‘Real-time interactions to drive startup ecosystem in J&K forward’
Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) on Thursday organized an investment cum mentorship program titled “Deep Tech and Venture Capital” at its Main Campus Sempora, Pampore.
The day-long program was held in collaboration with the National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), a GoI enterprise and Sanchi Connect, a leading Business Accelerator supporting Deep Tech Startups.
The event aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir while promoting innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.
The programme witnessed active participation from over 100 startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, and industry thought leaders, offering a unique platform for knowledge-sharing, real-time interactions, and personalized mentorship.
On the occasion, the JKEDI also signed an MoU with GIF – National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar aimed at fostering skill development and exposure for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sarvana Kumar, CEO of NSIC Ventures Capital Fund Ltd., and Dr. Sunil K Shekhawat, Founder & CEO of Sanchi Connect, were the keynote speakers for the day-long event.
Khalid Jahangir, Secretary in, Industries and Commerce Department, and Director JKEDI, in his address, highlighted the region’s entrepreneurial legacy and the urgency to align it with modern, technology-driven business models. The JKEDI is on boarding the mentors for providing one to one mentorship to the startups of which there is a dire need.
He stated, “The entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in J&K’s culture. Our objective is to channel this talent pool towards creating scalable and sustainable tech-based enterprises. Mentorship is a vital key to enabling this growth, and Thursday’s programme is a step in that direction.” He further added that with 44% of the startups registered with the JKEDI as tech based startups, the dialogues on Deep Tech will enable these startups to gain more insights.
Sarvana Kumar detailed the role of NSIC under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, especially the Self Reliant India Fund (SRI Fund) backed by ₹10,000 Crore of Mother Fund, which supports startups and MSMEs by providing access to affordable capital and strategic support.
Dr. Sunil K Shekhawat shared his entrepreneurial journey and underlined how Sanchi Connect’s network of “450 Venture Capital Funds and 100 Corporate Houses” helps Deep Tech startups scale effectively. He emphasized the importance of integrating forward and backward linkages into traditional business models for sustained growth.
The participants lauded the event’s practical insights and strategic depth. A startup founder remarked, “The interaction helped us rethink our approach and gain sharper clarity on our business direction.”
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, fostering further engagement between the experts and participants, where selected startups received personalized guidance from the resource persons to refine their business models, overcome challenges, and strategize for long-term growth.
JKEDI reiterated its mission to foster a robust startup ecosystem in J&K and announced upcoming initiatives like Idea Challenge Competitions in schools and colleges, aimed at promoting innovation from an early stage.