Diplomat Correspondent
SRINAGAR, DD: Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) on Thursday held the Final Pitch of the 20 ideators shortlisted under J&K Startup Idea Challenge-2025 for the Kashmir division at its Main campus, Sempora.
The event was chaired by Director JKEDI and Secretary in Industries and Commerce Department, Khalid Jahangir. Earlier this month, the JKEDI, in collaboration with T-Hub Hyderabad, conducted a comprehensive two-day mentorship programme for shortlisted ideators. Following these capacity-building sessions, 20 ideators were invited to present their refined startup concepts before an expert jury for the final selection of awards under the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27.
The jury panel included experts from leading innovation and academic institutions including Dr. Saad Parvez, Associate Professor, NIT Srinagar, Dr. Naveed Hamid, CEO, SKIIE, SKUAST-Kashmir. Prof. Sudhakar Dwivedi, SKUAST-J, Sh. Akash Sharma, Incubation Manager, I3C– IIT Jammu and Raghuveer Kovuru, Chief Innovation Officer, T-Hub Hyderabad were virtually connected during the event.
The ideators showcased innovative solutions across diverse sectors, including agri-technology, sustainability, healthcare, AI-driven services, food processing, and grassroots enterprise development. The jury appreciated the originality, potential impact, and scalability of the proposed ideas.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Khalid Jahangir (JKAS), Secretary Industries and Commerce Department and Director JKEDI congratulated the participants and reiterated the institute’s commitment to strengthen the startup ecosystem of Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasized that initiatives like the J&K Startup Idea Challenge supported by structured mentorship and expert evaluation – serve as robust platforms for aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into impactful ventures.
A similar Final Pitch event for the Jammu Division will soon be held at JKEDI’s Regional Office, Bari Brahmana, ensuring equitable support and opportunities for innovators from both divisions of the Union Territory.
The J&K Startup Policy 2024–27 continues to mark a significant step in building an innovation-driven economy in the Union Territory by extending financial incentives, incubation support, mentorship, and market linkages to the budding entrepreneurs.DD
