On June 19 and 20, the workshop was hosted in partnership with Startup India, DPIIT, GoI, and it was overseen by the J&K Commissioner Secretary for Industries and Commerce.
The India Network during the JKEDI startup event in Srinagar on July 4 awarded two female entrepreneurs in the region a total of Rs 75 lakhs in financing.
The Institute said in a statement that Nuzhat Qazi and Insha Mir, two female entrepreneurs, had received investment of Rs. 50 lakhs and Rs. 25 lakhs from the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) and Startup India, respectively. This achievement is a demonstration of the boundless potential and pioneering spirit of local women.
Aspiring female entrepreneurs and startup founders brought a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the “Women for Startups” workshop on the 19th and 20th of June, which was led by the Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, J&K in partnership with Startup India, DPIIT, the Government of India. These women’s journeys as entrepreneurs have been nothing short of amazing, and JKEDI counts it a great honour to have helped foster their dreams.
Director of JKEDI Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS) expressed his deep appreciation for the excellent work of the two. Their successes “highlight their unwavering dedication and innovative ideas” and “serve as a tremendous source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding, “We take immense pride in their exceptional achievements.” He also noted the significance their achievement would have in inspiring and enabling aspiring business owners in the area.
The women entrepreneurs also spoke with Ashtha Grover, head of Startup India. So far, Women for Startups seminars have been held in 16 states and 18 districts. The overwhelming support from Jammu and Kashmir means a lot to us. I’d like to thank the JKEDI team on behalf of Startup India for all their help in making this programme a huge success, and I also want to wish the entrepreneurs the best of luck in their future endeavours. She said, “We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for women entrepreneurs.”
The workshop’s deep technical sessions focused on the art of pitching to investors, and they were led by Rahul Narvekar, the founder and CEO of India Network.I am blown away by the extraordinary vigour and dogged persistence of these businesswomen. The drive they have to succeed is admirable, and I will do anything I can to help them out. Beyond the monetary commitment I’ve promised, I’ll also be there as a mentor to assist them along the way as they pursue their own business ventures, he said.
Nuzhat Qazi and Insha Mir were able to receive money, giving them the opportunity to expand their businesses and see their ground-breaking ideas to reality. It’s an affirmation of their grit and perseverance, and a call to action to create an environment that encourages and facilitates the success of women business owners. “It’s exciting to be a part of a project that actively seeks participation from the wider community. These kinds of gatherings provide startups and established companies a great place to showcase their wares and network. I was able to showcase our company idea to potential backers, and the result was a commitment to invest from Mr. Narverkar. To further the entrepreneurial and economic development of our society, I hope that similar events will be held in the near future, said Insha Mir.
Nuzhat Qazi expressed similar joy, emphasising the significance of the insights she had obtained as a result of the experience. She stressed the value of knowing how to raise money, how to make connections, and what to expect from starting a business. She also said that more of these kind of events should be held to encourage women to take risks and develop their leadership skills in the corporate world.
