It was an incomplete structure, abandoned due to fund crunch. In six months, it has been transformed into a futuristic incubation centre for start-ups, and could pave the way for many such structures, including some on other continents.

‘Catalyst’, the first building in the city to house Telangana Hub or T-Hub on IIIT-Hyderabad campus, is a sprawling 70,000 square-foot structure. It promises to provide assistance to 400 entities at various stages of incubation.

Those start-ups screened by the T-Hub committee will be allowed to use the space and amenities like high-speed internet, at a nominal cost, IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao said on Friday, a week before industrialist Ratan Tata inaugurates it.

Mr. Rao held an interaction with the media at Catalyst to provide a glimpse into the building that will serve as the first phase of T-Hub.

The second phase of T-Hub in the city is set to come up at Raidurgam, Mr. Rao announced, adding that an initial fund of Rs. 10 crore has been set aside to help start-ups. He also said that T-Hub’s branches would be opened in other countries.

Mr. Gokul Krishna of W Design Studios, which designed the building, pointed out some unique features, including the use of shipping containers as mezzanine floors (a floor between two floors).

Seating in the building is categorised according to the stage at which a start-up is. Mr. Rao informed that 200 start-ups have already been screened and will be moved in shortly.

The start-ups screened by the T-Hub committee will be allowed to use the space and amenities like high-speed Internet, at a nominal cost IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Staff Reporter / November 01st, 2015