Brinc, one of the world’s leading global venture accelerators, and The Chennai Angels (TCA), a leading angel investor network, are launching an online acceleration program for AgriTech & FoodTech, HealthTech, and FinTech startups, for which applications are now open.
The three-month intensive program will provide participating startups with a minimum investment of 50,000 USD and the opportunity for further funding based on their performance and initial traction. Furthermore, startups will be fully supported through their product development and will receive business and investor connection/matchmaking to facilitate growth.
TCA is one of India’s leading angel investment networks that have successfully built, run and exited businesses across multiple domains, invested in over 60 startups TCA has given exits to its investors in 17 companies. Some of the notable companies where TCA has invested are POPxo, GoBumpr, CloudCherry, Silvan Innovation Labs and Betaout.
“TCA is delighted to partner with Brinc on this initiative to support startups in HealthCare, FinTech, AgriTech, and food processing industries. Not only will we be able to extend much-needed seed capital but also to expose startups to an elite network of mentors who will work with them to achieve initial revenue traction. TCA looks forward to the launch of TechBlazers with much anticipation, as we wait to see which of the startups successfully pass vetting and are invited to be part of this cohort.”
– Mr K Chandran, CEO of The Chennai Angels
TechBlazers is open to India-domiciled startups and will run virtually for three months. Startups will be, among other things, supported with:
- Access to international and local mentors.
- A full spectrum of manufacturing services in Asia
- Sales and marketing strategies to help grow their businesses
- Support to develop their business models
- Negotiation mock sessions to improve skills in connecting with Investors
- Pitch practice and support to improve pitch decks and promo materials
- Multiple group and individual training sessions on technical feasibility, financial viability, and market desirability
Startups are eligible under the following criteria:
Early Stage Startups Track
- Product: Companies that are in the final stage of prototyping and have a functional minimum viable product or a 1st commercial version
- Market/Sales/Customers: Companies that aim to be in the market in 3–4 Months and launch their 1st pilots (paid/unpaid)
- Revenue: No revenue to early sales (LOIs preferred at minimum)
- Need support with: Finalising product development, fundraising and sales planning
Mid-Stage Startups Track
- Product: Companies that have released a product and are incorporating customer feedback for a second commercial version
- Market/Sales/Customers: Companies that are already in the market/acquiring customers
- Need support with: Commercial development and fundraising
In addition to funding received upon selection to the program, startups will benefit from access to Brinc and TCA’s extensive network of mentors, investors, corporates and industry experts.
To support growth beyond the program graduates will get a dedicated Portfolio management team.
“Brinc is excited to launch this program with TCA and showcase our further commitment to the development of high-quality startups in India. Over the years we have seen the potential of the Indian ecosystem and we have been impressed by the quality of startups we have worked with. We are happy that this opportunity expands and cements our presence in India allowing us to join our global network of resources with TCA’s to help motivated founders solve the most challenging problems that India is facing.”
– Mikhail Zenchenkov, Program Director for India, Brinc
Program thesis & focal areas
The program aims to be vertical agnostic supporting many high growth sectors with specialist tracks to be developed over time:
India has one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing FinTech markets. It has the highest FinTech adoption rate globally, an astonishing 87%. The Indian FinTech market is currently valued at $31 Bn and is expected to grow to $84 Bn by 2025. This makes it one of the most lucrative and fastest-growing spaces to invest in, and India is taking the market by storm with innovative startups.
The pandemic has accelerated the growth of the Indian health tech industry, which is expected to touch $5 Bn by 2023. This has generated a new wave of technology adoption resulting in projected market growth of $50 Bn by 2033. This widespread adoption of technology in healthcare will bring about a paradigm shift in access to healthcare by both consumers and businesses. The new health tech avenues are telemedicine, e-pharmacy, fitness, wellness, healthcare IT, analytics, home healthcare, and personal health management.
Farmers and food suppliers require innovative ideas to change how we grow and consume food products. The world’s population is expected to grow to 9.8 billion by 2050. It is set to consist of generations living much longer than previous averages. To accommodate, current food production will need to almost double. Yet, our current food production system is inefficient, unsustainable, and cannot be scaled to meet the growing demands of an ever-increasing global population.
Application Information
Interested startups may apply here and learn more through the links below.
AgriTech & FoodTech: https://www.brinc.io/accelerators/accelerators/agritech-india-program/
FinTech:
https://www.brinc.io/accelerators/accelerators/fintech-india-program/
HealthTech:
https://www.brinc.io/accelerators/accelerators/healthtech-india-program/
Application Deadline is Sep 27, 2021.
About Brinc
Brinc is a global venture accelerator that runs 15+ sector-focused programs across six global locations. Over the years, Brinc has developed unique methodologies in scouting, selecting, and accelerating innovative startups to deliver value to our partners. Brinc also values post-program support and provides invaluable assistance beyond the runtime of their programs. Among Brinc partners are global governments, corporations, investors, and startup graduates who have grown their ventures from pre-seed to Series A and beyond through the program.
Brinc has successfully run AgriTech, FoodTech and HealthTech programs out of Hong Kong and China for over five years, having graduated over 150 startups. Notable Indian startups include India’s first lab-grown meat company, Clear Meat, and MedTech company, Jetbrain Robotics, acquired by Solaris in June 2020.
They have recently added new programs in alternative proteins to make a mark on the road to circular economies. Their reach does not stop in Asia, and they are constantly expanding their network of partners across the globe. Among prominent relations in AgriTech and FoodTech are partnerships with the Good Food Institute, Lever VC, Future Health, Bio4Dreams, among Brinc’s MedTech partners.
Learn more at www.brinc.io.
About The Chennai Angels (TCA)
The Chennai Angels (TCA) is one of India’s leading Angel Investment Networks. In an effort to help a new generation of entrepreneurs, a group of prominent successful entrepreneurs came forward to form a consortium called The Chennai Entrepreneurship Trust Fund in Nov 2007, which is now The Chennai Angels (TCA). These members and those that followed have successfully built, run and in many cases exited enterprises across multiple domains.
Besides providing capital, TCA members act as mentors for those venturing into the business world. TCA has among its members several Venture Capitalists who are available to partner with TCA on more significant outlays. TCA investors can handhold the entrepreneur through the fundraising life cycle and open doors to customers and partners of a very high order. As of today, TCA has invested over INR 110 Cr across 60+ Startups. Learn more at https://www.thechennaiangels.com.
