Target India launches start-up accelerator programme

The Target India start-up accelerator programme will annually incubate four or five start-ups in the mobile, social media and big data analytics spaces, providing funding of up to $30,000 each, in cash and operational expenses. Photo: Mint

The Indian arm of US retailer Target, Target India launched its Target Accelerator Programme in Bangalore to incubate and provide mentoring to its first batch of five technology start-ups. Target will provide funding of up to $30,000 in cash and operational expenses to each of its incubated ventures. 

About Target Accelerator Programme (TAP)

• Objective: Target’s program is designed to help early-stage startups to develop ideas that could improve the retail giant’s business and the broader retail industry.
• Focus: on incubating startups operating in the areas of mobile, content, social, search, data and analytics.
• Runs for four-months in Target India’s Bangalore office and will annually incubate four to five startups in the mobile, social media and big data analytics segment.
• The selected startups will also be mentored and provided with business tools and operational support.

Five shortlisted startups of the first batch of Target Accelerator Programme (TAP):

• Turnaround Innovision: A website that helps in rotating 3D images to display products on host websites.
• Konotor: A two way communication channel between a client and their mobile app users.
• MuHive Technologies: A startup that offers a social engagement platform to help organisations simplify their social conversations.
• Unbxd Inc: Enables personalised searches, product recommendations and website navigation.
• Instaclique: by Nirmantra Technologies helps organisations to integrate social media conversations online to decrease website bounce rates and increase customer engagement.

The Target Accelerator Programme is the first such programme launched globally by the Minneapolis head quartered retail behemoth.