SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated ASCEND J&K 2026, the Union Territory’s largest startup ecosystem summit, calling for an innovation-driven and inclusive model of economic growth and urging young people to embrace entrepreneurship as a career.
The two-day summit, themed “Where Mountains Meet Momentum”, is being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), bringing together startup founders, investors, venture capital funds, policymakers, industry leaders, academicians, incubators and mentors from across the country.
Addressing the inaugural session, Abdullah said the resilience, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, when supported by innovation, technology and investment, could transform the Union Territory into a nationally recognised startup and innovation hub.
He urged young people to move beyond the conventional search for government jobs and become employment generators through entrepreneurship. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem, the Chief Minister said policy support, institutional handholding, easier access to finance, market linkages and closer collaboration between industry, academia and government would be central to that effort.
During the event, the Chief Minister launched several initiatives and publications, including the Junior Startup Idea Challenge, Startup Idea Challenge 2.0, the JKEDI Progress and Impact Report, the Compendium of Business Opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan Journal of Entrepreneurship, and a Startup Coffee Table Book profiling 39 successful startups from across the Union Territory. He also visited startup exhibition stalls and distributed seed fund cheques to seven startups approved for capital grants under the J&K Startup Policy.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh, said the government was working to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurship by encouraging private investment, strengthening institutional support and fostering collaboration between startups, investors, incubators, industry and academic institutions. He described ASCEND J&K 2026 as an important step towards positioning Jammu and Kashmir as a destination for innovation and investment.
JKEDI Director Mohammad Younis Malik said the institute, as the nodal agency for implementing the J&K Startup Policy, was providing entrepreneurs with incubation, mentorship, policy facilitation, capacity building, investor connect, market access and financial support. He said JKEDI remained committed to helping startups build sustainable business models and scale into nationally and globally competitive enterprises.
The inaugural day featured startup pitching sessions, investor interactions, panel discussions and networking events aimed at connecting entrepreneurs with investors, venture capital firms, mentors and industry experts. Organisers said the summit has been designed to facilitate investment, strategic partnerships, mentoring and market access while helping startups improve funding readiness and business scalability.
The summit will continue on Friday with additional startup pitches, investor meetings, mentoring sessions and panel discussions as part of JKEDI’s broader effort to build a resilient, innovation-led startup ecosystem capable of attracting investment and generating sustainable employment across Jammu and Kashmir.
Among those present at the inaugural session were Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, MLA Pampore, senior officials of the Industries and Commerce Department, representatives of allied departments, investors, startup founders and other stakeholders.
