National Entrepreneurship Awards 2019: Three startups from Tamil Nadu get awards

CHENNAI: Three startups from Tamil Nadu and the state's Entrepreneurship Development & Innovation Institute (EDII) were awarded in the ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship (MSDE)'s National Entrepreneurship Awards 2019 on Saturday.
Out of the 36 awardees across various sectors in the startup category, three winners from Tamil Nadu are: IIT-Madras Incubation Cell's Planys Technologies, Sura- a Women Collective stitching unit in Cuddalore, and Sabariguru Repair Services, a home appliance repair centre founded by physically challenged entrepreneur Shaktivel.
Planys indigenously manufactures underwater robots/remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and has expanded its presence to execute projects in 11 states across the country in four years of operation.
Sura was formed by a group of seven mothers to meet the rising education costs of their children with micro credit supporting them to purchase the initial set of sewing machines and take up sewing tutorials. The team presently employees 10 women and generated a revenue of almost Rs 6 lakh last year.
Sabariguru Repair Services presently serves up to 10 customers a day at an average sale of Rs.400.
The startup awards consists of a cash prize of Rs 5,00,000 and a trophy.
EDII-TN was recognised for its exemplary work in supporting startups. Over 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs have already been educated though the institute. Their programs include basics of entrepreneurship to modern trends in technology.
EDII also has established nine manufacturing business incubators in the state. Their IEDP student entrepreneurship program, has seen enrolment from 500 colleges across Tamil Nadu.
EDII received cash prize of Rs 10,00,000 and a trophy.
The awards were conferred in the presence of Mahendra Nath Pandey, minister, MSDE, KP Krishnan, secretary, MSDE, Milind Kamble, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Jyotsna Sitling, Joint Secretary MSDE
“This year out of 6,098 applications received from across India, 654 were from Tamil Nadu, which was the third highest in the country. It’s wonderful to see huge number of start-ups and ecosystem builders of Tamil Nadu participating in National Entrepreneurship Award. It’ s a matter of pride and honour that 4 out of 37 winners are from TamilNadu” Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of IITM Incubation Cell, said.
IIT-Madras was the Lead Implementing partner along with the IITM Incubation Cell.