IIMB-incubated startups offer relief

BENGALURU: Quarantine bands, 3-D printed face shields and ventilator valves, compressor-based ventilators, a tool to locate the nearest kirana store, fever clinic, night shelter and free food distribution centre, an e-puja hosting platform — these are just a few of the products that firms from IIMB’s (Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore) startup hub have created during the lockdown.
Agri Mitra, a startup which earlier offered comprehensive solutions for farmers in Kolar and procured vegetables from them on a B2B basis, has now started delivering fruits and veggies right at doorsteps. “We started home delivering on Ugadi day and got a tremendous response. Now, we fulfil bulk orders for several apartment complexes in Bengaluru. We have completed more than 3,000 orders so far,” said Sridhar Koushik, founder of Agri Mitra.
Another startup, Let’s Be The Change, has created a tool which will direct residents to the nearest kirana store, fever clinic, night shelter and free food distribution location.
“Over 13,000 provision stores are open in Bengaluru now and using our link, which redirects you to Google Maps, residents can find how to reach the nearest one,” said Anirudh S Dutt, founder, Let’s Be the Change.
Pupilmesh Pvt Ltd has been 3-D printing face shields and ventilator valves and has now started doing this through injection moulding, to meet rising demand. “Initially, we supplied around 250 3D-printed face shields to Victoria Hospital and Ramaiah Hospital. Now, with injection moulding, they have suggested some modifications to make the shields easier to use,” said Milind M Manoj, founder of Pupilmesh.
Rapture Innovation Labs, another IIMB-incubated startup, has created an assistive ‘quarantine monitoring band’ that alerts authorities if the user flouts home quarantine rules. Smart Pooja, an online platform where customers can book Vedic ceremonies and hire a purohit to come home, has now gone digital with e-pujas.
Mitti Café (which employs only the differently abled) has served more than 64,000 meals to dailywage workers in 21 days under its Covid Hunger Relief programme.