Top 10 Promising & Scalable Startups In Srinagar

Top 10 Promising & Scalable Startups In Srinagar

In collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir is committed to creating a world-class startup ecosystem by fostering an entrepreneurial culture and supporting innovation to improve knowledge, wealth, and employment in our society. Furthermore, the government intends to create an environment that allows every family to have their entrepreneur through the Innovation and Startup Policy. 

The IPO (Initial Public Offering) market these days is buzzing with many companies deemed “tech startups.” Companies such as CarTrade, PayTM, Zomato, Delhivery, PharmEasy, Nykaa, Policy Bazaar, etc., are just a few among the many startups raising money. In addition, many startups, previously privately held, recently went public or are planning to go public soon.

I think it’s worth recalling what has happened so far. There has been a dramatic shift in the last ten to fifteen years. Tech startups have been successful despite little experience or background in technology. Instead of having a business plan, they have an idea and the internet. In general, these startups have taken advantage of technology to meet consumer needs, deliver services at an affordable cost, and make life much easier for consumers. Investors have backed their growth with angel funding and venture capital funds.

Very few are still growing rapidly, even though many have fallen by the wayside. Increasingly, companies have become “unicorns” – companies valued at one billion dollars (roughly Rs. 7,500 crores). 52 unicorns have been reported in India to date, with more on their way. In trying to list in the stock market, some of these firms have grown this large entirely because of investors.

These listings are striking in that all of these start-ups seeking to list are now losing money, unlike traditional businesses that need to demonstrate profitability before investors will invest. To attract investments, the company relies on its bold vision for a bright future and its experience of sustained rapid growth. Unfortunately, they will continue to lose money for a considerable time.

Financial analysts understandably have skepticism about this investment.

However, things are different in the stock market. Even with current losses in the market, investors are buying into their grand vision. Last month, Zomato’s groundbreaking IPO was oversubscribed 38 times!

You will wonder what makes these IPOs so special in the natural course of things. Where does the confidence come from? What is different about these IPOs?

There is, without a doubt. However, different groups of people find these listings significant for different reasons. Venture capitalists and early investors who invested in the story and supported the startup all this time will have an exit route with a market listing. They will no longer be trapped in the company. The market allows them to redeem it at any time, with handsome returns. As a result, the Indian startup ecosystem also benefits because venture capital will be more inclined to invest in such efforts in the future.

Is there anything the average retail investor can do? By patronizing and supporting these businesses, they are responsible for actual growth. The new investment program gives them a transparent way to participate in future growth and benefit from good stock market returns while also gaining a share of the future growth of the company they believe in.

Do people feel that following trend is good for the country? It might be or may not be, but now everyone follows the trend. So yes. 

It has not been easy for those less fortunate to succeed in the Indian business world. Wealth begets wealth in this case. Access to capital, influence over policy, and general success in business have been a prerequisite for setting up new enterprises and obtaining funds. Even though it’s not impossible, breaking into this circle has always been a challenge.

As a result of the success of tech startups, there is no room for brilliant young entrepreneurs without privileged backgrounds to emerge and succeed were no such opportunities existed before. 

We are witnessing the building of new business empires, empires on a scale that was not imaginable twenty years ago. Certainly, a new aristocracy emerging in business has challenged the old aristocracy for a little more than a decade. One fifth-generation industrialist took to Twitter last month to disparage a start-up unicorn.

The trend of shifting from bank loans to other forms of growth financing is a welcome development. When it is easy to access bank loans, established business entrepreneurs rarely stake their capital. Bank lending can be an effective means of financing businesses, but the interest paid by banks is public money, so the public ultimately bears the risk. The risk is ultimately borne by the government. If the government fails, we will suffer.

Unlike traditional business houses, these new-age entrepreneurs don’t have the resources of established organizations. They are forced to rely on their resources or those of their supporters who have deep pockets. As investors, they have been putting their own money at risk into the business, hoping things will work out. Investors and not the general public entirely bear losses if it does not take off, as many do not. This would be a better way to finance a project than using public funds.

There is hope for all, thanks to the opening of these opportunities. Graduates from top institutes no longer have to settle for a high-paying job at a blue-chip company or move abroad to further their education. Today, even young people with no support can chase their dreams if they are technically qualified and have a great idea.

Entrepreneurs with a strong work ethic and a dedication to the cause can work together to create something new and useful for consumers and make money for themselves and their investors. Technology allows individuals and companies to create their niche, establish their own companies, build their businesses, and taste success within a short time frame. The new age entrepreneurs and consumers and the country have everything to gain from this.

