[This article is part of Startup Hatch, a series launched in 2013 by YourStory featuring incubators, accelerators, makerspaces, and coworking spaces in the startup ecosystem.
See profiles of initiatives at IIT Bombay, IIM Bangalore, BITS Pilani, NCL, Tata Elxsi, Axilor, NID, IIIT-Bangalore, IIIT-Hyderabad, Vellore Institute of Technology, PSG Coimbatore, Electropreneur Park, Workbench Projects, Makers Asylum, NetApp Excellerator, TechStars, Indigram Labs, WeWork, Z Nation Lab, Sandbox Startups, Brigade REAP, Target India Accelerator, Maersk, Anthill Studio, India Accelerator, UnternehmerTUM, AZO, EXIST, InsurTech Hub Munich, Afthonia Lab, Supreme Incubator, IISC-SID, CoWorks Foundry, and Ashoka Innovators.]
D S Prashant- CEO, FiiRE
DS Prashant is CEO of FiiRE (Forum for Incubation, Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship). He has supported establishment of over 2,000 micro enterprises and hand-held more than 100 startups over the last 23 years in Goa.
Prashant began his career with Glaxo India, and now helps implement startup investment projects of Govt. of India including Startup India Seed Fund, NIDHI PRAYAS, and NIDHI EIR.
Thejus Joseph is COO of FiiRE, and earlier spearheaded Lab32, India’s largest incubation programme at T-Hub in Hyderabad. Lab32’s first batch of 70 startups reportedly generated INR 1+ billion funding, and 2,000+ jobs.
As the Incubation Lead, Thejus has successfully impacted over 500 startups. He founded hardware startup Techjeeva at the age of 21, and was Principal Consultant for a college under Kerala Technical University.
Prashant and Thejus join us in this extended interview on the role of FiiRE, the special Goa Tourism Accelerator programme, opportunities for entrepreneurs, and plans for the future. Edited excerpts below:
Thejus Joseph- COO, FiiRE
YourStory [YS]: What was the founding vision of your incubator, and how is it supported?
DS Prashant & Thejus Joseph [P&T]: When we started out in…