The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has introduced BRIDGE (Business Revolution through Innovation, Digital Growth and Enterprise) to connect India’s growing startup ecosystem with established industries. This program aims to accelerate technology adoption and innovation partnerships by bringing startups and enterprises together. BRIDGE offers a structured pathway for collaboration with fixed timelines and measurable outcomes, facilitating access to emerging technologies for enterprises and market opportunities for startups.
KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika highlighted that BRIDGE will enable corporates and SMEs with annual revenues exceeding Rs 50 crore to adopt startup technologies, invest in innovative ventures, and enhance digital capabilities without extensive in-house R&D. The initiative targets over 500 corporate-startup partnerships, 100 technology adoptions, and investments exceeding Rs 250 crore into technology-driven startups over the next three years. Focused on sectors like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and more, BRIDGE will provide support mechanisms such as startup discovery, demo days, and investment matchmaking.
The program’s goal is to create a robust innovation pipeline by combining startup agility with established businesses’ market access. KSUM views BRIDGE as a strategic move towards deeper industry connections to drive commercial growth within Kerala’s expanding startup landscape. As the state’s nodal agency for entrepreneurship and technology-driven enterprises, KSUM has played a crucial role in positioning Kerala as a prominent startup hub, fostering the conversion of ideas into scalable businesses.
