Applications for the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator Program are now Open

MUMBAI, May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

~ Omidyar Network and Village Capital invite emerging entrepreneurs to be India's future game changers by developing new technological solutions to solve India's civic issues ~ 

Global philanthropic investment firm, Omidyar Network, in partnership with venture capital firm, Village Capital, announced today that applications are now being accepted for aspiring entrepreneurs in India to participate in a first-of-its kind initiative - the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program.

The six-month accelerator program will train and invest in early-stage civic engagement ventures in India by bringing together entrepreneurs, influencers, the government and potential funders, through forums and workshops. Following an intensive five-step process, the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program will then select a cohort of 6-12 ventures post the application using VIRAL, a proprietary evaluation framework developed by Village Capital.

"We are really excited about the growing potential of civic technology in India. To harness this opportunity, we want to support promising entrepreneurs, who are using tech to tackle some of India's most pressing social challenges, and to empower citizens to better engage with the government and their communities," said Bharath Visweswariah, Director for Governance and Citizen Engagement Investments at Omidyar Network in India.

Speaking about the collaboration with Omidyar Network, Deepak Menon, Regional Director, Emerging Markets, Village Capital, stated, "Governance and civic issues cut across several of Village Capital's focus areas such as health, education and environmental sustainability. Through the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program, Village Capital and Omidyar Network hope to catalyze the ecosystem for entrepreneurs in this space; supporting them to sustainably improve basic quality of life across populations and regions in India, and create impact at scale."

The selected cohort will receive support and training over a period of three to five months to hone their expertise, refine and improve their business models, and increase their scalability and impact.

This program has been designed to encourage Indian entrepreneurs to develop solutions to tackle the country's toughest civic and social challenges, which include infrastructure, education, health, sanitation, governance and administration among others.

Unleashing entrepreneurial creativity towards addressing these civic challenges will likely yield better and more durable solutions to these issues. It will also aid public involvement in critical decision-making processes. The use of civic technology can thereby help dramatically improve delivery of services to citizens and refine the government's overall responsiveness to civic issues. Through the Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program, Omidyar Network and Village Capital aim to support and further develop India's civic technology sector as a whole.

The Civic Tech India 2018 Accelerator program is now open for applications until Friday, June 15, 2018, till 5 PM IST. Interested applicants can find out more about the program and apply here.

About Omidyar Network 

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm, established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam. We create opportunity for people to improve their lives by investing in market-based efforts that catalyze economic and social change. In India, Omidyar Network focuses on helping the hundreds of millions of Indians in low-income and lower-middle-income populations, which we define as ranging from the poorest among us to the existing middle class.

Omidyar Network has committed more than $1 billion through equity investments in for-profit companies and grants to non-profit organizations that foster economic advancement and encourage individual participation across multiple areas, including digital identity, education, emerging tech, financial inclusion, governance & citizen engagement, and property rights.

To learn more, visit http://www.omidyar.com and follow on Twitter @omidyarnetwork #PositiveReturns

About Village Capital

Village Capital builds bridges for entrepreneurs who are creating an inclusive and sustainable world. Our programs connect high potential, early-stage entrepreneurs with the people, institutions, and capital they need to succeed. Since 2009, Village Capital has supported more than 1,000 entrepreneurs through our programs, and partnered with affiliated investment funds, including VilCap Investments, that have invested seed capital in more than 90 program graduates.

Media Contact:
Lynn Verghese
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FleishmanHillard for Omidyar Network