AWS and iTNT Hub collaborate to nurt ure generative
AWS and iTNT Hub collaborate to nurtu re generative AI innovation among start ups in Tamil Nadu
Chennai July 15, 2024: Amazon Web Se rvices (AWS) India Private Limited* tod ay announced that it is supporting Tamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub to launch a generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) sta rtup hub program, that will focus on acc elerating the development of generative AI solutions for public-centric initiatives through the startup ecosystem in Tamil Nadu. The program will enable startups to collaborate with the industry to build public sector-focused solutions using ge nerative AI, and will solicit and shortlist startups building solutions for governm ent, healthcare, education, and non-pro fit sectors operating in the AI, generativ e AI, and deep-tech space. This new initi ative was announced during ‘Generative AI Startup–Venture Capital’ mixer event held by AWS and iTNT Hub in Chennai.
iTNT as an innovation hub was establish ed by the Ministry of Electronics and Inf ormation Technology (MeitY, Governme nt of India), and Information Technology and Digital Services Department (IT&DS , Government of Tamil Nadu), with indu stry support. The Hub located in Anna U niversity, Chennai, is focused on buildin g a unique deep tech innovation networ k in Tamil Nadu by leveraging the comb ined strengths of startups, innovators, a cademia, government, and industry lead ers. This new program will provide me n torship to founders emerging from incu bation programs of more than 570 engin eering colleges affiliated with Anna Uni versity.
The generative AI startup hub program a ims to support startups and innovator s at all stages of maturity, including inco rporated startups, mature startups, indi vidual innovators, and pre-incorporated teams. Startups in incubation will have t he opportunity to access research oppor tunities for industry collaboration, secto ral guidance to drive market disruption, and funding avenues.
“AWS recognizes the transformative pot ential of generative AI, the value it can o ffer to public sector organisations and ci tizens, and the role that startups can pl ay in accelerating innovation and deve loping solutions for adoption,” said Sunil PP, Lead – Channels and Alliances, Publi c Sector, AWS India Private Limited*. “By collaborating with iTNT Hub, we ai m to nurture a startup community that has core capabilities and strengths in ge nerative AI, accelerate innovation using generative AI, and help public sector org anisations implement solutions that can create positive and scalable impact in so ciety.
Startups eligible for this program will re ceive a range of benefits to enable their growth. They will be able to build a stro ng technical foundation by leveraging th e expertise and resources from AWS, th e world’s most comprehensive and broa dly adopted cloud platform. Each eligibl e startup will receive up to USD $10,000 in AWS credits to experiment and build with more than 240 fully featured servic es on AWS, including innovative genera tive AI services and solutions such as A mazon Bedrock, Amazon Q, Amazon Sa geMaker, AWS Trainium, AWS Inferent ia, among others. AWS will also explore the possibility of onboarding startups to the AWS Partner Network (APN), subje ct to the fulfilment of eligibility criteria, which can enable these organisations wi th product acceleration, and market acc ess and expansion.
iTNT Hub will further support the ident ified startups through its technical expe rtise and mentorship, guidance on busin ess and funding fundamentals, and setti ng up industry connects for startups to understand market opportunities and b uild their solutions.
“iTNT Hub is dedicated to harnessing Tamil Nadu’s vast tech capability and fostering research, development and innovation across the state. This excit ing collaboration with AWS gives star tup founders access to mentorship, res ources, and a community for the devel opment of citizen-driven generative AI solutions. Collaborating with a global te chnology leader like AWS gives us acce ss to the latest technology, innovation methodologies, and best practices, and enables startups to jumpstart their inno v ation and growth journey with subjec t-matter expertise on cloud and gener ative AI,” said Vanitha Venugopal, CEO, iTNT Hub. “Through this program, we as pire to strengthen the entrepreneurial environment for startups across Tamil N adu, and empower those based in locati ons which typically have limited access to resources.”
The generative AI startup hub program will enable startups through webinars, t echnical workshops, and masterclas se s. Selected startups will also benefit fro m industry connects, roadshows, hacka thons, and customer engagements. The program will be governed by a steering management committee comprising exe cutives from AWS India and iTNT Hub. Interested startups can read more here.
