From page 1NATIONAL GAMESPLANS STILL OFF TRACKAccording to KSC presidentPadmini Thomas, the main-tenance work has finallypicked up. Chief Minister Oommen Chandywill be inaugurating theIndoor Recreation Centre (IRC) inShanghumugham onFriday, which would behosting a display of theChinese martial art, Wushu.
“Wushu and karate whichare not Olympics events,have been included in the35th National Games. Wehave already appointedcoaches for these and are waiting for theannouncement as to whenthe training camps can startfunctioning,” said MsThomas.
While 16 events are sched-uled to take place in the cap-ital city alone, the rest willbe held at Kollam (twoevents), Alappuzha (three), Kochi (six),Thrissur and Kozhikode(four each) and Kannur(two).
“I can tell you that thechairman of the coordina-tion committee of IOA,K.Murugan and his team,S.M. Bali and RakeshGupta, will be here to evalu-ate the infrastructure. They will then file a reportto the IOA, after which theexact dates will beannounced. But as of now,we are projecting December2013- January 2014 for the35th National Games,” saidAnil Kumar.
Government willensure highersalary for gov-ernment doctorsworking withincorporation limits
–––– MMaannjjaallaammkkuuzzhhii AAlliiUrban affairs minister
SPECIALQUOTE OF THE DAY
PAGE 2
I wonder how a party like CPMcan go forward distrusting its
own leaders: K.M. Mani
P.A. Alexander elected president of Senior Journalists’Forum-Kerala
TUESDAY 14 | MAY 2013KOZHIKODE
START UP Technology Business Incubator at NIT, Calicut is opening newer avenues for youngsters
HAVE IDEAS, GROW BIGJJOOSSEE KKUURRIIAANN || DDCCKOZHIKODE, MAY 13
When the young and ambi-tious want to go off thetreaded path of becomingcogs in the MNC wheel andhope to give concreteshape to innovative pur-suits, the technology busi-ness incubator (TBI) ofNational Institute ofTechnology (NIT) here hascome in handy. It has in itsnine years incubated 40start-ups generating morethan 500 job opportunitiesand an annual turnover of`25 crore.
Supported by theNational Science andT e c h n o l o g yE n t r e p r e n e u r s h i pDevelopment Board (NST-EDB), the TBI has beencatering to youngsters whowant to start their ownentrepreneurship ven-tures in information andtechnology.
Till a few years ago, thenumber of eligible candi-dates applying for the facil-ity was very less, of whomjust around two or threewere selected. But thescene is different now withumpteen applications com-ing and five or six easilygetting selected, TBI man-ager M. Preethi toldDeccan Chronicle.
“A startup company getsa space of 250 sq ft for `2,500 per month which issufficient to accommodatea group of up to six apartfrom financial aid to meetthe start up costs at aninterest of 6 per cent,” shesaid. TBI also ensures 87per cent sustenance of theincubated units.
Zesty BeanzTechnologies Pvt Ltd.,incubated here, even wonthe ISBA (Indian step andbusiness incubators’ asso-ciation) national award forbest performing incubateein 2010.
NITC TBI chairman Jose
Mathew says it is the righttime for the TBI to expand.“With just a few personneldedicated to the mission,we have made giant leaps,”he said, adding that theTBI would be remodeled intune with IIT standards. Aproposal to have its ownbuilding complex was onthe cards, he said.
TBI functions in associa-tion with the Union min-istry of information andcommunication technolo-gy (MICT) and theTechnology DevelopmentBoard (TDB). It has
received a grant of `1.5crore for providing seedfund assistance to selectedcompanies. TBI alsoobtained a grant of `1crore from TDB and `30lakhs from the NationalScience and Technology
Entrepreneurs’ Devel-opment Board. From thesefunds, it provides assis-tance to 15 startup compa-nies at an affordable inter-est rate of just 6 per cent.
Arbitron India, an enter-prise doing mediaresearch in the US marketis an anchor company.Moreover, TBI also has acentre of excellence on the campus to promoteindustry-academia inter-action. So far, TBI hashatched as many as 22companies and 18 areunder incubation.
TECHNOPARKSTARTED IT ALLIN 2007DDCC CCOORRRREESSPPOONNDDEENNTTKOZHIKODE, MAY 13
The history of successfulbusiness incubation inthe state dates back to2007 when Technopark inThiruvananthapuramlaunched TechnologyBusiness Incubator (TBI)focusing at telecom services.
Though the TBI at NIT,Calicut was launched in2003, it became an inde-pendent entity only in2009.
Technopark CEOGireesh Babu told DCthat it was a visit by agroup of technocratsfrom Silicon Valley whointeracted with expertsand youngsters at Tech-nopark that served as theinspiration behind TTBI.
