Enigmatic and beautiful, the North-East has always held allure for travelers known for its natural beauty and magnificence. However, in the recent times, the North East region has shown tremendous potential to not only develop as a self-sustaining economic unit but also to contribute to the success story of the country. The seven states that make up the northeast, collectively called the `Seven Sisters' have 200, 000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to a report by the International Finance Corporation.

Slow but steady, the start-up environment has been growing in the North East, with the state

governments too encouraging entrepreneurship and creating a space for entrepreneurs to ideate and innovate. There are institutes been set up there which sought to accelerate entrepreneurial growth through training, support services, linkages, technology and market development. Also, there are a lot of appreciable efforts made by government organizations, private establishments and individuals. Assam has set up an incubation centre, The Nest, in Guwahati along with Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Innovation Park. The Nest has been instrumental in encouraging innovation and technology in the state. To strengthen entrepreneurship, the startup policy at Assam also aims to facilitate the growth of about 1,000 new startups, and create direct and indirect employment for 1 lakh people over five years. As the efforts are on to transform the North Eastern part of India, entrepreneurs are filled with hope about growth at a fast pace.

In our current edition, we have featured a list of "10 Most Promising North East Startups" that functions across different verticals. While most of the startup activity is limited to Assam and Manipur, other states such as Meghalaya and Sikkim are showing interest as well. In a nutshell, north-east is ready to be counted as an equal in the startup revolution with the right elements.

Do let us know what you think!