In a Facebook Live session in 2017, Mark Zuckerberg was asked why and how he is so successful. His reply was as candid as can be – “You don’t get to be successful like this just by being hard working or having a good idea.”
“You have to get lucky in today’s society in order for that to happen. And that, I think, is a huge issue.” He continued to say that he wants everyone to have the opportunity to be entrepreneurial.
Ask any entrepreneur and they would easily tell you – mentorship and coaching in the early days of launching a startup play a huge role in helping you get that jumpstart. As a startup, no help is too small, and a mentor who asks a lot of tough questions in the beginning is only making sure you don’t end up answering too many wrong ones later!
Startup incubators or accelerators also provide a solid headstart to get off the ground. These collaborative cohort-based programmes offer access to expert advice, peer groups, and educational components. In simple words, they help new companies build their business.
Big companies have recognised the potential of working with startups – be it for innovation or attracting talent. And one way they support the ecosystem is by running their own incubation programmes.
YourStory has curated a list of accelerator programmers organised by top tech giants to promote startups. Here’s a quick look at what they offer –
WhatsApp Incubator Programme
In December 2021, WhatsApp announced an incubator programme for organisations to build solutions for healthcare issues.
“The programme aims to identify 10 selected organisations tackling critical health issues. They will be guided through a design thinking-led process to build a deeper understanding and applicability of their WhatsApp-powered solution,” WhatsApp said in an official statement.
The programme allows registrations for NGOs, startups, entrepreneurs, and other organsations that have innovative ideas to solve issues of general immunisation, maternal health, and mental health among others. Through the incubator programme, organisations will be provided with technical support in order to prototype, design, and pilot their health use cases.
PayPal Incubator program
Founded in 2013, the PayPal Incubator program in partnership with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) offers a conducive, innovative and nurturing environment for early-stage startups to grow at PayPal’s Technology Centre in Chennai, with access to technology mentors, business, investors and subject matter experts.
The programme aims to make an impact and support the creation of the next generation of fintech startups in India.
Source: yourstory.com
