HYDERABAD: In a major fillip to the Telangana government’s plans to develop the state as the prime destination for information technology (IT) start-ups in the country, three software majors - Microsoft, Google and Cisco - have evinced interest in partnering with the prestigious startup incubator centre, the T-Hub.

The response from the IT majors has been gladdening for the state and the IT department that the authorities expect this will encourage more firms to join the project. “We are in touch with these companies. They are planning to extend four to five essential services to the young entrepreneurs,” sources within the IT department told Express.

Microsoft has agreed to provide its software at discount rate to the start-ups and send tech leaders to help them. This will provide an opportunity to the entrepreneurs to directly interact with the leaders in the industry who developed various outstanding technologies, sources said.

Similarly, the T-Hub is likely to sign an MoU with Cisco and some major players soon. These IT giants will provide mentor services, arrange workshops and discussions on technologies and help the start-ups to grow, the sources added.

“We have received 400 applications from young entrepreneurs expressing willingness to launch start-ups at T-Hub,” informed T-Hub chief executive officer Jayakrishnan. Out of the 400 applications, two are from the US, he added.

The idea of the T-Hub is to encourage young entrepreneurs to start their own firms. “The T-Hub will provide space for each start-up to accommodate a maximum of 14 employees. We expect the start-ups to grow and move out of the T-Hub within a year after making their presence felt in the IT industry. This will provide another start-up to join the T-Hub and utilise the opportunity,” Jayakrishnan explained.

As part of the first phase, the government has provided 70,000 sq feet space at the T-Hub. “The T-Hub is a unique project in the country as it assists start-ups to establish themselves quickly,” opined T-Hub chief operating officer (COO) Srinivas Kollipara.

Herculean task ahead

The T-Hub has a Herculean task ahead, for it has to support the start-ups to survive. Worldwide, the performance of start-ups is not healthy as 90 per cent of the firms perish unable to withstand the competition.