In Jammu, M.K. Dwivedi, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce, presided over the first Start-up Task Force meeting on Wednesday.

Twelve selected Startups under the J&K Startup Policy were awarded Rs 1.20 crore for their product development, marketing, and research.

Policy implementation in Jammu and Kashmir will be overseen by the JKEDI (Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute), designated as the nodal agency.

Jammu and Kashmir aim to create a conducive startup ecosystem by nurturing, inspiring, and developing young and entrepreneurial talent.

The Secretary of the Commission expressed appreciation for how JKEDI has been working and said that it would recruit more such startups from the region. Continuing to support startups and providing all possible assistance is what he instructed the nodal agency to do.

A robust financial assistance structure needs to be developed through the engagement of investors and venture capital firms.

The Commissioner Secretary was briefed earlier by G.M. Dar, Director of JKEDI, about different initiatives undertaken by that organization to facilitate startups in J&K.

After pitching their cases, they have asked six startups to review their revenue models and marketing strategies and approved twelve of them for funding. Entrepreneurs with startups in various sectors were approved for funding, including Edutech, healthcare, agriculture, and waste management.

The J&K Startup policy provides office space, monthly allowances, assistance in product research, energy assistance, taxpayer reimbursement for international patent filings, infrastructure support, access to international markets, financing, and other academic interventions.

Additionally, companies with disruptive value additions in focus sectors such as food processing and allied activities, textiles, agriculture, apparel & fashion technology, handicrafts & handlooms, renewable energy, electronic system design and manufacture, and information technology-enabled services receive special attention.

Nevertheless, all sectors can benefit from the policy.

Participants included a special secretary from the industries and commerce department, representatives from Startup India, and the incubator manager of the Center for Innovation Incubation and Business Modeling (CIIBM), JKEDI.

1. FastBeetle

70,000 users across the valley receive groceries, food, medicines, gifts, documents, etc., from Fast Beetle, a Srinagar-based logistics service. In Kashmir’s startup ecosystem, the funding is also seen as a breakthrough by entrepreneurs.

In 2009, FastBeetle achieved a milestone that many businesses strive for in opening its doors to the world. However, as a tech entrepreneur in Jammu & Kashmir, you always have to be on guard due to the unstable socio-political climate, adverse weather conditions, the difficult terrain, and the unpredictable internet blackouts, which are some of the primary obstacles.

However, the pair created the startup in May 2019, three months before abolishing article 370 and the internet shutdown began.

When FastBeetle was supposed to be an app-based service for hyperlocal parcel delivery, it adapted itself into a phone-based system to prevent obliteration. As a result, Sheikh Samiullah and Abid Rashid had to optimize their mobile application to work with 2G internet when the technology came back.

The apple delivery for Srinagar totals 15 tonnes. Currently, Delhi and Mumbai are requesting delivery from Samiullah.

However, many other logistics providers in India have struggled during shutdowns, such as Delhivery, Ecom Express, BlueDart, DHL, and many others. By being hyperlocal and tailoring to the unique needs of Kashmiris, FastBeetle has carved its niche. This project has set a new benchmark for the service of a picturesque, historically disadvantaged, geographically isolated, politically marginalized, and socially marginalized region.

Kashmir is not a good place to start a business by most standards. After the Indian government declared the once semi-autonomous region a part of India in August 2018, Kashmiri businesses have lost over $5 billion in revenue over the past year. Immediately following the move, Indian authorities blocked internet access for seven consecutive months, only restoring 4G access this past February. 

Businesses like DHL, Ecom Express, and Blue Dart, which provide international and Indian delivery services, could not operate due to the prolonged shutdown. This plunged Kashmir’s economy into a tailspin that has yet to recover, leaving small firms of all types unable to deliver goods. However, a Kashmiri startup has maintained its delivery service throughout the internet shutdowns of 2019 and the ongoing Covid-19 shutdowns. 

Srinagar-based FastBeetle, a two-year-old startup that offers a courier service based on an app, launched just months before the 2019 internet blackout in Kashmir. Sheikh Samiullah and Abid Rashid, both Srinagar natives, founded the company to deliver parcels on motorbikes. 

As the contested region opens to foreign and domestic business, they are beating out the international competition with their simple business model and ability to adapt to its volatile conditions. 

As Rashid, 29 years old, describes when Indian authorities shut down Internet and phone services throughout the region in the wake of the first tsunami, he says, “we weren’t even floating yet.” There were few government telephones available after that for many months. Then, slowly, phone service returned, and FastBeetle switched over to a phone-based system. Rashid optimized their application to work on low-speed Internet when 2G services returned in May 2020. 

