Goa is a state of mind, says a traveler friend of mine. What he means to say is that, the peaceful state in the West of India offers an open and relaxed atmosphere which is ideal for people looking to wind down. For years, the state of Goa was known for its sun, sand and frolic culture which was popularized, especially in the West during the `Flower Power Era'. There once was a time when `hippies' travelled from across the world to experience this idyllic coastal Indian state, bringing about a revolution of sorts in Goa.

Of late however, a new revolution has been brewing in Goa. The state is gradually becoming the hotbed for startups and entrepreneurs. Facilitated by growing infrastructure and policies being adopted by the state government, Goa has become a go to destination for upcoming business owners to build their businesses from.

Last week itself, Antha Prerna, 2021,a Startup Conclave and Entrepreneurship summit was successfully convened in Goa. Inaugurated by Goa CM, Dr Pramod Sawant, the two day conclave was a shared platform to startups from across the country and ecosystem enablers to interact, learn, network and grow as a community. At the event, Dr. Sawant also launched “iMAGIC” an initiative to identify entrepreneurial talent in Goa and provide them with industry knowledge and mentorship. The state government has launched various other schemes and incentives that make it easier for upcoming businesses to set up shop. Be it working spaces, seed capital or skill development, the Goa state government has rolled out plenty of incentives for entrepreneurs. As a consequence, Goa is already home to a plethora of startups. Over 250 startups have been certified by Startup Promotion Cell, Government of Goa and Startup India, DPIIT, Government of India collectively.

However, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Goa becoming a startup ecosystem to be reckoned with. The state tops the charts in terms of work life balance, one of the most crucial aspects of contemporary life. Other than being a scenic destination, Goa also offers great quality of life, lower cost of living, location advantage.

The state also boasts of great social, physical, and industrial infrastructure. Already having an international airport and significant port infrastructure makes it a great spot for businesses.

The StartupCity team found the time opportune to introduce our readers with some of the upcoming and promising startups based in Goa. These young companies are part of the strong startup ecosystem that the state has been developing.

The state truly has everything going for it. Here on, we have added another reason to love Goa for.
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