Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge unveils 2 flagship startup programs
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday launched two flagship startup programs 'ELEVATE 2024' and KAN (Karnataka Acceleration Network).
According to officials, ELEVATE 2024 is a grant-in-aid seed funding scheme designed to empower early-stage startups in the state.
KAN is an acceleration network that provides mentorship, market access, and funding opportunities for growth startups across the state, with a focus on regions beyond Bengaluru.
At the launch, Kharge emphasised the state's commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship.
Karnataka has long been a leader in fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem, and both ELEVATE and KAN are specifically crafted to provide a structured pathway for growth, the Minister said.
"Bengaluru is home to 45 unicorns out of the 112 in the country, with a total valuation of USD 161 billion. Our goal is to break into the top three rankings in the world. We are confident that ELEVATE and KAN together will empower startups to tackle funding challenges, scale their operations, and solidify Karnataka's reputation as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship," he said.
The Minister also unveiled the event app for the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, to be held next month.
The app, which is designed to offer registered delegates, exhibitors, and speakers an immersive and streamlined experience throughout the summit, is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms, officials said.
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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
