2016-08-25
Your victory makes whole Georgia victorious, since our country relies on you, - Prime Minister of Georgia addressed finalists of Startup Georgia.
High-tech component of the state program "Startup Georgia" that supports innovative business development has 51 finalists. Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili attended the closing ceremonial of high-tech component and congratulated finalists on their victory.
According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, for the first time in the country's history, it has finalists of Startup Georgia. Giorgi Kvirikashvili expressed hope that program will encourage entrepreneurial spirit in Georgia and will enable youth to launch own business.
"Completely groundbreaking methodology employed by this initiative gives young, innovative and active people an access to funding without having to provide any collateral and based solely on the criterion of worthiness of business idea. I am glad to see eagerness of so many young people. I would like to congratulate you on being here today, on becoming finalists. In My opinion, this program, that represents part of Government's 4-point reform plan, is the most important. This program encourages entrepreneurial spirit and enables youth to launch own business activity ad change mindset of whole generation. Today it is possible to develop a worthy, innovative idea and start a business through not only banking sector, but via Startup Georgia as well," - Prime Minister noted.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, finalists will enjoy maximum state support. He also thanked everyone who participated in development and implementation of the program.
"Today we have 51 finalists out of which 20 will be selected. However, each of them is a winner, since they will enjoy important state support. I would like to thank Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency and Partnership Fund of Georgia for brilliant execution of the program. I would also like to thank international experts who made this program possible. International experts compared startup dynamics with that of European countries and indicated that Georgia has quite high dynamics, which is a welcoming fact. Mother and child, grandfather and grandchild are among the finalists, spectrum of ideas of the finalists is quite wide," - Prime Minister noted.
More than 720 applications have already been submitted within the frames of Startup Georgia. International experts of Silicon Valley selected 51 best ideas out of around 150 applications. Out of 51 finalists 20 winners were identified. Each of them will be funded with 100 00 GEL. Ambassador of Slovakia Rudolf Michalka handed certificates of one week internship in Slovakia to 5 winners. Finalists were gives the symbol of Startup Georgia manufactured in Techno Park.
High-tech startups encompass fields including: aerospace production, cars, artificial intellect, biotechnologies, bioinformatics, computer engineering, computer science, informational technologies, nanotechnologies, nuclear physics, electromagnetic radiation, robotics, semiconductors and telecommunications. State funding allocated at the first stage is 11 million GEL that will be used to fund innovative and high-tech startups. For the purpose of funding more startups in the future the program budget may increase to up to 35 million GEL.
Prime Minister's Press Office