Demand your rights, KSUM CEO tells women

Women must demand their rights instead of requesting for them, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) CEO Mr Tapan Rayaguru said today, noting that female entrepreneurs continue to be largely ignored or under-considered.

“KSUM provides everything to start investment. All what aspiring female entrepreneurs need to do is to apply to us,” he said at a #ChooseToChallenge programme organised by the nodal agency on the International Women’s Day. “Rarely do endeavours succeed in the first attempt. Expert advice and lessons from experience are key to victory in any field.”

KSUM Technical Officer Mr Varun G, addressing the special event at the amphitheatre of the Integrated Startup Complex in Kalamassery , said the organization lends Rs 12 as innovation grant for realizing marketable products from novel ideas. Also KSUM provides low-interest seed fund grants of Rs 20 lakh, angel investment and venture capital.

The session (www.bit.ly./ksum8marchvirtual), which was held to promote a culture of protest against gender-related injustices, was addressed by actress Kukku Parameswaran, AWE (Achieving Women Equity) Funds founder and Chair Ms Seema Chaturvedi, Weavers Village founder Sobha Viswanath, Me Met Me Wellness founder CEO Nuthan Manohar, Thanmatra Innovations Co-Founder Dr Anjana Ramkumar, make-up artist Renju Renjimar, Advocate Santhi Priya of Kerala High Court, Channel I’m Founder Nisha Krishnan and media professionals Nisha Purushothaman and Geetha Jayaraman.
Other speakers included Dr Ramalatha Marimuthu of the IEEE Computer Society, Leopard Tech Labs Director Prof Rino Laly Jose and Dr Nirmala Padmanabhan, Associate Professor at St Theresa’s College, Ernakulam.