The genesis of a startup is always an idea. The first phase of building a startup usually involves converting the idea into a business model. Then comes the part where you test out the business model, start operations. But the biggest challenge most startups face comes post the stage. How to scale? And how to scale sustainably? How to tap the right markets?
To solve this, Hyderabad-based startup engine T-Hub has conceptualized and created T-Scale, a tailor-made program to help entrepreneurs and startups focus on the specificities of a startup’s market, circumstance and approach to scale and pave the way for successful growth.
The startups T-Hub is looking for are not early stage startups but those that have achieved some growth and are at the trajectory to scale.
“We have precursors as to what they should have in terms of revenue, customers, team size. For example, they should have raised at least Rs 50 lakh and above. Of course, there can also be exceptions where the startup is extremely well bootstrapped,” says Ajay Jain, Vice President - Incubation and Scaling, T-Hub.
The program will focus on how to bring startups to the next level. Be it gaining market access or help them with required resources, T-Scale will enable startups do that through the program.
T-Hub has designed T-Scale to work with each startup individually. Ajay says that they will identify what each startup needs and work with them for just that.
An example to that would be, say a startup is well funded but lacks operational efficiency. T-Scale will then work with them to help them become operationally lean.
T-Scale consists of three subprograms - market scaling, internal scaling and discover solutions.
Market Scaling and Internal scaling are programs focused on assisting growth-stage startups scale faster, while the Discover Solutions program gives larger startups the resources and collaborative frameworks to grow inorganically.
Given that the program is custom-made, startups can pick which part of the program they want to enroll in.
As per T-Hub, on regular intervals, for the duration of T-Scale, the program’s outcomes for startups are assessed in terms of revenues generated, costs saved, customers on boarded, partnerships made and processes streamlined.
According to Ajay, T-Scale would like to focus on startups in the area of finance, health, social and sustainability. The program will also benefit startups with a B2B model, as that is where T-Hub’s expertise lies.
The mentors of the program will include a team from T-Hub and partners - PWC and CoCreation Consulting.
Ajay says that depending on the space that the startups operate in, corporates will also be roped in to work with startups. This could be corporates becoming their customers, fostering partnerships with corporates and or even enable technology transfers.
The applications for T-Scale are open and will close by August 15. The program will begin on September 15 and could go on till December 15 depending on what areas of the program a startup picks.
This article has been produced with inputs from T-Hub as a part of a partner program.