Dimapur, Jan. 6: A day packed with enthusiasm and pool of knowledge, ‘NE8x Dimapur’ offered the much required platform for local entrepreneurs to share their stories of success, opinions and prospective growth models under one roof.
NE8x is a consultancy agency based in Guwahati, Assam, and Northeast India’s first exclusive start-up accelerator platform for community convention initiated by Roy Riddhinil.
Riddhinil accompanied by MD Nazim Ahmed, Assam Head of NE8x, organised programme at AK Food & Café, Dimapur, on ‘Entrepreneurship development for Nagaland I beyond’ for all the Northeast India start ups/entrepreneurs based in Nagaland Region.
Riddhinil shared the idea behind organising NE8x community convention to develop community interaction and discover ideas from one another. Riddhinil pointed out, ‘our own people are sceptical of buying one’s own local products and for which entrepreneurs need to create a label to grow and reach out.’
Manager of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Dimapur, who was also present, said MSME in the State is still in initial stage and asserted the need to start MSME from grassroot levels. He said SIDBI bank do not give loan directly to entrepreneurs but only through incubators. While pointing out that Nagaland is still yet to start incubators, he however assured that once incubation centre comes up in the State, SIDBI will extend possible assistance. Stating that marketing linkage in Nagaland is a hurdle for entrepreneurs, he persuaded the entrepreneurs to start small by making money gradually and eventually give up to which he expressed as ‘Naga’s mentality.’
The local entrepreneurs during the course of interaction put across ‘logistics’ - a setback for entrepreneurs to execute their trade. ‘People from across the country and abroad are willing to invest but logistics setback get in the way of local entrepreneurs to complete the transaction,’ shared local entrepreneurs who have already created a niche for themselves in the State markets.
There is a need to expand logistics support in other districts and not only confine to Dimapur and Kohima, opined Riddhinil. Through this, he said local entrepreneurs spread out across the State including rural areas can get the platform to reach out with their ideas at least in the region.
The affair was concerning on expanding collaborations with start-ups from one’s region and discovering infinite opportunities to the next level. NE8x aims to provide free resources and guide how their services can help entrepreneurs build their brand from Nagaland itself.
The event was powered by Fusion, Preciousmelove, Runway, The Indian Awaz, ilandlo, YouthNet and Nagaland Start-ups.
