JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), in collaboration with T-Hub Hyderabad, one of India’s premier startup incubators successfully concluded a two-day mentorship programme under the J&K Startup Idea Challenge at its regional campus in Bari Brahmana, Jammu.
The mentorship phase was inaugurated by Chand Kishore Sharma (JKAS), Joint Director, JKEDI, in the presence of officers, officials, and participating innovators. The event brought together 72 selected students and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the Jammu Division, chosen through the J&K Startup Idea Challenge after a series of 41 boot camps held across all districts of the Union Territory.
Students from colleges and universities across J&K, including those from remote institutions such as Government Degree College Doda, Government Degree College Poonch, and Government Degree College Kishtwar, participated actively demonstrating the wide outreach and inclusivity of the initiative.
This programme forms a vital part of the broader J&K Startup Policy 2024–27, which aims to identify, nurture, and empower young innovators throughout the region. The Startup Idea Challenge drew an enthusiastic response, engaging over 5,000 students and aspiring entrepreneurs who submitted more than 1,200 innovative ideas. Of these, 225 promising ideas have been shortlisted for structured mentorship and capacity building through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process.
Expert mentors from T-Hub Hyderabad led the mentorship sessions, offering participants practical insights into entrepreneurship, innovation strategies, business model development, and market validation. The programme also established a framework for identifying the most promising startup ideas for future incubation and institutional support.