<h1>Kerala Startup Mission Denies Claims of Biased Report; Defends Startup Genome's Integrity Amid Payment Allegations</h1> The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) refuted allegations by the Leader of the Opposition that the Startup Genome report on Kerala's startup ecosystem was influenced by payments. The opposition claimed KSUM paid Startup Genome USD 48,000 since 2021, suggesting the report's findings of significant growth were biased. KSUM defended the report's credibility, emphasizing Startup Genome's global reputation for independent research. The report highlighted a 254% growth in Kerala's startup ecosystem from 2021-2023, with Kerala ranking high for affordable talent in Asia. KSUM also noted the increase in registered startups and substantial funding growth, underscoring the ecosystem's genuine progress.