Young Innovators, N. Manasa Reddy and Nafeesa Anjum, students of Grades 9 & 10 of Pallavi Model School, Boduppal secured seed investment in their start-up, Digi Gnan from Minister, K. T. Rama Rao in the presence of Mrs. Sabitha Indra Reddy, Minister for Education.
The startup, Digi Gnan is a platform for the students, by the students, and for the students to digitally enable knowledge sharing and self-learning platform for female counterparts from Tier II and III towns and villages. The idea stemmed from the problem statement that the children identified during their Girls in STE(A)M and Earlypreneurship programs by WE HUB which is focusing extensively on enabling more young girls to take their innovative ideas into viable entrepreneurial startup ventures.
The children during the field trip organized by Pallavi Model School noticed that digital literacy was lacking in their peers from the tier 2/3 villages. On further research, they noticed that India reported 52,974 incidents of cyber crimes in 2021, an increase of nearly six percent from the year Telangana topped the chart among states, accounting for more than 19 percent, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows. India is 98th Rank out of 120 countries for the level of internet literacy. 18 billion U.S. dollars lost due to cyber crimes. They came up with the idea of Digi Gran.
Under Digi Gran, Digital Literacy, Employability Skills, and Cyber Security will be imparted in a pilot to over 500 students from the villages of Pratapsingaram, Kachavanisingaram, Edulabad and Muthyalaguda. Over the next 12 months. 50 volunteers will enable Digi Gran to expand to 25 villages reaching over 1000 students in Telangana & the startup will be financially viable.
The minister had personally committed to funding the students’ idea during the 5th anniversary of WEHUB on March 8th. Taking up on the Hon’ble Minister’s word, the students pitched the idea to the Hon’ble Minister in the presence of Ms. Sabitha Indra Reddy, Minister for Education, GHMC Mayor, MLAs, Special Chief Secretary of MA&UD, Mr. Arvind Kumar, IAS, with an ask for a seed investment of Rs 10 Lakhs. Mr. K.T. Rama Rao quizzed the students about the financial viability of Digi Gnan, the Mentor and advisor road map, and the return on the investment. The students showed the financial projections and assured the Minister of a successful return on the investment post Mr. K.T. Rama Rao provided a seed capital of 8 lakh rupees.
WE HUB along with the Management and teachers of Pallavi Model School will be grounding and launching the student startup soon.