About the Contest

The ScaleUp Contest forms a vital component of the Entrepreneurship Conclave, a collaborative effort between the Saraswat Chamber, World Konkani Centre, and UK&Co. Its primary objective is to pinpoint the most ingenious startups within the community and provide them with the necessary support to elevate their products or solutions, facilitating the expansion of their ventures.

A significant proportion, around 90%, of startups in their growth phase or those endeavoring to scale up encounter difficulties in achieving rapid expansion, often due to a lack of essential requisites to propel them forward. Among the array of reasons for startup closures, the absence of formal mentoring stands out, as such guidance can significantly enhance value addition and access to funding.

In direct response to this pressing issue, the teams at SC, WKC, and UK&Co are orchestrating the Entrepreneurship Conclave (EC), a distinctive event aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within the startup/scale-up community. This unprecedented gathering will enable members of the community to directly engage with industry luminaries, thus catalyzing their growth prospects.

The selection process for this program entails a rigorous qualification criterion. This assessment encompasses factors like novelty, impact, growth potential, and more. For emerging enterprises encountering roadblocks, this initiative presents an opportunity to secure appropriate mentoring and innovative ideas from within the community itself.

Rewards for the chosen companies include:

• Funding of up to Rs. 5.00 Lakhs each for the five most deserving Scaleups
• Incubation support
• Expert mentoring
• Incentives
• Venture capital connections

Scaleup Contest 2023: Eligibility Criteria

1. The contest is open for Idea Stage, Seed Stage, Early Stage or Growth Stage Startups and Micro, Small and Medium Size Enterprises (MSME)
2. Total revenue generated since incorporation should not exceed INR 100 Crore.
3. Startups must not have surpassed 10 years from the date of incorporation/registration certificate as of March 31, 2023.
4. Eligibility extends to startups/MSME/entities involved in innovative product/process development, scalable business models with potential for employment generation or wealth creation.

General Terms & Conditions:

1. Startups cannot be subsidiaries, franchises, white-labelled resellers, or part of a larger group company.
2. Partnerships with other companies/entities are not allowed.
3. Non-profit organizations, section 8 companies, Trusts/Associations/Societies are ineligible.
4. Mergers/Demergers with larger organizations are disallowed.
5. Participation in government initiatives or public-private partnerships is prohibited.
6. Applications that fail to meet the ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA/Supporting Documents will be disqualified at any stage, leading to application cancellation.
7. Online submissions via the designated portal are the only accepted method.
8. Incomplete, irrelevant, or incorrectly formatted application forms/documents will lead to disqualification.

Mandatory Documents:

• Pitch Deck (PDF Format, file size < 5 MB)
• Business Plan
• Founder's Video