Panaji: Even as a government government bragging about its high ambition to make Goa Hotspot Startup, Corporation of Economic Development (EDC), which operates incubators, has begun to close the door to the local startup.
The Ignite Innovation Hub which has been activated by a corporation has turned into an office for Goa Electronics Ltd, and startup and entrepreneurs are asked to empty the place, sources tell to the toy.
Gel officials have begun to take over the cubicle and cabins intended for startup, while applications from technology entrepreneurs for work rooms are rejected, said source.
Even EDC officials told TI that the gel occupied 75-80% of the table in Ignite which was intended for startup.
Toi also knows that EDC has issued a direction that every time a hard work chair on EDC lights up empty, “first gave a preference for gel” before offering them to start.
Former Minister of Manohar Minister Parricar inaugurated the incubation center in 2018, which was formed at a cost of Rs 2.5 Crore.
Parragar and then Chairman of EDC Sidharth Kuncalienker has announced that the incubation center will encourage young entrepreneurs to establish their own startup company in Goa.
EDC Ignite has 90 tables, which is offered with a nominal level of Rs 2,000 per month to a technology company along with plug-n-play facilities.
At present, there are four startups incubated with EDC Ignite, and three companies have been looking for a shared workspace.
VASANT SALGAONCAR, Mechgiri founder, one of the startups is currently incubated with EDC on, applied to an extension after a year, but even though more than a month has passed, he has not received a response.
“Pandemics have sent all startups early stage to square.
At this point, where income has dropped, the incubation-co-co-work hub like EDC is very helpful,” Salgaoncar said.
Another startup that functions from EDC Ignite was asked to “release” the table used so that they can be offered to gel.
Toi tried to reach the Chair of the EDC Sadanand Shet Tanavade on several occasions but Tanavade was not available to comment.
The implementing director of EDC K V Balikar said that the gel had recruited more staff and searched for office space.
“Ignite doesn’t do it well and because of a pandemic, the company IT wants to work from home.
Gel, who is our subsidiary, will pay the EDC RS 5 lakh per month as a rental so that EDC will get Rs 60 lakh per year,” said Balikar.
Note shows that EDC asks one of the startups that “desperately need two tables” to “release” the workspace as a gel interested in taking it.