A young entrepreneur from the state has made it to the prestigious e-Founders Fellowship, a two-week course for entrepreneurs from developing countries who are operating open, platform-based businesses in the e-commerce, logistics, big data, and tourism spaces.

The programme is jointly organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Chinese multinational conglomerate Alibaba.

The programme will provide first-hand exposure to and learning about e-commerce innovations from China and around the world that enabled growth and a more inclusive development model for all.

Grozip, an online delivery platform founded by Ananda Kumar Mishra, has been selected for the programme that will be mentored by Chinese business magnate Jack Ma.

The course will consist of a structured series of classroom workshops and lectures, site visits and a business hackathon and will primarily be held at Alibaba group headquarters in Hangzhou with site visits in other cities in China.

Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to make a commitment to share knowledge gained with their communities.

Grozip is a technology-focused platform based on-demand local delivery company facilitating B2B and B2C delivery in Odisha.

“This will be a big exposure for us that will help us gain knowledge and thereafter apply them here in our state,” said Ananda.

Around 40 entrepreneurs from countries Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam have been selected for the programme.

“We are working to solve last-mile logistics by allowing local merchants to outsource delivery. We work with merchants in the local community to deliver items from local stores directly to the doorsteps of customers,” he added.