Startup Push in Kashmir: NIT Srinagar Incubator Awards Grants to 10 Emerging Ventures | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: In a move aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, the Greenovator Incubation Foundation at National Institute of Technology Srinagar awarded ignition grants to 10 early-stage startups under Cohort 2.0 during the Ignition Grant Felicitation Ceremony 2026.

The programme, held under the theme “Providing your ideas a hand of warmth and technology,” focused on supporting ventures working in sectors such as artificial intelligence, agri-tech, healthcare, IoT, and automation. Organisers said the initiative is designed to promote innovation-driven entrepreneurship by providing financial and institutional backing to emerging businesses.

Nine startups were formally felicitated and received grant support, including DreamCabs KMR Pvt Ltd (Rs 2,00,000), Safavi Organics LLP (Rs 1,50,000), FireProtek (Rs 1,50,000), Kashbrew Innovations Pvt Ltd (Rs 2,00,000), ReWright AI Pvt Ltd. (Rs 1,00,000), Bluepulse Labs Pvt Ltd (Rs 1,00,000), Dextrogo LLP (Rs 1,00,000), Abilixa Assistive Technology Pvt Ltd (Rs 2,00,000), and Tree Task Technologies Pvt Ltd (Rs 2,00,000).

The event was organised by the GIF core team led by CEO Sana Aftab, Incubation Manager Jehangir Hameed, and DEO Waseem Ahmad Mir. Officials highlighted the role of structured incubation support in enabling startups to scale and commercialise their ideas.

Senior faculty and administrative officials of NIT Srinagar attended the ceremony, including Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman and Dean Research and Consultancy Prof Roohie Naaz Mir, among others.

In a message, Director NIT Srinagar Binod Kumar Kanaujia said the initiative reflects the institute’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among youth, adding that incubation support combined with financial assistance enables startups to develop solutions with societal impact.

Registrar Atikur Rehman said such platforms are critical for nurturing talent and promoting research-based entrepreneurship, noting that sustained institutional support can help generate employment in the region.

Dr Saad Parvez, Principal Investigator of GIF, emphasised the need to build a strong innovation culture within academic institutions and highlighted the importance of linking research with entrepreneurship for economic growth.

The Greenovator Incubation Foundation was established in 2022–23 as a Section 8 company and is supported by the Department of Science and Technology under the iTBI NIDHI Scheme. The incubator is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by the institute’s director and includes members from academia, industry, and the financial sector.