In order to extend all possible support and helping hand to early-stage Startups, the Punjab Government and Chandigarh Angels Network (CAN) have launched the iCAN Accelerator Program to handhold startups especially in these trying circumstances amid COVID-19 pandemic.Giving details about the said acceleration program, State Startup Nodal Officer and CEO Invest Punjab, Rajat Agarwal said that this is a 6-week virtual startup acceleration program designed to handhold startups into the next phase of their individual journeys through dedicated sessions and mentorship. He said that the CAN in partnership with “Start Up Punjab” have already launched the iCAN Accelerator Program.Over this six weeks course, the acceleration program will help startups identify their problem statement, identify target market, formulate solution and value proposition, identify competition, map their sales process and define the pricing framework, create a business model, and develop their pitch. The participants will be ready to launch their products when the program ends mid-June, said Aggarwal.Appreciating the joint efforts of Startup Punjab and CAN for the said program, Agarwal mentioned that this free of cost Accelerator Program platform would prove to be immensely beneficial for upcoming entrepreneurs, who intend to take their startup to the next level.Agarwal the State Startup Nodal Officer also informed that the program was open to startups from different fields across the country.
For its first cohort, he said, CAN received a phenomenal response from entrepreneurs, with hundreds of applications coming from over 17 States and Union Territories of India. Over 30% of the total applications came from the state of Punjab.Agarwal further said that iCAN’s first cohort selected consists of 6 startups from diverse fields, which included Ludhiana based EdTech startup Whizrobo, Bangaluru based RetailTech startup Dukandaar, Delhi based Healthcare startup HECOD, Chandigarh based Agriculture startup Sormin Food, Gurgaon based Fintech- Reeudo and Mohali based e-Learning startup Sors Technica.Meanwhile, the founding member of CAN and Chief Mentor for the program Kunal Nandwani stated “Chandigarh Angels has evolved into one of the most active angel networks in the country and we recognise that a lot more still needs to be done for budding entrepreneurs. Through this program, we look to guide and help as many startups as possible and hope that they can extract enough value out of it. These are some testing times and we are happy to extend our resources to this ecosystem.”Pertinently, the iCAN Accelerator Program is supported by Startup Punjab, a Punjab Government organization doing pioneering work for startups in the state by providing them access to quality mentors, and access to various government schemes etc.Notably, the Chandigarh Angels also agreed for making some of the program resources available to other participants and founders to ensure that benefits are extended to as many startups as possible. The same can be accessed through its program website: www.chandigarhangelsnetwork.com/accelerate.