T-Hub, Israel centre ink pact for agritech start-ups

The Dollar Business Bureau

India's largest incubator for startups T-Hub has partnered with StarTau, the entrepreneurship centre of Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel. T-Hub CEO Jay Krishnan signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the TAU Innovation Conference on Wednesday. 

As per the MoU, India and Israel would launch an accelerator programme as a part of T-Hub’s T-Challenge programme charter focussing on the growth of startups in the agritech sector. The programme will start in October this year.

Jay Krishnan represented the startup ecosystem of India at the conference. He spoke about the opportunities and challenges that start-ups in the country face. He also stressed that the Israeli innovation corridor is a major opportunity for India and T- Hub is making its efforts in the fields of HealthTech, AgriTech and Data Sciences through its curated programmes.

With this partnership, T-Hub is looking forward to see the entrepreneurs from India and Israel to co-create new opportunities in the global markets. T-Hub has signed an agreement with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) last month. This will act as an illustrative programme to go live in the AgriTech space through digital interventions, he said.

As per the MoU with StarTau, five entrepreneurs from Israel can utilise the agritech research findings of ICRISAT in Hyderabad. In return, five innovators from T-Hub will get a chance to explore the TAU startup ecosystem.

In association with TAU, T-Hub is initiating HealthTech programmes too. Through its T-Source programme, T-Hub will invite leading HealthTech startups from Israel to take part in its pre-acceleration programmes. These programmes will act as a feeder for T-Hub’s accelerator concentrating on HealthTech.

The future activities of T-Hub include - engaging with Matimop, an R&D centre of Israel to develop a market exploration structure for Telangana, and associate with TAU’s Pears programme to organise a 36-hour bi-national hackathon in July. It is also a regional partner in the 45-day programme focussing on affordable healthtech.

The hackathon will take place in India and Israel at the same time. National academic organisations, healthcare providers, investors and corporate firms will act as knowledge partners to mentor the teams participating in this event.