SRINAGAR, AUGUST 07: The Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) organized a high-impact orientation and mentoring session for startups, aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, students, and young innovators at its Main Campus, Pampore.
The session, organized from August 5 to August 7, was conducted by Prof. Sunil Handa, Founder of the Eklavya Foundation, alumnus of BITS Pilani and IIM Ahmedabad, and a distinguished entrepreneur and startup mentor who has guided thousands of ventures across India.
As part of the programme, Prof. Handa conducted intensive one-on-one mentoring sessions with 43 emerging startups from across Jammu & Kashmir. During these personalised interactions, he provided practical guidance tailored to the unique challenges and growth aspirations of each startup. Drawing upon his rich entrepreneurial experience, he shared actionable insights on business strategy, customer acquisition, market positioning, scaling operations, and building sustainable enterprises. The mentoring sessions enabled participating startups to critically evaluate their business models, refine their growth strategies, and gain a deeper understanding of the practical realities of entrepreneurship.
Addressing the participants during the orientation session, Prof. Handa emphasised that startups from Jammu & Kashmir should broaden their outlook beyond regional markets and strategically position themselves to cater to national and global customers. Through practical examples and real-world case studies, he highlighted the evolving dynamics of the startup ecosystem and underscored the importance of understanding market trends, customer behaviour, and industry structures for building competitive and sustainable businesses.
He further encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on solving real-world problems through innovation and value creation. Stressing the importance of clarity, commitment, and disciplined execution, he advised participants to pursue one objective at a time rather than dispersing their efforts across multiple ideas. According to him, sustained focus, consistent execution, and a strong problem-solving mindset are fundamental to entrepreneurial success.
Prof. Handa also urged young innovators to embrace calculated risks, stating that informed risk-taking is essential for driving innovation, fostering business growth, and creating long-term value. He encouraged participants to remain resilient, continuously learn from their experiences, and adapt proactively to changing market dynamics.
The session proved highly enriching, providing participants with valuable insights into innovation, customer-centric thinking, market expansion, and entrepreneurial leadership.
The programme reaffirmed JKEDI’s commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir by facilitating meaningful engagement between emerging entrepreneurs and accomplished industry leaders, thereby fostering innovation-driven and sustainable enterprise development.
