Over 225 innovators to receive structured guidance under J&K Startup Policy 2024–27
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) in collaboration with T-Hub Hyderabad, one of India’s premier innovation and startup incubators, today inaugurated a two-day mentorship programme under the ongoing ‘J&K Startup Idea Challenge’ at its main campus in Pampore.
The programme marks the beginning of the mentorship and capacity-building phase of the Challenge — a flagship initiative under the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27, aimed at identifying and nurturing promising entrepreneurs from across the Union Territory.
According to officials, the J&K Startup Idea Challenge has witnessed an overwhelming response from the region’s youth, drawing participation from more than 5,000 students and aspiring entrepreneurs representing various educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. Out of over 1,200 innovative ideas submitted, 225 have been shortlisted for advanced mentorship and business development training through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process.
The ongoing sessions, conducted by expert mentors from T-Hub Hyderabad, are designed to equip participants with practical insights into entrepreneurship, innovation strategy, business model design, and market validation. The mentorship aims to transform innovative concepts into scalable, investor-ready business ventures, preparing participants for the final pitching round.
A similar mentorship marathon is scheduled to take place at the JKEDI Bari Brahmana campus in Jammu on November 10–11, 2025, ensuring inclusive participation from both regions of the Union Territory.
The J&K Startup Idea Challenge, inaugurated on July 10, 2025, by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of J&K during the Startup and Entrepreneurship Meet at JKEDI, has already covered all 20 districts through 46 boot camps and several entrepreneurship awareness workshops held under the supervision of the Director, JKEDI.
Following the completion of mentorship and pitch training sessions, shortlisted participants will advance to the Grand Finale, where they will present their ideas before a jury comprising industry experts, investors, and policymakers. The top-performing startups will receive cash prizes, incentives, and incubation support at JKEDI and partner incubation centres across the UT.
Expressing gratitude to institutional partners and sponsors, JKEDI acknowledged the support of J&K Bank, P Mark, JamKash Vehicleades, ICICI Bank, and Raheem Greens for contributing to the success of the initiative.
The mentorship phase is seen as a key step in building a robust startup ecosystem in J&K and fostering an innovation-led entrepreneurial culture among the youth.
