Capgemini, the Paris headquartered technology services major, will tap into the startup eco-system in India and soon launch its dedicated programme focused on accessing their innovative technologies.
By PP Thimmaya
Capgemini, the Paris headquartered technology services major, will tap into the startup eco-system in India and soon launch its dedicated programme focused on accessing their innovative technologies.Called the applied innovation exchange, Capgemini brings together the technology startups and its customers on one platform to forge partnerships. This programme was started a year ago in US and France and it has now started inviting the startups in India too.
Talking to FE, John Brahim, member of Capgemini group executive committee, on the engagement with startups, said, “This a two-way street as we offer them opportunities to piggyback on our corporate clients if they have great solutions and we can embed their technologies on our platforms.”
According to the Capgemini executive, there is a three-fold benefit through this partnership: startups immediately get more inputs on the requirement from customers, a go to market strategy and helps to gain new ideas on the IT major’s platform.
“Today any industry or company must be alert because they can be disrupted. We look at source of inspiration and innovation by leveraging the ecosystem of small startups,” Brahim said, while attending the Nasscom Leadership Forum here.The biggest challenge faced by technology startups today is the lack of access to markets and such partnerships expands their reach.
“We are taking cues from innovators to our corporate clients because they are not sure about the solution,” Brahim said.India is the third largest startup hub globally with presence of over 4,100 such firms in the country and growing. The government also unveiled a new policy focused on the startups which looks at reducing the number of regulations and providing fiscal incentives.
It is not Capgemini alone which is engaged with the startups as there are other non-technology global MNCs who are keen on such partnerships. Global retailing giant Walmart also has a programme where it intensively partners with startups.
The global retailer is already working with four Indian startups to develop the proof of concept and look at technologies which are likely to bring innovative capabilities for its e-commerce and supply chain projects. In India, Walmart kick started this initiative in October last year, though it does not have any dedicated fund focused on startups.
