Global accelerator GSF rolls out new vertical for startups in digitial media

BENGALURU: Multi-city global accelerator GSF has carved out a new vertical focused on mentoring start-ups that operate in the digital media and ad technology space.

The entity said start-ups will spend a month of their acceleration period in Mumbai, the hub for content and entertainment in India.

“The media industry is ready for disruption as consumption is increasingly shifting to mobile from other screens,” said Rajesh Sawhney, co-founder of the Gurgaon-based accelerator.

This is GSF’s second vertical. Last week, it launched a programme to mentor start-ups using only mobile as a medium for their products and services.

India is seeing the launch of a slew of specialised accelerators amid efforts of industry veterans and corporate houses.

While InnAccel, Eva and Healthstart are in the medical technology space, US-based Target mentors start-ups that provide retail solutions in Bengaluru. Although vertical accelerators help start-ups go deep into the domain they operate in and bring them in touch with key customers, it is still too early to predict if the model will work in India.

Since inception, GSF has funded 33 start-ups in three batches.

Through the four-month acceleration phase, start-ups will visit and present their products to investors in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and Mumbai, a conscious decision by GSF to make its portfolio companies visible to global investors and customers.

The firm invests $40,000-50,000 (Rs 25-30 lakh) in start-ups for an 8% stake.