Jammu & Kashmir Startups Shine with Rs 25 Lakh Win at Startup Mahakumbh.

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Genetico Private Limited was awarded Rs 20 lakh in the HealthTech and BioTech sector, while GR8 Sports Private Limited received Rs 5 lakh in the Gaming and Sports sector. Both startups outperformed hundreds of contenders from across the country to emerge as national leaders in their respective categories.The Startup MahaRathi Challenge, a flagship initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), saw the participation of 2,400 startups from across ten high-impact sectors.

The awards were presented during the closing ceremony of the Startup Mahakumbh, organised at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from April 3 to 5.The competition boasted a funding pool exceeding Rs 70 crore, offering not only grants but also nationwide recognition, access to leading investor networks, mentorship, incubation opportunities and global exposure.Jammu and Kashmir’s participation in the event included five startups: GR8 Sports, CLMRAT Sports, AL-Hamdaan Crafts, Studio Agama, and BISA Innovation. Their participation was led by Irtif Mehraj Lone, In-charge of the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Business Modelling (CIIBM) at JKEDI, and Zahid Ali Dar, Project Manager at JKEDI.

The Industries and Commerce Department of Jammu and Kashmir has been instrumental in nurturing the region’s startup ecosystem through policy and institutional support. Under the J&K Startup Policy 2024, the government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for FY 2025-26 to support seed funding, incubation, mentorship, and innovation-driven initiatives.Arjun Gupta, founder of Genetico, called the recognition “a validation of years of hard work,” crediting the entire team and support ecosystem. Fawz-ul-Kabir, founder of GR8 Sports, expressed gratitude for the platform, saying it reaffirmed his belief in the potential of gaming technology to drive positive change.kashmir life