Twitter co-founder Biz Stone to invest in Kochi-based start-up

Providing a major impetus to the start-up ecosystem in the State, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone will invest in a Kochi-based start-up.

At the inauguration of the second edition of Huddle Kerala 2019 on Friday, the American entrepreneur announced through video-conferencing his plans to invest an undisclosed amount in Sieve, a start-up founded by Sanjay Nediyara, a hearing-impaired entrepreneur, who was selected as one of the Forbes fellows in 2018.

“As an angel (investor), I consider the person first and the product second. I find Sanjay as a dedicated, empathetic and extremely hard working individual,” he said, adding that he has used the product as a freelancer. The start-up, which currently serves in the United States, is a platform for freelancers and agencies that provide products ranging from websites, digital signatures, invoicing and payment management.

Talent in State

Formally inaugurating the two-day conclave organised by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the State possessed the talent, support system and market potential to emerge as the innovation hub of the country. He added that Kerala has given shape to a thriving start-up and innovation ecosystem that offers incubation facilities, corporate tie-ups as well as financial systems. He also pitched the State as the ideal destination for start-ups and technology giants to set base as the hub of their India, Middle East and South East Asia business ventures.

MoUs signed

The KSUM entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with OPPO, Wadhwani Foundation and Orbital Microsystems Ltd. in the presence of the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Mr. Vijayan also formally launched Start-up Wings, a capacity building programme implemented by the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (Invest India) for women entrepreneurs. KSUM has been selected to execute the programme in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala. Creative Jam, a design hackathon being organised in association with Adobe, was also launched at the inaugural session.