The Minister for MSME inaugurates 'Smart Cards' tailored for startups.

T.M. Anbarasan, the Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Tamil Nadu, introduced 'Smart Cards' for startups on Wednesday. These Smart Cards, as outlined by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN), offer a wide array of products and services at subsidized rates, specifically tailored to meet the requirements of startups in their initial stages. By availing themselves of these products and services at an affordable cost, startups can significantly boost and expedite their business growth.

StartupTN has partnered with various entities to provide startups with a diverse range of products and services essential for their development, all at reduced costs. These offerings are categorized into six main areas: legal and compliance, marketing/business consulting, finance and insurance, human resources and workspace solutions, software, and IT/ITES.

Sivarajah Ramanathan, the Mission Director and CEO of Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission, noted that the Smart Card initiative, which was mentioned in the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Policy 2023, has now been implemented.

During the launch event, Minister Anbarasan also awarded sanction orders totaling ₹9.05 crore as equity investment from the Tamil Nadu SC/ST Startup Fund to four startups led by entrepreneurs from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. Additionally, he unveiled the products and services of 20 startups led by women entrepreneurs under the Women Launchpad initiative. LaunchPad serves as a platform to help startups gain initial traction in both offline and online markets for their new brands and products.

Furthermore, Mr. Anbarasan inaugurated the Open Innovation portal, which aims to facilitate connections between corporates/government agencies and innovators, startups, and researchers. Through this portal, these entities can tackle problem statements/challenges posted by corporates and government agencies by devising innovative solutions.