In the past few years, the startup culture in India has grown multi-fold. The young
innovators and entrepreneurs have generated job opportunities by lakhs thereby fueling the country’s trillion-dollar economy.

A good part of this culture is actually thriving in states like Bihar that were once called backward. As the Bihar government is providing hassle-free funds under the new startup policy of 2022, the Department of Industries is taking various initiatives to create an environment for innovation in the state. 
One such initiative is B-Hub which aims at providing all that is needed for any startup to grow.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, Sandeep Poundrik who is Additional Chief
Secretary, Industries (Bihar) talked about how the state is an emerging startup eco-system.

POTENTIAL AND ENERGY

The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India, released
Startup Ranking-2021. For which, 31 States and Union Territories were assessed for
their performance under the States’ Startup Ranking Framework.
They were ranked under five categories — Best Performer, Top Performers, Leaders, Aspiring Leaders, and Emerging Startup Ecosystems. 
Along with Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram and Ladakh, Bihar was also recognised as Emerging Startup Ecosystems.

Speaking to IM Mr. Poundrik said, “We have made the ecosystem fast, startup-friendly and flexible. Startups get funding within 45 days of application.” The B-Hub was inaugurated by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on 8th February, 2023. It is a co-working cum mentoring facility supported by Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, and managed by CIMP Business Incubation and InnovationFoundation (CIMP-BIIF).
Currently, there is one such facility situated in Patna Mouryalok complex. In the coming times,
government is planning to expand B-Hubs to other districts of Bihar to boost startup and
innovation ecosystem in the state.

OFFICE SPACE AND ASSISTANCE

Under B-hub, any startup registered in Bihar can get seats and office space on daily/
monthly and yearly basis. It has all the facilities from WiFi to conference hall with audio-visual facility. 
Apart from this it also aims to assist in services like Market Linkage assistance, Investor’s Connect programs, Session for Pitch deck preparation, Session with
Unicorn start-ups/ Industrialists, Mentorship session, Enterprise Resource Planning.

Talking about it the officer said, “Bihar youth has immense energy and potential to convert
their innovative ideas into business. The government is working on improving the startup
ecosystem. “We have developed B-Hub for this purpose which is a platform where startups
can exchange knowledge, ideas and get support from the experts.”He also mentioned that the department is developing an ecosystem in Bihar which will take the
startup scene to the next level in which B-Hub will make a mark.