Diplomat Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) on Wednesday hosted a Smarter Capital Mentorship Programme at its main campus, Sempora, Pampore, aimed at enabling startups to transform innovative ideas into scalable and investment-ready ventures.
The day-long programme brought together startups, entrepreneurs and ideators for focused knowledge-sharing, strategic discussions and one-on-one mentorship sessions designed to strengthen entrepreneurial decision-making and growth planning.
The mentorship was led by Director, One Capital Ltd, Khalid Wani, who shared valuable insights on investment strategies, global market trends and building high-growth businesses.
Addressing the participants, he underlined the fundamentals of startup success, stating that converting an idea into a scalable enterprise requires clarity of vision, disciplined execution and strategic access to capital. He emphasized that mentorship plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between entrepreneurial potential and performance, adding that initiatives like Smarter Capital are aimed at equipping startups in Jammu & Kashmir with the tools to compete at a global level. He further highlighted vision, resilience and adaptability as key attributes for entrepreneurial success.
The programme featured interactive sessions focused on refining business models, addressing operational challenges and aligning ventures with investor expectations.
More than 80 startups, aspiring entrepreneurs and ideators actively participated in discussions, strategy workshops and personalized mentoring interactions.
Participants appreciated the practical orientation of the programme that helped them sharpen their business models and think strategically about investor readiness and global scalability.
Organised under the Jammu & Kashmir Startup Policy 2024–27, the initiative is part of JKEDI’s broader efforts to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of building sustainable, technology-driven enterprises that contribute to the economic growth of the Union Territory.
The programme was coordinated by the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Business Modeling (CIIBM) team, with active support from faculty, ensuring a holistic entrepreneurial learning experience.DD