Startups in Propel Season 4 have a chance to win over $1.5 million in rewards, including $100K grants from Amazon and potential funding from VC partners. Amazon pledges dedicated support for all finalists to enter global markets.
Propel S4 gathers key stakeholders—VC partners, revenue-based financing partners, cross-border logistics & payments players, and Amazon leaders—to offer Indian startups guidance and mentorship for global brand creation.
VC partners for 2024 include Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund, Peak XV Partners, Fireside Ventures, DSG Consumer Partners, Accel, V3 Ventures, and Elevation Capital, who will evaluate winners of Propel Season4.
Previous winners like Slurrp Farm, Sirona Hygiene, and Wellbeing Nutrition from Season 1, Solethreads, Ecoright, and GoDesi from Season 2, and Mirana Toys, Avimee Herbal, and Perfora from Season 3 have set a precedent.
Amazon India unveiled the fourth season of Propel—a unique global business accelerator tailored for startups in the consumer products sector. This innovative initiative aims to empower emerging Indian brands and startups to expand their reach worldwide through ecommerce exports. Propel S4 is set to assist up to 50 startups in launching in international markets and establishing global brands originating from India.
Participants in Propel S4 have the opportunity to earn rewards totaling over $1.5 million, including AWS Activate credits, six months of complimentary logistics and account management support, and a collective $100K grant from Amazon for the top three winners. Amazon will facilitate connections between participating startups and Indian Revenue-based-financing firms such as Klub, Velocity, and GetVantage, offering tailored offers to aid in business expansion at scale.
Applications for the program are now open and will close on June 14, 2024. The program will culminate in a demo-day where participants can pitch their business propositions to leading VC firms, potentially securing funding to expand their operations. As part of Propel S4, Amazon has assembled a mentorship board comprising Amazon leaders, VC partners, and senior industry figures who will provide customized resources, one-on-one mentorship, and workshops on global demand patterns and successful ecommerce export strategies.
Additionally, Amazon will host peer learning sessions featuring veteran entrepreneurs and Propel Alumni to facilitate networking and knowledge sharing within the participating startup ecosystem.
Bhupen Wakankar, Director of Global Trade at Amazon India, expressed excitement about Propel Accelerator’s fourth season, highlighting its track record of helping over 70 Indian startups scale globally. Tushar Khurana, Co-founder of Perfora and a winner of Propel Accelerator Season 3, shared how the program accelerated their global ambitions, providing essential support from setup to launch. Khurana emphasized the program’s role as a catalyst for Perfora’s global expansion and expressed enthusiasm for taking their brand to customers worldwide.
