First batch of startups under ISDI–Microsoft Ventures Creative Accelerator graduate

Mumbai, Mar 2 (KNN) The Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI) powered by Microsoft Ventures presented Demo Day - the graduation of the first batch of market-ready startups of the ISDI Creative Accelerator. 

“With the aim of raising the design and innovation quotient of products and services to globally competitive standards, the first batch of 6 start-ups selected in August 2015, were launched via a product showcase. They cover education, health, personal fitness, jewellery, home décor and a team task app,” an official release said today.

ISDI and Microsoft Ventures brought together all key stakeholders - academia, students, entrepreneurs, investors, and corporates to provide mentorship as well as the most critical resources in design and innovation that startups need to be successful.

This included workspace at ISDI’s innovation facility in the Lower Parel Innovation District and access to design-innovation resources including makerspaces, coaching in design, access to design mentorship, and operational support in design.

These were the startups presenting at the first ever Demo Day: mGuru, Avanzar Health, Random in Tandem, Ornativa, ClassReserve and Linkwok.  All in the creative-technology space, these start-ups were provided opportunities to launch and re-design their company through an immersive, six-month-long program merging design, technology and business innovation.

To further endorse the vitality of the design – technology startup ecosystem, two panel discussions were held on “How does design play a pivotal role in a startup's success” and “Startup Failures: What, how and why? VC's view to valuations.” The Demo Day event saw participation of eminent personalities from the Startup and Corporate world including decision makers from KAE Capital, Lightbox Ventures, Walt Disney, Pointshelf, Round Glass Partners, CIO Angel Network and India Quotient. 

Siddharth Shahani, Executive Director of ISDI said, “These startups caught our eye for their stand out innovative ideas. Our creative accelerator programme has received a huge response since we launched last June, we’ve already received 200 applications for the 2nd Accelerator, up from 25the first time. We have brought together the entire eco system to facilitate then to be market ready. The ISDI faculty including our Creative Entrepreneurship programme leaders along with Microsoft Ventures have provided these startups an invaluable learning experience. We’re proud of where they’ve reached and wish them success.”    

The Indian School of Design and Innovation ISDI, inaugurated its founding batch of under- and post- graduate studies in July 2013, committing to a new educational model, inspired by the idea of design and innovation as transformative forces in society.  

About the startups:

1: ClassReserve is a start-up that is focused on incorporating fitness into every day life and enables people to stick to their fitness regime. To implement this, ClassReserve has aggregated fitness & wellness centres across Mumbai to offer a single membership. Using this membership, users can do different activities such as gym, yoga, group exercise, dance, self-defence, etc. at their convenience.

2: mGuru presents content and assignments to students that target their specific level of proficiency. By tracking the progress of students on specific topics and competencies, the platform is able to customize the content that students receive. This directly addresses the problem of students falling behind the curriculum in school.

3: Ornativa is a fashion jewelry brand designed to become the market leader in Web based sales of unique designer fashion jewelry and accessories with a strong focus on quality, affordability & reach. It offers an exclusive collection of earrings, bangles, necklaces, pendants, cufflinks and jewelry sets.

4: Avanzar Health is a Techno-Marketing platform primarily working with Healthcare Service Providers. Our product QYKLEE is an all-in-one marketing solution for patient acquisition, patient loyalty, reputation management and business insights that directly increases business of healthcare practices, diagnostics and hospitals.

5: Linkwok is a multi-platform app that empowers your research to save time and money. Work together with your team to collect useful information from everywhere, personalize and present your findings for immediate feedback and decisive handoff.

6: Random in Tandem was founded three years ago to fill the market gap of contemporary fun utilitarian home accessories which were affordable but high in design.

(KNN Bureau)