Technopark has so farincubated about 182 com-panies. “If somebody hasa brilliant idea but isstruggling to source suffi-cient funds, TBI willensure him all technicalsupport and funding,” hesaid.
Mob Me, the first com-pany incubated at Techn-opark has now growninto a major player withworldwide operations. Itremits an amount of `5.4crore as tax alone.
TTBI was adjudged asthe best in Asia in 2012and second-best in theworld in 2011.
Winsome entrepreneurs
`1.5 crore Mural Projectlaunched in Kottayam
DDCC CCOORRRREESSPPOONNDDEENNTTKOZHIKODE, MAY 13
Most of the CEOs who arestill on campus but leftafter the incubation periodto achieve new heights,nurture fond memories.
“I always cherished adream to start a businesson my own and was toyingwith several ideas when Iheard about the short pro-gramme at NIT,” recountsNishant T., who with wifeJitha launched WiinnovaSoftware Labs Pvt. Ltd.,which focuses on mobileapplication developmentand enterprise solutions.
“The 40-day programmeprovides an unique oppor-tunity for any wannabeentrepreneur to learn thebasics of starting and run-ning an organization fromscratch,” he says, Rightfrom legal and govern-ment-related hurdles,everything about startingup is covered under theprogramme.
“It was NIT that openedthe door to progress forus,” said Lapeesh Parattwho launched Zesty Beans,an IT company with aninvestment of just `8,000 atTBI in 2009. With aturnover of about `2 croreand operations for compa-nies in 40 nations, ZestyBeanz is a prominent MNCtoday. An alumnus ofGovernment engineeringcollege, Palakkad, Lapeeshfeels that NIT TBI providesan excellent platform forany ambitious entrepre-neur.
“We were supported bysufficient funds in theform of grants and softloans,” he added. “Theguidance from the quali-fied NIT faculty also hasplayed a key role in mould-ing us,” Lapeesh adds.
The experience of fivefriends — Abdul Gafoor,Ameen Islahi, AbdulMajeed, Ashok andPavanan Ghosh — whojointly launched InfiniteOpen Source Solution LLPis also similar.Interestingly, all theseyoungsters gave up com-
fortable jobs to float theirown firm.
Established in 2009, thecompany shifted to its ownbuilding recently. Thecutting-edge web-basedbusiness management soft-ware of the group has beenfacilitating smooth busi-ness operations in morethan 200 organizations,spanning 36 countries.
Abdul Gafoor, one of thecompany directors, toldDC that the traininghelped in learning how torun a company successful-ly and how to handle it in astructured manner. “Theinteractions with variouspeople in the sector alsoproved beneficial,” headded. Moreover, thefinancial assistance at theinitial stage also was verycrucial, he said.
With a `1 crore turnoverand 25 employees, the com-pany aims at a `2.5-croreturnover and an increasein headcount to 65 nextyear.
DDCC CCOORRRREESSPPOONNDDEENNTTKOTTAYAM, MAY 13
The `1.5 crore Mural Cityproject, which will see asmany as 350 artists fromboth within the countryand abroad create muralsat 20 different locations inKottayam over 13 days, gotoff to a start with CulturalMinister K.C. Joseph inaugurating it onMonday.
A five-day internationalmural camp was held inKottayam in the thirdweek of April to extractthe natural colours neededfor creating the murals.
“The initiative taken bythe Kerala LalithakalaAcademy will change theprofile of Kottayam andwill give it a new place onthe tourism map of India,”said Mr Joseph, advising
the Kottayam municipali-ty to protect the muralsthat will be exhibited inpublic places.
“Besides creating thesemurals, the job of protect-ing them is equally strenu-ous , especially as they willadorn public places,” henoted.
Kerala LalithakalaAcademy chairman K.A.
Francis said as many as40 murals will be createdat 20 locations includingthe Thriunakkara temple,CSI Church near theCollectorate, Sree Krishnatemple in Thirunakkara,the Pallipurathukavu tem-ple in Kodimatha, thePuthan Angadi Church,Cheriya Palli nearUppoottil junction, the dis-trict hospital, the districtpanchayat office, theCollectorate, MammenMappillai Hall, head postoffice, railway station,municipal office, Eastpolice station, and thePress Club.
Home ministerT h i r u v a n c h o o rRadhakrishnan presidedon the occasion, and the chief guest was noted painter LakshmaGowda.
FOND MEMORIES
DEDICATION
of technocrats fromSilicon Valley whointeracted with expertsand youngsters atTechnopark thatserved as the inspira-tion behind TTBI
–––– GGiirreeeesshh BBaabbuuCEO, Technopark
IItt wwaass aa vviissiitt bbyy aa ggrroouupp
We were sup-ported by suffi-
cient funds in theform of grantsand soft loans.
