© Teknobuilt. Pictured: Abhishek Srivastava, Executive Director at Teknobuilt (left), in conversation with a potential partner at an event during the GBIP visit to India.
A London start-up specialising in advanced work packaging software for the smart infrastructure and construction sector has been making the right connections in India with support from Enterprise Europe Network.
Teknobuilt had applied successfully to join the Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP), which included a visit to the Indian cities of Indore and Bengaluru in February as part of a 14-company delegation.
Once selected for the GBIP, Teknobuilt benefited from an intensive package of support, learning how to pitch to would-be partners and investors and receiving tailored support to meet the company’s specific demands and needs.
Collaboration partners were identified through matchmaking and brokerage events organised in India by Innovate UK and EEN advisers.
Product development partnership
Subject to COVID-19 restrictions being eased, Teknobuilt is now expecting to take part in a pilot collaborative project to be jointly managed and delivered with Indore Smart City Development Ltd and KPMG.
The GBIP also enabled Teknobuilt to agree a product development partnership with a local IT company.
Another contract had been in the pipeline for several months before the visit but a meeting in person sealed the deal and Jindal Water Infrastructure Ltd (JWIL) is actively adapting Teknobuilt’s PACE system for their digital project execution.
PACE works in real-time to help achieve greater visibility and cost savings around project delivery, health and safety, quality and field management. It combines digital workflows, remote working and AI-based analytics.
Following meetings arranged by EEN with high-ranking government officials and businesses, Teknobuilt also tailored its business model and certain features of its products and services to better suit the Indian market.
Tailored business support post-GBIP
Discussions with these stakeholders provided Teknobuilt with a better understanding of local infrastructure projects and insights into different ways of applying its products and service.
Abhishek Srivastava, Executive Director at Teknobuilt, said: “The GBIP organisers from Innovate UK and EEN put together a really well thought out programme for us. The focused approach has given us a good platform to explore opportunities in a complex but fast-growing market.”
Innovate UK and EEN advisers have continued to provide critical and tailored business support and advice following the GBIP.
For instance, a WhatsApp social media group has provided rapid responses to inquiries about grant funding opportunities and possible collaborative partnerships in India. They included signposting to and information from UKRI, Science and Innovation Network India and the British High Commission.
More recently, all advisers have alerted delegates to COVID-19 funding opportunities.
The Global Business Innovation Programme
As restrictions across the world begin to ease, we are beginning to reschedule planned GBIPs. Read about how the programme works and find out which sectors we're focussing on next here.
