Meet The Five Finalists Of The Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge

Inc42- 18th June 2019

As a part of the Startup India-WhatsApp Grand Challenge, five Indian startups were granted $50K each at the Live Pitch Day conducted today on June 18. The winning startups include telemedicine startup MedCords, virtual reality content platform Melzo, WhatsApp-based conversational AI company Javis, agritech platform Gramophone, and energy saving product company MinionLabs.Speaking at the event, WhatsApp India head, Abhjit Bose said, “There are many forms and areas in which WhatsApp can and will invest in the Indian ecosystem. One of which is helping empower and scale India’s innovation through a home grown startup ecosystem, which we launched WhatsApp Startup Grand Challenge.” Further, Ramesh Abhishek, secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in his opening remarks, stressed on the importance of startups in strengthening both economy and society. He also said added that the government is committed to simplifying the business ecosystem to support the growth of startups in India Other startups that pitched at the event included agritech startup MyCrop, edtech platform ThinkZone, language learning startup Multibhashi, fitness platform Squats, and textile marketplace Fabric Monde. The live pitch was judged by a panel of marquee investors from the Indian startup ecosystem including Deep Kalra, founder, MakeMyTrip, Vani Kola, founder Kalaari Capital,Shailesh Lakhani, managing director of Sequoia Capital, Harsha Kumar, partner at Lightspeed Ventures, and WhatsApp’s Bose.
MinionLabs Founded by Gokul Shrinivas, and Jeyakumar in 2017, MinionLabs helps businesses reduce electricity costs, leveraging a machine learning approach, and improving productivity by providing real-time electricity consumption insights. The Bengaluru-based company claimed to have helped businesses save 12-16% on their annual electricity costs. The company counts companies such as OYO, CISCO, Fortis, Cowrks, and Saudi’s Aramco as its clients.

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About MinionLabs

MinionLabs is the World Leader in Energy Efficiency for Cities, Businesses, and Consumers for the Internet of Things. Our Artificial Intelligence-based products, systems, and services enable our users to be energy efficient, reduce carbon footprint, prevent climate change and make people’s lives safer and comfortable, and businesses more productive and cities more livable in a sustainable way. Visit us at www.minionlabs.tech