The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has recently announced a call for start-ups to register on the Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience and Growth (MAARG) portal. This comes as the latest initiative to foster growth and innovation in India’s burgeoning start-up ecosystem.
Understanding the MAARG Portal
The MAARG portal serves as a National Mentorship Platform for Startup India. This comprehensive platform aims to provide guidance and mentorship to start-ups across various sectors, functions, geographies, and different professional backgrounds. The portal encourages collaboration and delivers personalized guidance to start-ups, thereby promoting a robust entrepreneurial culture in the country.
Main Features of the MAARG Portal
This innovative platform incorporates several key features designed to enhance user experience and optimize engagement. It offers well-structured mentorship programs for ecosystem enablers, ensuring that start-ups receive the right guidance and support. The portal has a mobile-friendly interface for user convenience and also provides recognition to mentors contributing their expertise and knowledge. Furthermore, the platform includes video and audio call options for seamless communication between mentors and start-ups.
Operationalization Phases of the MAARG Portal
The operationalization of the MAARG portal is divided into three phases. The first phase, involving the successful onboarding of over 400 expert mentors across diverse sectors, has already been executed. Phase II, which involves the onboarding of startups onto the MAARG Portal, commenced from 14th November 2022. The final phase entails the official launch of the MAARG Portal and matchmaking of mentors with the onboarded start-ups. DPIIT has begun the process of onboarding start-ups in this second phase.
Significance of the MAARG Portal for Start-ups
The MAARG portal holds great promise for start-ups, allowing them to connect effectively with industry experts, academicians, successful founders, seasoned investors, and other professionals across the globe. Through AI-based matchmaking, start-ups can receive personalized guidance and strategic advice crucial for their growth.
Startup India: Catalyzing Entrepreneurship
Startup India is a flagship initiative by the Government of India, aimed at fostering a start-up culture and establishing a strong, inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship. This scheme assists start-ups, or enterprises initiated by founders around a unique idea or problem with potential for substantial business opportunity and impact. Since its inception in 2016, Startup India has introduced several programs focused on supporting entrepreneurs and transforming India into a nation of job creators rather than job seekers. In 2022, India emerged as the third-largest start-up ecosystem globally, only behind the US and China.
