Odisha Gears Up For FundStack 3.0, The State’s Annual Start-Up Investor Summit

Start-up Odisha, an initiative of the MSME Department, Government of Odisha, is gearing up for FundStack 3.0—a two-day Annual Start-up Investment Summit. This event is poised to play a pivotal role in fostering connections between start-ups and investors, providing crucial funding and mentorship and support.  

Some venture capitalists and angel investors who will be a part of the two-day pitching session include Equanimity Ventures, Sanchi Connect, Menterra Social Impact, Unicorn India Ventures, Mumbai Angels, Orios Ventures, Pentathlon Ventures, IvyCap Ventures, Auxano Ventures, Agility Ventures, Fluid Ventures, Start-up Xseed, Roots Ventures, Clover Ventures, Induckt Global, Artha99, Inflection Point Ventures, Indian Angel Network, Realtime Angel Fund, Bhubaneswar Angels, Seafund and TiE Bhubaneswar.

FundStack 3.0 was launched through a virtual event on 20th October 2023 and the launch was accompanied by the unveiling of a dedicated website for Start-ups to initiate their program applications. Out of numerous entries, 50 start-ups have earned the opportunity to pitch to investors on November 21st, with the top 20 securing slots for exclusive one-on-one meetings on November 22nd marked by speed dating and networking sessions.

On the inaugural day of FundStack 3.0, Start-up Odisha will formalize strategic partnerships by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prominent investment firms, Equanimity Ventures and Sanchi Connect. The event will kick off with an enlightening roundtable discussion ‘Roundtable with Investors’, delving into the intricacies of the burgeoning Start-up ecosystem and exploring the vast investment potential inherent in the state of Odisha.

Following these insightful discussions, the agenda will seamlessly transition to a dynamic Panel Pitching session, where promising start-ups will have the opportunity to present their innovative ideas and business models to a distinguished panel of experts. The culmination of the first day will be the announcement of the top 20 start-ups, showcasing the most promising ventures poised to make a significant impact in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Day 2 will have two panel discussions on ‘The Growth of the Start-up Ecosystem in Tier II & III Cities of India’ and ‘Enabling Investments for Technology-Led Start-ups’. There will also be an exclusive Inaugural address by Pratap Keshari Deb, the Minister of Industries, MSME & Energy, Government of Odisha and an AMA (Ask Me Anything) exclusive session with Shradha Sharma, Founder, YourStory and Dr. Omkar Rai, Executive Chairman, Start-up Odisha. 20 Start-ups will have the chance to pitch to the panel of investors in the ‘Speed Dating session’. 

Dr. Omkar Rai said, “The success stories from the previous edition, featuring start-ups such as Transport Simple, Homvery, Carbon Out, LarkAI, and others successfully securing their initial fundraising, has encouraged us to elevate this edition of FundStack, making it even more substantial and impactful by involving a greater number of investors. Our overarching goal is to continue fostering an environment where innovation thrives, connecting start-ups with the resources they need for sustainable growth and success.”