Viacom18 joins Startup India to increase outreach among young entrepreneurs

Media major Viacom18 and DIPP have joined hands for the Start Up India initiative to launch an outreach programme aimed at young entrepreneurs. Under the MTV KICKSTART programme, the company will launch an annual programme to bridge the gap between ideas and investors, Viacom18 said in a statement.

MTV KICKSTART will work towards educating the youth about the ecosystem of startups, it added.

The programme aims to educate through personal and informal interactions with start-up kings, investors and advisory, it added.

"The multi-platform programme will help us engage with the dynamic youth of India, help them start-up with ease and inspire a new generation to follow their dreams and become successful entrepreneurs," said Amitabh Kant, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

The programme will also deliver engaging and interactive content through television, web, mobile and social media. Viacom18 Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats said, "We now wish to extend the catalyst role to the startup space as well by being a part of the journey of young entrepreneurs."

The initiative will start with an outreach plan that will run through 52 weeks, reaching out to 300 colleges across the country and heavy media buzz across TV and Digital.

MTV along with #StartUpIndia will be hosting Startup Festivals (2 day event) across tier-I and tier-II cities to allow youth to have a personal interaction with top entrepreneurs and investors, it said. There will also be a reality TV show featuring youngsters competing for funding, it added.