At the time, FastBeetle was one of the few logistics companies serving the remote areas of the region, and as a result, their courier business expanded into many industries. “During various curfews throughout the year, we found ways to get farmers’ produce delivered and distributed to customers in packages,” explained Rashid, describing how the company dealt with produce delivery when many were unable to leave their homes. Despite not having the Internet, we were still able to complete our tasks. 

“Those who are unaware of the sensitivity of our conflict have always found it difficult to navigate in a place like Kashmir.”

In the region’s past, including India, outside companies were not allowed to buy property in Kashmir due to its political status. This made doing business in Kashmir challenging. India’s decision to revoke the region’s semi-autonomous status in 2019 changed that, and business and investment from around the world flooded in. According to Modi, companies will be able to invest in Kashmir under the new rules, benefiting locals. 

Despite the prolonged Internet shutdown, international and Indian companies had difficulty operating in Kashmir. For example, Swiggy and Zomato were unable to continue working upon entering the region. 

Almost two years later, very few foreign companies can offer consistent services in Srinagar, and most of these services are located within Srinagar. Because of constant shutdowns and limited connectivity, several Indian competitors could not compete here in the past, said Rashid. Those unfamiliar with the sensitivity of our conflict have always had a hard time navigating a place like Kashmir.”

Srinagar’s founders have reaped the rewards of two years of operation during a particularly volatile period. This week, Kartik Desai and Anuj Sharma of Alsisar Impact raised an undisclosed amount from the company. FastBeetle also announced that it would handle last-mile delivery for Amazon for orders outside of Kashmir’s capital. Walmart owns Flipkart and has been using FastBeetle’s delivery services for four months.

During India and Kashmir’s catastrophic second wave of Covid-19 cases, FastBeetle was one of the few operational couriers. Workers transport oxygen, medicine, and other supplies to frontline workers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). “Since the Covid-19 lockdown, especially the most recent one, our workload has increased,” Samiullah remarked.

Nonetheless, their prosperity is in jeopardy. Kashmir’s economy has been in free fall since August of this year. Sheikh Aashiq, the leader of Kashmir’s top business organization, said he’s glad to see a new company in the region, but he’s concerned about its long-term viability. “Many young people are now in debt due to their startups failing,” he told the Rest of the World. “However, projects like FastBeetle have a lot of potential.”

FastBeetle couriers, many young guys on motorcycles, are routinely stopped at military checkpoints across Srinagar and the vicinity. Even though the corporation arranged travel passes for its employees, the stops might be tense. “There were moments when the cops beat up on our delivery people,” Rashid added.

Shakir Muzaffar, a 22-year-old FastBeetle delivery driver who previously worked in sales, joined the company in 2019. Muzaffar told the Rest of the World that in Srinagar, he picks up 12–15 orders per day. “I could do more,” he added, “but there are a lot of roadblocks.” “The cops would frequently stop us and search our belongings. “Sometimes they let us move forward, and other times we struggle,” he explained.

Company Overview

2. Downtown Cafe

Here is a startup success story of two brothers from the pampore area of Srinagar, 13 km from the city. By working hard and making Srinagar proud, they made the city proud. Contractors by profession, their fathers inspire them.

Suhail and Nadeem were both looking to start a business in 2016. 

Now Srinagar’s largest cafe is a restaurant they designed. In hopes of boosting tourism for Srinagar downtown and all of Kashmir, the restaurant is attracting locals and tourists.

It serves approximately 90 people at a time and is located in gojwara, Srinagar. Built-in eight months, it is a three-story building. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq presided over the ceremony on November 4, 2017. Within just two months, the restaurant has served over 1200 tables.

As Suhail and Nadeem searched for startups in Srinagar, they found there was no place where young people could hang out with their families. So they built something for youths to enjoy the culture and tradition of India when many Srinagar startups opted to open western-style cafes. So youths hang out in this traditional restaurant that they built to fulfill this thought.

They had numerous hurdles in opening their restaurant because downtown Srinagar is closed for many days of the year owing to curfew. There were numerous problems in business, and they still faced them, but they couldn’t sit at home and do nothing. So they did some investigation and discovered that businesses may still make money during curfews. According to the brothers, curfews are an unavoidable part of life in Srinagar.

The restaurant’s location has seen the history of civilizations, and nearby is Kashmir’s largest market, which dates back to the maharajas. Tea khewa, with sheermaal (flatbread), tandoori chicken, soup, and other traditional desserts are popular among locals and tourists.

