Kashmir's Startup Scene Just Got A Major Boost

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) SRINAGAR : In an effort to bring more structure to Jammu and Kashmir's patchy startup ecosystem, a Srinagar-based academic incubator has signed a formal partnership with a private consultancy to deliver innovation programs across the region.

The Greenovator Incubation Foundation, or GIF, based at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, has entered into an agreement with Startup Kashmir Consultancy Private Limited, a local organisation building a startup ecosystem in the region, and supporting early-stage businesses.

The memorandum of understanding, signed this week, will allow the two organizations to jointly run entrepreneurship workshops, campus-based startup bootcamps, and industry-facing innovation events aimed at college students and first-time entrepreneurs.

Executives involved in the partnership say the goal is to shift the region's startup conversation from inspiration to implementation.

“Young people here are ready,” said Prof. M.F. Wani, Director of GIF and Head of Mechanical Engineering at NIT Srinagar.“They just need a working system that connects their ideas to real-world markets.”

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Under the agreement, Startup Kashmir will support GIF in implementing key programs across educational institutions and public platforms. These include identifying high-potential startups, organizing regional ideathons and industrial challenges, and producing a startup-focused publication to document the emerging ecosystem.

Startup Kashmir will also help promote GIF's initiatives both online and offline, according to officials.

The agreement comes at a time when the valley is showing early signs of startup interest but lacks the institutional backbone found in India's larger innovation hubs like Bengaluru, Pune, or Hyderabad.

“Most startups here fail in the execution phase,” said Shahid Haider Ansari, Founder and CEO of Startup Kashmir.“We're addressing that by bringing operational support, mentorship access, and local partnerships into one place.”

Mr. Ansari signed the MoU alongside Shahid Abbas Mir (CEO, GIF) and a team of coordinators and administrators from both sides, including Prof. M.F. Wani (Director, GIF), Dr. Saad Parvez (Principal Investigator & Director, GIF), Ms. Khushboo Nazir (Accounts Officer, GIF), Mr. Waseem Ahmad Mir (DEO cum Office Assistant, GIF), and Mr. Sahil Ayoub Shok (Business Development Manager, Startup Kashmir).

Prof. Rakesh Sehgal, former Director of NIT Srinagar and currently at NIT Hamirpur, joined the proceedings online and voiced support for the initiative.

Despite efforts by government agencies to promote entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir, data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) shows the region has only around 570 registered startups.

Outside the urban centers of Srinagar and Jammu, access to venture support, incubation, and even basic awareness remains limited.

GIF and Startup Kashmir say the new collaboration will expand outreach to underserved areas through a mix of campus programs, rural campaigns, and digital mentorship.

“This partnership is not about events for the sake of publicity,” said Shahid Abbas Mir, CEO of GIF.“We want to create durable systems that can support both tech-driven startups and local innovations in agriculture, climate, manufacturing, and community health.”

The initiative is one of the few private-academic collaborations in the Union Territory's nascent startup space. Previous efforts have largely remained siloed within government departments or have failed to sustain momentum after their launch.

Dr. Saad Parvez believes the difference this time lies in the operational clarity and shared accountability between the two institutions.

“We've tried pilots before,” he said.“Now we have a model with clearly defined roles, checkpoints, and follow-through.”

Prof. Sehgal, who helped launch GIF during his tenure at NIT Srinagar, said during the online session that Kashmir's economic recovery depends on such forward-facing partnerships.“We've seen years of brain drain. This is a way to reverse that by creating opportunities at home.”

While the program will initially be centered around institutional campuses, there are plans to expand to polytechnic colleges, ITIs, and high schools. Officials say rural entrepreneurship, often overlooked in mainstream startup conversations, will also be part of the focus.

The pact comes amid broader efforts by the Government of India to invest in infrastructure and employment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Yet despite these efforts, many young Kashmiris continue to face limited job prospects. A report released earlier this year by CMIE showed the region's youth unemployment rate hovering above 20%, well above the national average.

That's where the organizers see a window for entrepreneurship.

“There's no shortage of ambition here,” said Shahid Ansari.“What's missing is the bridge between intention and execution. With this MoU, we're building that bridge.”

The partnership may not solve every structural gap in Kashmir's economy, but organizers say it could set a working precedent for how local institutions can co-create value.

“This is a long game,” said Shahid Abbas Mir.“And we're finally making the first serious move.”

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