An interactive session with startups in Bengaluru, India
Bengaluru - Many of the startups are founded and run by individuals who were previously employed in UAE but quit to start their own businesses.
By Sunita Menon (Web Editor)
Published: Mon 8 Feb 2016, 10:53 AM
Last updated: Tue 9 Feb 2016, 12:44 AM
Young entrepreneurs from Bengaluru, the IT hub of India, are looking at the Middle East, especially UAE to enter into partnerships.
In an interactive session with the UAE media delegation currently in Bengaluru, the startup founders said that the UAE's decision to move away from an oil-based economy to a knowledge-based economy is quite vital in providing services that are more innovative in nature.
Recently, the UAE Cabinet issued directives to prepare an integrated national literacy strategy to produce a reading generation and establish the UAE as the capital of content, culture and knowledge.
"Among our various geographic regions that we operate, our third largest market is the UAE currently," said Gerald Jaideep, Chief Operating Officer, SimplyLearn.
What is a Startup?
Start ups are smaller versions of large companies that initially financed and operated by the founders and slowly developing itself into a large company.
The objective is to provide innovative products and services that are not found in the market or are not up to the mark as per the fast changing market trends.
|
"We are the largest certification training company in the world. We don't have a physical presence there. But a lot of learners come into our platform get certified and get ahead in their careers. The region as such has a lot fo interest to us. What we are keen on is exploring partnerships with universities and colleges in a segment to enable graduates to have better job prospects when they get out of their program and be more relevant to the modern technology industry."
Divum Corporate Services that develops mobile apps in India is an eight-year-old startup which grew from just two people to 100 staff and is currently rated among the top three mobile apps developers in the country.
"Vaideeswaran.S, the founder and CEO of the company said: "We work with the major brands in the media, travel and the e-commerce industries. In India, we also have partnerships with Microsoft, Nokia, Blackberry, Samsung and Google. Our interest in coming into UAE market is also very much there. We actually spoke to Microsft, Dubai and try to enter into the market. One of entry barrier we have is the business development local partners, who can talk in the local language but we definitely see big opportunities over there."
With the focus shifting to talent development by countries in the Middle East, Rajiv, founder and CEO of Knolskape a Gamification company said: "It is the right environment for startups to tap the market expand their services. What we are trying to do is, by making use of gamification, mobile and analytics we are trying to make learning fun, we are trying to make learning anytime and anywhere and we are also trying to make learning impactful and actionable to analytics."
The company works with 130 plus clients across eight countries including the UAE and is headquartered in Singapore. "The next stop for us is the Middle East. We are looking at exploring the market."
Text, photos and videos by Sunita Menon sunita@khaleejtimes.com
Sunita Menon is part of the media delegation accompanying His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on his visit to India.
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
