Flipkart launches its first startup accelerator programme, Flipkart Leap

Flipkart has launched its first startup accelerator programme to help new and upcoming startups in the country. Under the Flipkart Leap programme, the homegrown e-commerce company will focus on B2C and B2B startups. Entries for interested startups have already opened.

Flipkart aims to cover startups based out of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in the country. The startups can also win an equity-free grant of $25,000 ( ₹18 lakh approximately). Eligibility for the participants include India as the origin country and should have a working prototype with early adoption metrics.

Post the completion of the program, the final participants of Flipkart Leap will pitch their successful model to investors, corporates and other ecosystem players on the demo-day and may also be considered for funding by Flipkart.

Under the 16-day virtual programme, Flipkart’s leadership which includes business, operations, and product, and technology will mentor the shortlisted startups. Industry experts will also participate in the programme.

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Flipkart has identified as many as five themes namely Digital Commerce, Technologies to Empower the Retail Ecosystem, Supply Chain Management & Logistics and Enabling Relevant Deep Tech applications.

Flipkart says the focus of the programme is to bring digitisation and tech advancement and tech advancement in these areas. The company has also partnered with Zinnoy to conduct the programme.

“The transformation of the startup ecosystem in India over the years has paved the way for the country to become home to some of the best startup journeys. There is a growing talent pool of entrepreneurs who are going above and beyond to bring their solutions to the market. As a company that has undergone that phase and built its success playbook, we wanted to utilize our network to build a program that helps startups in these early stages to evolve and become successful brands in future,” said Jey Venugopal, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Flipkart in a release.