IoT and Cloud Accelerator Programme in India

GSF Accelerator, a leading tech start-up platform in India has collaborated with Cisco Investments to launch a pioneering Accelerator program for innovative start-ups in India in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud areas. The programme will start from March 25, 2015.

The collaboration will help accelerate an ecosystem of applications, analytics and vertical solutions providers as well as device providers that can utilize Cisco's intelligent infrastructure to develop real-life IoT use cases.

The key highlights of the program would be- focused on IOT+Cloud Ventures (both hardware and software platforms will be considered), up to five start-ups will be short-listed for an intense 16-week program, the accelerator will be based in Bangalore with a 4-week visit to the Silicon Valley, US, additional mentorship through GSF mentor network and Cisco and provide customer exposure to the start-ups. Moreover, GSF will provide dollar 45,000 in funding to each of the selected start-ups.

IoT has the potential to transform businesses everywhere by harnessing the convergence of sensors or devices, cloud and ubiquitous connectivity and integrating them with people, processes and applications. The world is expected to see 50 billion new interconnected devices by 2020, and these will power solutions from smart homes to smart cities to initiatives like Digital India and its host of services. Cisco is helping build the global IoT or cloud ecosystem with large companies and with start-ups who will bring these products and solutions to reality.

Rajesh Sawhney, founder, GSF Accelerator, said, “GSF Accelerator is a pioneer in the start-up accelerator space. With this tie-up with Cisco, we provide a unique and unparalleled proposition to the innovative Indian start-ups in the high potential sector of “Internet of Things” and Cloud computing. This program is tailored to provide world-class mentoring and un- matched global access to Indian start-ups.”

Amit Phadnis, President, Engineering and Cisco India Site Leader, said, “Cisco is committed to enabling innovation that is aligned to the Digital India vision. India is home to the world’s third largest ecosystem of startups. Cisco’s collaboration with GSF will help catalyze and accelerate the tremendous potential for innovation that startups in India offer with a focus on the Internet of Things and cloud. Cisco’s deep engineering presence in India along with global engineering teams will play a key role in mentoring entrepreneurs in IoT and cloud technologies.”

Alok Bardiya, Director, Corporate Development, Cisco, said, “As a leading strategic investor, Cisco Investments is committed to support the building of entrepreneurial capacity and nurture the local early stage startup ecosystem in India. By spurring and accelerating technology innovation, we want to help India evolve as a global hub for innovation and help Cisco become a defining player in taking technology investment in the region to the next level. Our collaboration with GSF adds a key pillar to our investment activities under the India Innovation fund.”