Company Overview

3. Move Beyond 

Move Beyond signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar’s Innovation and Incubation Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IIEDC).

In a joint announcement, Move Beyond, Founder Sheikh Inayat Ullah, and Prof. Saad Parvez, Head, IIEDC NIT Srinagar, signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

IYOEP (International Youth Outreach and Employability Program) was to target the youth of Jammu & Kashmir as part of this MOU.

Specifically, signing a Memorandum of Understanding states that the youth will receive career counseling, life counseling, employability and rehabilitation, awareness programs, mentoring, skill development, and mentorship.

Prof. Rakesh Sehgal, director of the National Institute of Technology Srinagar and the chief patron of the IYOEP, noted that one of the fundamental responsibilities of higher education is to help local organizations like Move Beyond advance regional development.

Guidance is important because it can help students understand their strengths and weaknesses to find their perfect career path.

He said that organizing awareness and counseling programs will help the student community in the region. “We hope both teams at NIT Srinagar and Move Beyond work together in this regard,” he said.

In his message, Professor Kaiser Bukhari, the registrar of NIT Srinagar, said that this MOU would streamline collaboration between the two organizations.

There is no talent shortage in Kashmiri youth, but their abilities need to be enhanced and encouraged by appropriate guidance and counseling.

I’m confident Move Beyond will address this important issue as Prof Bukhari said they only need basic guidance.

Move Beyond is a startup led by youth and for youths, said Professor Saad Parvez, Director IIEDC. 

“We’re putting in a lot of effort to make this program a huge success,” he stated.

Prof. Saad stated in the MoU that NIT Srinagar would serve as a mentor, patron, mobilizer, and facilitator of Move Beyond to fulfill its responsibilities related to J&K’s regional development.

Move Beyond’s founder and director, Sheikh Inayat Ullah, added that the organization will endeavor to map youth, identify potential aspirants, and create local, national, and international opportunities.

In addition to identifying bottlenecks, Move Beyond will develop solutions to them. Will support many potential aspirants at the state, national, and international levels,” he said.

According to Sheikh Inayat Ullah, the program will also conduct authenticity exercises to prevent fraud or duping of students and provide opportunities for collaboration and partnerships at the state, national, and international levels to further the organization’s efforts.

“We are providing direction and inspiration to aspiring students who are on their way to making and shaping their careers,” he said.

He served as adviser to the government of Jammu and Kashmir, Higher Education Department, before becoming the Chief Consultant of a startup.

Move Beyond was praised and promised full financial and administrative help by the administration during LG Manoj Sinha’s visit to NIT.

The business has already been connected to educational institutions in Kashmir, and financial support is being arranged through the J&K government’s Department of Mission Youth.

Move Beyond has organized several free events and webinars, including a Fulbright Fellowships awareness event at the University of Kashmir, the first-ever worldwide online Career Summit (2020), and webinars on the Startup Ecosystem in J&K and fashion design.

It has also hosted Asia’s Leading Counseling Conference (2021). In addition, the startup debuted its own online educational series ‘Career Chat’ earlier this year.

There is also a live series called Success Tales, where students have the chance to interact with toppers of various competitive examinations.

Company Overview

4. All Things Kashmir

 All Things Kashmir, a D2C startup in Srinagar, aims to provide original high-grade pashmina shawls, hand-knotted carpets, scarves, spices, and other state handicrafts a single place. They launched the startup in February 2021.

Hand-knotted carpets and pashmina shawls are among the popular handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir. Approximately Rs 2,000 crore is the Indian pashmina industry’s value, according to the Bureau of Indian Standards. 

According to data shared by the Department of Handicrafts, exports of these shawls decreased by over 45 percent between 2018-19 and 2020-21. 

In addition to machine-made fabrics and rugs made by countries such as Iran, China, etc., and cheap silk and synthetic substitutes, this regional handloom lost an important part of its export market.

Educating our customers about the true value of authentic Kashmiri pashminas or oriental silk rugs is the answer to these challenges.

Our customers gradually realize the value of handcrafted goods,” says Mir Mubasher Hameedi, co-founder of All Things Kashmir.

The Srinagar-based Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) firm, founded by Mubasher and Zahoor Hassan Mir in February 2021, seeks to become the one-stop store for authentic high-grade scarves, pashmina shawls, spices, hand-knotted carpets, and other state handicrafts.

“Our appreciation and affection for timeless and classic Kashmir handicrafts have inspired us to assist the artists who work tirelessly to bring each product to life, blending their personal experiences to the best of their abilities,” Zahoor says.

