By Syed Sammar Mehdi

Srinagar- On a Saturday in Srinagar, a room filled with young founders, students and first-time entrepreneurs came together to discuss a question that is gaining traction in Kashmir’s emerging startup scene: How do local ideas grow into viable businesses?

The discussion unfolded at Startup Kashmir’s Saturday Mentorship Program, a daylong session focused on the role of incubation centres in supporting early-stage startups. 

The event drew participants from different parts of the valley and reflected a broader effort to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in a region where access to guidance, funding and networks often remains limited.

The chief guest, Dr. Saad Parvaiz, director of the Greenovator Incubation Foundation and a senior figure at the Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre at the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, laid out what incubation centres can offer young founders.

“Most first-time entrepreneurs do not fail because their ideas lack merit,” he told the audience. “They struggle because they lack structure, mentorship and access to the right support systems.”

Dr. Parvaiz described incubation centres as hubs that bring together technical advice, business mentoring, infrastructure, market connections and links to investors. 

For founders starting out, he said, these resources can be difficult to secure on their own.

He also broke down the different models of incubation operating in India. These include university-led incubators, government-backed programs, sector-focused centres and private incubation initiatives. 

Each model, he said, plays a distinct role, depending on the type of startup and its stage of growth.

Funding was another major focus of his address. 

Dr. Parvaiz outlined options ranging from idea-stage grants and proof-of-concept support to seed funding and early investments. Incubation centres, he added, often serve as intermediaries that connect startups with public and private funding agencies.

When asked whether startups from Kashmir can compete on a global stage, Dr. Parvaiz urged patience. He acknowledged the region’s talent and creative energy but stressed that global ambition must rest on strong local foundations.

“The immediate task is to build a sustainable ecosystem here,” he said. “Strong fundamentals and relevance to real problems matter more than fast expansion.”

Earlier, Shahid Ansari, the chief executive of Startup Kashmir, framed the mentorship program as part of a larger mission. He described the platform as an effort to build confidence, awareness and skills among young entrepreneurs in the valley.

Too many ideas fade early, he said, because founders work in isolation. 

“Incubation centres reduce early risks and help founders make better choices,” Ansari told participants. “They improve the chances that a startup will survive and grow.”

The session opened into a candid exchange during an interactive segment. Several founders raised concerns about limited awareness of existing incubation centres in Kashmir. Despite multiple initiatives, many aspiring entrepreneurs remain unaware of where to seek support.

Participants pointed to weak outreach, limited communication and insufficient engagement at the community level. They called for closer ties between incubators, local platforms and educational institutions to ensure that information reaches students and early-stage founders.