SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute has stepped up its capacity-building push for small businesses and startups with the successful conclusion of the fourth batch of Management Development Programmes under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance scheme and the hosting of a focused capital mentorship initiative at its Pampore campus.
The six-day Management Development Programmes were conducted simultaneously across 13 districts — Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Srinagar, Jammu, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur — from December 12, 2025. A total of 258 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs completed the 30-hour structured training, which combined classroom sessions, expert interactions and field exposure visits. Of the total participants, 243 were women, underlining a strong shift towards gender inclusion within the Union Territory’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Implemented through JKEDI’s district centres under the supervision of the institute’s director, the programmes were designed to strengthen managerial, financial and strategic capabilities of participants, enabling them to scale enterprises, improve competitiveness and build sustainable business models. The initiative forms part of the RAMP scheme, funded by the Ministry of MSME and implemented in Jammu and Kashmir through the Industries and Commerce Department.
The curriculum covered business planning, marketing strategies, use of digital tools, financial literacy, statutory compliance, innovation and leadership development. Mentorship sessions, case studies, interactive discussions and hands-on workshops were integrated to ensure practical, real-world learning. Sector-specific sessions were conducted with inputs from District Industries Centres and the Labour and Employment Department, while field visits to successful enterprises provided exposure to operational best practices. Monitoring by range and reviewing officers was carried out throughout the programme to assess quality and gather participant feedback.
In a parallel initiative aimed at startups, JKEDI hosted a Smarter Capital Mentorship Programme at its main campus in Sempora, Pampore, focusing on helping early-stage ventures become scalable and investment-ready. The day-long programme brought together startups, entrepreneurs and ideators for strategic discussions and one-on-one mentoring.
The mentorship was led by Khalid Wani, director at One Capital Ltd and founder and chief executive of Khalid Wani Consulting Group, who shared insights on investment strategies, global market trends and building high-growth businesses. He stressed that successful startups require clarity of vision, disciplined execution and strategic access to capital, and highlighted mentorship as a key bridge between entrepreneurial potential and performance.
More than 80 startups and aspiring entrepreneurs participated in interactive sessions on refining business models, addressing operational challenges and aligning ventures with investor expectations. Participants said the programme helped them sharpen their strategies and better understand investor readiness and global scalability.
Organised under the Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy 2024–27, the mentorship programme was coordinated by the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Business Modeling, with support from JKEDI faculty across verticals. The institute said a similar initiative will be organised at its Jammu campus in the near future as part of its broader effort to nurture technology-driven and sustainable enterprises across the Union Territory.
