5 start-ups in shortlist for Make in India video app

OFFICIALS IN THE IT MINISTRY SAID OVER 2,000 APPLICATIONS HAD COME IN FOR THE CHALLENGE LAUNCHED ON APRIL 13

nNEW DELHI: A video conferencing solution challenge launched by the ministry of electronics and information technology, aimed at finding an Indian alternative to Zoom, has thrown up a surprise – the top five companies to make it to the ministry’s list are all start-ups.

The top three, which will be provided ₹20 lakh each as support from the government to develop an indigenous video conferencing application, are Peoplelink Unified Communications Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad; Sarv Webs Pvt Ltd, Jaipur; and Techgentsia

Software Technologies Private Ltd, Alappuhza.

The other two companies, Instrive Softlabs Private Ltd, Chennai; and Soulpage IT Solutions Private Ltd, Hyderabad, will be given ₹15 lakh each to develop the final product.

Officials in the information and technology (IT) ministry said on condition of anonymity that over 2,000 applications had come in by potential participants in the video conferencing app challenge, which was launched on April 13. The challenge came in the backdrop of the nationwide lockdown that led to the need for video conferencing apps to support the country’s shift to working from home and comply with social distancing norms.

Initially, American-origin application Zoom gained wide popularity, with even certain ministries and a number of officials taking to it to communicate. Security con