SRINAGAR, JUNE 27: Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) Saturday organized a high-impact mentorship session at its Sempora Main Campus, bringing together industry leaders, technology experts, academicians, startups, students and aspiring entrepreneurs to promote innovation, strengthen entrepreneurial capacities and foster collaborative growth within the startup ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir.
The programme, as per an official statement, was attended by Mohammad Younis Malik, Director, JKEDI; Tariq Banday, Director, Institute of Technology (IOT), University of Kashmir, Zakura Campus, along with eminent speakers and experts including Dr. Mohammad Mutaher Zarger, Assistant Vice President and Head, Franchise Expansion and Portfolio Division, Lenskart; and Faisal Kawoosa, Co-founder and Chief Analyst, Techarc.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between JKEDI and the Institute of Technology, University of Kashmir, Zakura Campus. The MoU aims to strengthen institutional collaboration in the areas of entrepreneurship development, innovation, startup incubation, capacity building, skill enhancement and mentoring support for students, innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Addressing the gathering, Director JKEDI, urged the youth to move beyond stereotypes and conventional career choices and develop the confidence to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable and promising career option. He said that the insecurities associated with risk-taking can be overcome through proper mentorship, institutional support, innovation and sustained effort.
Referring to the evolving startup landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, the Director said that although the J&K Startup Policy is still at a nascent stage and requires careful nurturing, JKEDI has made a humble but meaningful beginning towards shaping the startup ecosystem and entrepreneurial culture in the Union Territory. He observed that a strong foundation has been laid, but much more needs to be done through sustained institutional efforts, wider outreach, capacity building and continued support to innovators and startups.
He further observed that rapid technological advancements have significantly reduced generational gaps and transformed the way businesses are conceived, developed and scaled. He said that society is increasingly becoming technology-driven and innovation-oriented, creating immense opportunities for young entrepreneurs. He reiterated JKEDI’s commitment to providing mentorship, incubation support, handholding and a conducive ecosystem for startups and aspiring entrepreneurs across Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Tariq Banday underlined the importance of continuous upskilling in the present competitive environment. He also highlighted the opportunities available under the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27 and encouraged young entrepreneurs, students and innovators to make full use of the incentives, institutional support and enabling provisions available under the policy.
Dr. Mohammad Mutaher Zarger, while sharing his entrepreneurial insights, emphasized the importance of perseverance and reinvestment during the initial stages of a startup. He explained the concept of “burn” in the startup journey, wherein entrepreneurs reinvest available resources back into the business instead of focusing only on immediate profits or losses. He also elaborated on the concept of “3-1-Q” — three years of research, one year of execution and quarterly quality checks, as a disciplined approach for building sustainable ventures.
He further observed that modern commerce has evolved into a “phygital” ecosystem, integrating physical and digital experiences. He advised startups to remain market-focused, adopt innovation-led business models and actively engage with venture capitalists, fund managers and other ecosystem stakeholders to scale their businesses.
Faisal Kawoosa highlighted the importance of data-driven decision-making and market intelligence in building successful enterprises. He emphasized that startups must clearly identify their unique selling propositions and use data insights to understand market trends, customer behaviour and organizational capabilities.
The session witnessed active participation from startups, aspiring entrepreneurs and students, who interacted with the speakers and sought guidance on innovation, market strategy, startup growth and institutional support.
