After UAE, startups head the UK way

‘London Tech Week’ invites Indian startups...

Around 20 Indian startups, from across areas such as travel and dairy tech, are participating in the ongoing ‘London Tech Week’ to explore overseas expansion.

The companies, covering areas of stem cell to technology to science for children are part of the India Emerging Twenty (IE20) programme launched by London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s business and promotional agency, London & Partners (L&P).

The IE20 provides a global platform to the top 20 upcoming global Indian organisations, along with offering them worldwide visibility.

"The IE20 initiative is a wonderful way of highlighting the amazing entrepreneurial talent that exists in India, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. India's young and dynamic entrepreneurial growth is the driving force behind India's growth as a country. IE20 are shining champions of India's growth story," said Cobra Beer founder Lord Karan Bilimoria, who welcomed the companies at the House of Lords this week.

These startups have flown to the UK to attend the ‘London Tech Week’ launch, meet tech entrepreneurs and business players in London, and participate in a session with Lord Bilimoria and entrepreneur’s champion Shalini Khemka.

"The IE20 is proof that London's relationship with India continues to grow and it is fantastic to welcome so many of its fastest-growing companies to our great city. As someone who arrived from India 15 years ago with just 200 pounds in my pocket, before setting up my own successful companies, I know from first-hand experience that London is the best place in the world to do business," Shalini Khemka said.

"This is an excellent opportunity for the winners, India's most innovative startups, to champion Indian entrepreneurship in the UK," she added.

As per L&P, since 2005 an increase of 125 per cent has been noticed with Indian investors investing in London, with a 117 per cent increase in tech companies investing in the city, that accounts for 45 per cent of all projects.

Software testing service Cigniti Technologies, customer support company Kayako and many more have made investments in London from India.345 Indian companies entered the IE20 programme this year, a 100 more than the previous year.

Two companies have already set up their offices in London LatentView Analytics and Curadev Pharma from the previous year, generating about 100 new jobs in the first three years."IE20 helped us with recognition and credibility among prospective clients," Vijay Ganesan, business development manager at LatentView Analytics, said.

IE20 is an initiative aimed at high growth, knowledge- based companies formed after 2000. Applications are reviewed to shortlist 50 most high-performing companies that would promote global growth.

With Indian startups slowly spreading its wings across the global platform, do you think this would open up more opportunities in future? Please share with us.

Source: PTI