Do you think you can you solve the ever-evolving challenges in various social domain?
Are you aspiring to be the change and create social impact ? Have social impact issues always bothered you? Do you have an innovation that can make life easier for people around you? Are you looking for a platform that can give shape to your unique innovative idea ?Do you always find a different approach to address a larger social problem but are unsure how to go about it? Have you been looking for an opportunity to be the change?If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, it is time to innovate and be a changemaker with Digital Impact Square.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
#DISQovery2023 BY DIGITAL IMPACT SQUARE
Digital Impact Square (DISQ), A TCS Foundation Initiative, is an open social innovation platform designed to enhance the lives of citizens. It is an online platform with a physical presence at Nashik, Maharashtra. The platform encourages innovation using digital technologies, to address the needs of citizens through their voice and that of the local administration, government, and industry.
Digital Impact Square’s ‘DISQovery 2023’ initiative in partnership with Startup India, is looking for teams of Young Innovators with an entrepreneurial bent of mind, who want to turn an idea or a concept into a successful social enterprise. They should be willing to commit for the next 12-18 months to further their cause in the areas of Assistive Technology, AgriTech, Health & Wellness Tech and Sustainability Tech Solutions. An early-stage startup, which is keen on growing and scaling its innovation will also be a perfect fit for the program.
PROGRAM DETAIL
DETAILED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We are looking for passionate teams /social entrepreneurs who want to bring in a change and create an impact in society through digital innovations.
Apply ONLY if you are:
1. Any Individual or a team (two or more) that has an innovative Idea with detailed problems or ideas validated with beneficiaries and a Prototype or MVP that addresses the existing challenges.
2. The Idea/ Prototype / MVP should use the Digital Technologies.
3. Founding members of the team are less than 27 years of age and should not be currently employed. If there are team members that are older and augmenting the team, do mention that.
4. Passion and commitment to grow and scale creating social impact thereby influencing lives positively.
5. The initiative is ideally in the pre-revenue stage. A team who has received Prize Money or Grants may apply by providing the details about the funding organization.
igital Impact Square (DISQ), A TCS Foundation Initiative, is an open social innovation platform designed to enhance the lives of citizens. It is an online platform with a physical presence at Nashik, Maharashtra. The platform encourages innovation using digital technologies, to address the needs of citizens through their voice and that of the local administration, government, and industry.
TIMELINE
PROBLEM STATEMENT
INNOVATE FOR ASSISTIVE-TECH SOLUTIONS
Digital Impact Square’s ‘DISQovery 2023’ is looking for innovators who may have detailed conceptual idea / early prototype / MVP using digital technologies (such as IoT, Mobile/ Web, AI / ML, Sensors etc), in the space of Assistive Technology that aim to address one or more of the disabilities listed in the RPWD Act including but not limited to: Adaptive technology, Occupational Therapy, Mobility Impairments, Visual and Hearing Impairments, Cognitive Impairments, Digital Learning Platform, Rehabilitation Solutions, Addressing Socializing needs.
INNOVATE FOR AGRI-TECH SOLUTIONS
Digital Impact Square’s ‘DISQovery 2023’ is looking for innovators and entrepreneurs with transformative and innovative ideas, technologies that address a set of challenges faced by the small and marginal farmers, farmer producer companies, agriculture value chain and farmer collectives In India. Selected Innovators and entrepreneurs will be part of DISQ JAN 2023 Cohort for their journey for creating sustainable and scalable social enterprise in Agri-Tech.
INNOVATE FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS SOLUTIONS
Digital Impact Square’s ‘DISQovery 2023’ is calling for early-stage (pre-revenue) startups and innovators in the space of Health and Wellness Technology – Mental Health (MH), Traditional Indian Medicine (TIM), Augmenting Healthcare Resources (AHR) to apply for this opportunity for pre-incubation. DISQ aims to bring together an ecosystem of researchers, practitioners, healthcare professionals and other NGO partners who will be made available to the selected team to probe, co-create, pilot and scale their entrepreneurial efforts in the mentioned areas.
INNOVATE FOR SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Digital Impact Square’s ‘DISQovery 2023′ is calling innovators and early-stage (pre-revenue) startups who may have detailed conceptual idea / early prototype / MVP using digital technologies (such as IoT, Mobile/ Web, AI / ML, Sensors etc), that aims to deliver solutions for addressing sustainability challenges.
India is facing its own severe environmental & sustainability challenges. These challenges can be effectively addressed by indigenous adapted solutions in local ecosystems with stakeholder support. DISQ aims to bring together an enabling ecosystem to probe, co-create, pilot and scale selected team’s entrepreneurial efforts in the area of sustainability.
INCENTIVES
FISCAL INCENTIVES
Financial support – Milestone based
NON-FISCAL INCENTIVES
1. Access to a vast ecosystem of partners across multiple domains including Industry, Academia, Government, and NGOs
2. Mentorship – One on one coaching and mentoring by highly experienced coaches from DISQ
3. Mentoring by industry and domain experts
4. Pre-incubation support to refine your MVP
5. Build a multi-disciplinary team with Technical, Design, and MBA interns
6. Pilot opportunities with Ecosystem partners
7. Support for IP/ Startup registration
SPECIAL INCENTIVES
Post Incubation Support:
– Enable Grants for Incubated teams from various funding agencies.
– Grow stage incubation support from Partnered Incubator programs
PROCEDURE POST SUBMISSION
Step 1 – Complete the Application form on Startup India Portal
Step 2 – DISQ team will connect for further evaluation
Step 3 – Final shortlisting for DISQovery 2023, list will be released by the second week of December.
Step 4 – Confirmation and onboarding for DISQovery 2023 – Probe Phase 1- Innovation Bootcamp
The probe phase is divided into two sub-phases:
Phase 1 – Bootcamp – Problem Fit (14 weeks – Starts in January 1st week)
This phase will end with each team pitching their enhanced MVP to a panel of domain experts and DISQ for selection into the DISQ Incubation Program.
Phase 2 – Incubation Phase – Solution Fit (May – July)
This phase will end with a pitch for evaluation and promotion of teams to the next phase where they will get additional funding and build a sustainable social enterprise.
For additional questions write to us on digital.impactsquare@tcs.com
You can also follow us on Facebook and twitter, Instagram (@DigitalImpactSq) and send us a message or a tweet there. Visit our website (https://www.digitalimpactsquare.com) for more details.
For any additional information please contact: Vanita: +91 7486894852
You may also be interested in :
Call for Decade Actions On Sustainable Blue Foods & Ocean Economy
Never miss a story. Join us on social.