Aspiring young innovators gather at startup ecosystem summit in Kashmir

Srinagar: In the startup summit on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar youngsters gathered to showcase and share their innovative ideas to attract funding from the government and other financial institutions.

The ASCEND-2026 startup summit organized by Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute saw participation of hundreds of students and aspiring entrepreneurs who presented their ideas during the summit. The aspiring entrepreneurs showcased AI based pesticide machines for apple orchards, AI based waste collection, segregation and processing dustbins and innovative trout fish, honey and saffron production.

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J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah distributed ₹5 lakh seed fund cheques to seven startups and launched new innovation initiatives and startup publications.

The CM described the two-day summit as a vibrant platform where ideas, innovation, investment, mentorship and government policy converge to foster entrepreneurship and accelerate economic growth in J&K. “If we fund 10 startups, possibly eight will not succeed. But the two that do succeed will more than make up for the eight that failed…we are not afraid to fail. The only thing we are afraid of is not putting enough support behind all of you,” said Abdullah, adding that the government would do everything possible to strengthen both the startup culture and the ecosystem that sustains it.

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The J&K CM said that the Union Territory currently has around 1,300 to 1,400 registered startups hoping that the number would double—and double again—by the time ASCEND 2027. He expressed confidence that ASCEND 2026 would become the launchpad for some of Jammu and Kashmir’s future unicorns.

Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Vikramjeet Singh said that the startup ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth, with a significant increase in registered startups and MSME registrations, while the government continues to improve the ease of doing business and expand opportunities for entrepreneurs. Director JKEDI, Mohammad Younis Malik, said ASCEND 2026 reflects the aspirations of the people of J&K and it would open new avenues for the startup ecosystem and pave the way for meaningful collaborations in the years ahead.

The innovators had also presented sensor-based systems that prevent water pipes from freezing during winter to digitally connected water-usage meters designed to curb wastage, as well as hailstorm protection nets, carbon monoxide detectors and automatic gas regulator shut-off devices.

“Physical contact with pesticides in apple orchards in J&K and Himachal Pradesh is a major cause of cancer among farmers, which is why we have made a prototype of AI based pesticide sprayer that would identify the disease and particular spot and leaves impacted in apple plantation and spray the particular pesticide accordingly,” said a group of students from Birla Open Minds School in Pampore area of Pulwama district in southern Kashmir.

Another aspiring innovator, Syed Suhail Mehdi, had prepared a prototype of an AI based dustbin that would collect, segregate and also process the waste and garbage from the households. “If the government and the investors show interest, it would be a positive step in the direction of sustainability and smart waste management,” said Mehdi.

A group of three friends–Atif, Ishaan and Asim–have started Kashmir Trout introducing the fresh water fish of the mountains to the common masses across the Valley. They have engaged around 250 farmers across Kashmir who are producing trout in their farms and the trio serves the trout at the restaurants that have small ponds where a customer can catch live fishes.

“We want to scale up the operation and create an ecosystem where a farmer will benefit from this new recipe of trout that is becoming a favorite of the customers and changing the palate of the people,” said Ishaan.