The guidance fromthe qualified NIT
faculty also hasplayed a key role in
moulding us——LLaappeeeesshh PPaarraatttt
launched Zesty Beans in
2009
A startup company gets aspace of 250 sq ftfor `2,500 permonth apartfrom financial aidto meet the start
up costs at aninterest of 6
per cent—— MM.. PPrreeeetthhii Manager, TBI, NITC
Nishant T.and wifeJithalaunchedWiinnovaSoftwareLabs Pvt. Ltd.
With just a few personneldedicated tothe mission, wehave madegiant leaps.The TBI wouldbe remodeledin tune with IIT standards.
—— JJoossee MMaatthheewwChairman, TBI, NITC
TBI also ensures87 per centsustenance ofthe incubatedunits.
NOTED TBIs IN KERALA■ Technopark in
Thiruvananthapuram■ National Institute of
Technology, Calicut■ Info Park start-up
village, Kochi■ Amritha Institute of
Technology, Kollam
■ TBI established atTechnopark in 2007
■ Adjudged best inAsia in 2012
■ Second-best in worldin 2011.
■ First incubated company: Mob Me
■ 96 percent successrate: one of the best
■ Started in 2003
■ Becomes inde-pendent entity in
2009
Zesty Beanz
Technologies
Pvt Ltd. incu-
bated at NIT
won ISBA
(Indian step and
business incuba-
tors’ associa-
tion) award for
best performing
incubatee in
2010.
TBI AT NIT
IN SHORT
IN FIGURES
Total companies
40ANNUAL TURNOVER
`25 crore
EMPLOYMENT
500 techies
Scores of devotees thronged the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple on Monday to participate in the Akshaya Tritiya cele-brations and purchase gold coins embossed with the image of Lord Guruvayurappan. According to Devaswom authori-ties, gold coins worth `51 lakh were sold till noon when the temple was closed for the ‘Ucha Pooja’.
—DC
AKSHAYA TRITIYA CELEBRATIONS AT GURUVAYUR
WHAT THEY SAY...
Team ‘Infinite Open Source Solution’ during the opening of new office recently nearNIT, Kozhikode. —DC
■■ HHeeaavvyy rraaiinnffaallll wwaarrnniinngg ffoorrKKeerraallaa:: Nil
■■ HHeeaavvyy rraaiinnffaallll wwaarrnniinngg ffoorrLLaakksshhaaddwweeeepp:: Nil
■■ WWaarrnniinngg ffoorr ffiisshheerrmmeenn:: Strongwinds from north-westerlydirection speed occasionallyreaching 45-55 kmph likelyalong and off Kerala coast andover Lakshadweep in the next24 hours commencing 2 pm ofMay 13.
WWeeaatthheerr ffoorreeccaasstt ffoorr cciittiieess
■■ TThhiirruuvvaannaanntthhaappuurraamm:: Partlycloudy. The maximum temper-ature will be around 34 degreeCelcius.
■■ KKoocchhii:: Partly cloudy. The max-imum temperature will bearound 35 degree Celcius.
■■ KKoozzhhiikkooddee:: Partly cloudy. Themaximum temperature will bearound 35 degree Celcius.
Weather forecast
Tick the answer and checkDECCAN CHRONICLE tomorrowto discover how good youare.
11NNaammee tthhee ffiirrsstt ppeerrssoonn ooffAAffrriiccaann--AAmmeerriiccaann oorriiggiinn
ttoo sseerrvvee aass ggoovveerrnnoorr ooff aaUUSS ssttaattee..
■ Douglas Wilder■ P.B.S. Pinchback■ Oscar James Dunn
22VViivvaallddii’’ss TThhee FFoouurrSSeeaassoonnss iiss aa sseett ooff ccoonn--
cceerrttooss ccoommppoosseedd ffoorrwwhhiicchh mmuussiiccaall iinnssttrruummeenntt??
■ Violin■ Tuba■ Piano
33WWhhoo wwaass tthhee ffiirrsstt CChhiieeffJJuussttiiccee ooff IInnddiiaa ((iinnddee--
ppeennddeenntt IInnddiiaa))??
■ Sir Harilal JekisundasKania■ M. Patanjali Sastri■ Mehr Chand Mahajan
The DC Quiz
TThhee aannsswweerrss ttoo yyeesstteerrddaayy’’ss qquueessttiioonnss aarree::1. Matthew Webb2. Dave Gregory3. To escape the Black Plague
Death is never easy todeal with and having toinform others about it ispainful and heartbreak-ing. Let us help you inyour hour of need at nocost to you. Send indetails of the deceasedto [email protected] and we willput out an obituary.
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As many as 350mural artists fromboth within thecountry andabroad will takepart in the 13-day-long project.
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