Kohima: YouthNet Incubation Centre (YIC) selected nine startups for a share of 1 crore in seed funding on September 30. Three of those companies hold business registrations outside of Nagaland. Records from the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs confirm that Toshifez Innovations Pvt Ltd operates out of Assam. Greenovex Pvt Ltd is registered in Uttar Pradesh. October Pumpkin-Shi Pvt Ltd maintains its registration in Manipur.
Other awardees include Syncnl Networks Pvt Ltd, Zodmo Technologies Pvt Ltd, A&D Renewables Energy Pvt Ltd, Tuensang Hills Agro Pvt Ltd, Green Buds Pvt Ltd, and Khamlou India Pvt Ltd. YouthNet maintains that the selection process followed national guidelines. They argue that registration status does not define a company's connection to the region.
The incubator insisted that founders of the out-of-state companies have deep ties to the area. They claimed these businesses often maintain primary operations within Nagaland despite their legal paperwork. YouthNet stated, “YIC’s role is to implement SISFS in line with the national guidelines while continuing to support Nagaland’s startup ecosystem and homegrown talent.”
Officials declined to provide specific application figures. They cited confidentiality obligations mandated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. YIC became an official incubator under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme in October 2023. They claim the broader definition of homegrown startups aligns with the national mandate for the program.
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