Villgro announces 4th edition of iPitch, a social startup discovery platform

• Villgro, the social enterprise incubator announced the launch of the 4th edition of its flagship event, iPitch 2020.
• Entrepreneurs will have a chance to receive seed funding and debt solutions ranging from Rs 35 Lakh to Rs 2 Crore each along with incubation, mentoring, and access to a technical assistance program.
• The applications for the fourth edition of iPitch are now open and the last date to apply is September 30.
• Over the last three years, iPitch received over 3,400 applications, funded 23 start-ups, and deployed around ₹7.44 crores in funding.

Villgro, the social enterprise incubator announced the launch of the 4th edition of its flagship event, iPitch 2020. iPitch is Villgro’s annual deal discovery platform that gets social entrepreneurs, incubators, and impacts investors to discover each other.

Through this platform, entrepreneurs working towards developing innovative and scalable solutions for the Bottom of the pyramid (BoP), will have a chance to receive seed funding and debt solutions ranging from Rs 35 Lakh to Rs 2 Crore each along with incubation, mentoring, and access to a technical assistance program

This year, Villgro has redesigned iPitch to make the platform more inclusive and beneficial for a wider audience. Especially as the world struggles to find its feet in the current scenarios, social startups are gaining more prominence. The applications for the program are now open and the last date to apply is September 30.

You can apply here: https://villgro.org/ipitch

The funding partners for iPitch this year are Upaya Social Ventures, Beyond Capital Fund, Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter: Habitat for Humanity, Shell Foundation, and Caspian Debt. The partners will invest in start-ups from the prototype to revenue stages in various sectors such as agriculture, livelihood and job creation, healthcare and clean energy.

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"iPitch 2020 helps social entrepreneurs gain access to funding, incubation, and mentorship through a single application form,” Srinivas Ramanujam, CEO, Villgro, said.

“This is an effort from our end to put all entrepreneurs, regardless of their background or exposure, on a leveled playing field,” added Ramanujam.

All startups that apply to iPitch will go through a screening process by the funding partners as well as the Villgro team and based on multiple parameters, startups will be shortlisted for the virtual pitch. These virtual pitches are based on the mandate given by each of the funding partners — basis what kind of entrepreneurs and solutions they are looking for and more.

Villgro will also be hosting an exclusive webinar for all iPitch applicants titled ‘Pitching to Perfection’. This webinar will help startups understand how to deliver a pitch that will attract the right enablers from the ecosystem. The webinar will be conducted in both English and Hindi, to coach the shortlisted entrepreneurs prior to the final virtual pitches.

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Villgro said shortlisted applicants would be informed by October end and the final list of start-ups being funded will be out in March next year.

Over the last three years, iPitch received over 3,400 applications, funded 23 start-ups, and deployed around Rs 7.44 crores in funding. Furthermore, it has partnered with more than 15 incubators and impact investors and received applications from over 64 cities from the country.

The last date to register for the programme is September 30, so apply now!

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