Hyderabad, July 17 (Reporter) T-Hub, India's leading innovation ecosystem, has announced a strategic partnership with Next Bharat Ventures, a Suzuki initiative, to drive rural innovation. This collaboration aims to support and empower impact entrepreneurs focused on creating value for rural India. Through this partnership, T-Hub will leverage its expertise and extensive network to amplify the reach and impact of Next Bharat Ventures' initiatives. The collaboration will include three key initiatives: strengthening the Next Bharat Residency Program with joint events, workshops, and mentorship; equipping entrepreneurs with leadership skills tailored to the rural Indian market; and supporting startups from Tier II and III cities to foster a more inclusive innovation ecosystem, a statement here said on Wednesday. Next Bharat Ventures plans to launch a 4-month immersive Next Bharat Residency Program for early-stage entrepreneurs committed to impacting rural and informal sectors in India. Applications are open until July 31, 2024, with the program starting on October 14, 2024. The application process is inclusive, allowing submissions via WhatsApp, and features a swift two-week review period. The program includes extensive mentorship sessions by industry leaders and offers equity investments ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore for selected startups. Previously, T-Hub supported the Suzuki Innovation Centre, a greenfield initiative of Suzuki Japan, which is now part of Next Bharat Ventures’ vehicles. Mahankali Srinivas Rao (MSR), CEO of T-Hub, stated, “Through our partnership with Next Bharat Ventures, we aim to address broad challenges in India beyond mobility, leveraging technology and design. This partnership will empower Indian entrepreneurs to scale globally, fostering homegrown technology startups with access to mentorship and guidance from T-Hub and Next Bharat Ventures.” The MoU was signed in the presence of Vipul Nath Jindal, Managing Director & CEO of Next Bharat Ventures, Ronit Kumar, Prathyusha Thammineni from Suzuki Motor Corporation, Sachin Ahuja from Next Bharat Ventures, Srinivas Rao Mahankali, CEO of T-Hub, Sujit Jagirdar, Avinash Kedari from T-Hub, and Sushovan Chatterjee, Innovation Consultant at T-Hub. Vipul Nath commented, “We aim to cultivate an impact entrepreneurship ecosystem that is deeply community-oriented. Our long-term ambition is to collaborate closely with stakeholders within the ecosystem, building compounded synergies. Our partnership with T-Hub will empower and nurture impact entrepreneurs with access to the T-Hub and Next Bharat ecosystems,” he added...////...