Idea of start-ups close to my heart: Modi :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Bharat Fund at the India-U.S. StartUp Konnect programme. It is aimed at providing seed funding to Indian entrepreneurs. Seven MoUs were also exchanged to boost startup-creation between India and the U.S.

As it happened (in IST):

4:50 am: Mr. Modi completes his speech.

4:50 am: The potential of youth and innovation can ignite partnership between India and US and give new content to our strategic partnership: Modi

4:45 am: A girl child in remote Indian village dreams of own projects when she sees start-ups of today: Modi

4:43 am: I am honoured to launch the Bharat Fund today – which stands not just for India, but also for Better Health, Agriculture, Renewables and Technology, says Modi.

4:41 am: We are giving highest importance to data security and cyber security: Modi

4:39 am: I want to see the idea of start-ups light up our economy and fortunes of Indians: Modi

4:37 am: I see start-ups not as a short term investment but a long term commitment: Modi

4:36 am: New ideas always displace old ones. Start-ups have always been the engines of progress: Modi

4:35 am: India's own system of start-ups is evolving rapidly: Modi

4:33 am: Today, the start-ups defy the natural rates of growth. An idea can become a global name within a year: Modi

4:32 am: Startups are as old as the world itself, says PM Modi.

4:31 am: When I shifted to Delhi last year, I thought of my government as a Start-up. So, I also saw some of the bumps you face on the road: Modi

4:30 am: Reid Hoffman, you and your product LinkedIn inspire many in India: Modi

4:29 am: The idea of start-ups is close to my heart: Modi

4:28 am: Mr. Modi begins his address.

4:27 am: Mr. Modi releases logo of Bharat Fund which will provide seed funding to Indian entrepreneurs.

4:21 am: Seven MoUs being exchanged to kick off boost in startup-creation in India-U.S. space

4:20 am: The key success of Silicon Valley is not start-ups but scale-ups, says LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman

4:15 am: What the PM is doing in terms of Digital India is great leadership: Reid Hoffman

4:13 am: Honour to be here today. Entrepreneurship is key to how new technology is developed: Reid Hoffman

4:08 am: The 'K' in Konnect signifies 1000s of startups to incubate, says B.V.R. Mohan Reddy of Nasscom.

4:04 am: Mr. Modi arrives at India-US StartUp Konnect.

4:03 am: The exhibition of Start-ups showcases products from 40 different companies.

4:00 am: Mr. Modi takes a photograph with the exhibitors at the event before taking a tour of the stalls.

3:52 am: The start-ups will exhibit products, prototypes and achievements to their investors and other potential Valley partners.

3:50 am: IT industry body Nasscom, TiE Silicon Valley, and IIM Ahmedabad’s CIIE India is hosting the first India-US Startup Konnect to showcase the strengths of India’s start-up ecosystem.

03:49 am: The India-US Startup Konnect 2015 is all set to receive the Prime Minister.

02:32 am: The India-US StartUp Konnect 2015 programme has begun. Prime Minister is expected to join shortly.

Source : The Hindu