One of the co-founders had the idea for All Things Kashmir when he wanted to give a handwoven Kashmir pashmina as a present because of its aesthetic appeal. However, to his amazement, the things he saw online or in local stores were, at best, blatant rip-offs of the original handloom.

“Some were not pashmina but were sold as pashmina.” While some were knockoffs, others were genuine pashminas with the same worn-out designs and color patterns. Others were sold at astronomical prices. “As a result of my aggravation, I gained a better understanding and research of the matter,” Zahoor continues.

The company addresses four major issues: product authenticity, price vs. quality, a lack of design innovation, and artisan welfare.

ATK claims to produce the finest handwoven pashmina and hand embroideries on manual looms globally, with the typical fluffiness, exquisite feel, and durability.

Each ATK item is embroidered exclusively by one master embroiderer thanks to its ‘One Hand One Design’ protocol. They can be used as coffee tables in living rooms, bedrooms, and large rooms, such as offices. They are hand knotted on silk warp and weft with silk knots. 

Each product comes with an authentic certificate of authenticity from All Things Kashmir, so you know you’re buying the real deal. We are also trying to standardize prices based on quality. Zahoor says they produce only the finest pashminas and carpets Kashmir has long been known for.

There is a wide range of pashmina shawls for sale at ATK, from Rs 9,900 to Rs 4 lakh, and a carpet for anywhere from Rs 1,35,000 to Rs 15 lakh.

In India, leading design houses from Paris, Milan, and Copenhagen are collaborating with the startup to cater to the growing high fashion trend. We plan to transfer these skills to enhance our artisans’ ability to keep up with global fashion trends.

She has worked in diverse industries, including automotive, internet technology, consumer tech, eCommerce, and non-profits. Mubasher holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Leeds, UK. Among the brands for which he has led campaigns are Lamborghini, Volkswagen, Bentley, *KODA, and Google.

Zahoor, an MBA graduate of the University of Kashmir, owes his love of Kashmiri crafts to his family.

“Our family had hundreds of looms from the 19th century until the 1960s,” he adds, “primarily in mills near our ancestral home in the heart of old town Srinagar.”

All Things Kashmir currently has a 15-person team, including logistics, designers, marketing and communications, and a tech team.

ATK’s business strategy, which bootstrapped with Rs 70,000, allows it to grow without relying on outside funding and manage resources sustainably.

On the other hand, the co-founders are open to partnering with like-minded individuals and businesses who share their vision for long-term success.

ATK’s target demographic is predominantly ladies between the ages of 30 and 50, who appreciate refinement, elegance, and something distinctive.

ATK’s sales increased in 2021, according to Mubasher. “We believe we are on the right road,” he continues, “with the initial product line launched in September 2021 sold out and sales growth exceeding our forecasts.”

While ATK receives orders from throughout India, the northern and western regions of the country account for the majority of its sales.

The firm wants to triple sales in the current fiscal year, with a revenue target of Rs 5 crore. “However, given our accomplishments thus far, we intend to exceed it,” Mubasher says.

ATK is currently partnering with the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in preparation for its entry into the UK market in the second quarter of 2022.

Indeed, it intends to join the Nordic region by the fourth quarter, as Europe is one of its key markets.

Although Kashmiri crafts have been around for seven centuries, there isn’t a single well-known domestic or international brand dedicated to pashmina or oriental carpets from the state.

“Our greatest challenge and opportunity is to become the brand that everyone in the world thinks of when they want to buy a high-quality handwoven pashmina shawl, a hand-knotted carpet, or any Kashmiri craft.”

We are willing to put in the necessary work and educate people, even if it takes some time,” Mubasher said.

Nonetheless, Nepal, Mongolia, and China compete with ATK by passing off local pashmina shawls as Kashmiri shawls.

Company Overview

5. Gatoes

It is still difficult to imagine that a state with politics rife with instability will ever see a tech-based innovation.

It takes a few brave individuals to stand up and seize those opportunities in times of adversity. He is the founder of Gatoes, a company that delivers food and groceries to homes across the valley.

Despite being completely bootstrapped, Gatoes has turned over a million dollars in its first seven months of operation. In addition, Gatoes has onboarded over 1450 merchant partners, making it by far the largest startup out of Jammu and Kashmir.

During the creation of Gatoes, we encountered many challenges. The lack of a favorable tech ecosystem in the state made starting a business seem bleak. A lack of high-speed internet and disruptive politics in the area were major obstacles. 

As of the date of writing, we were only able to access a 2G network. However, I did not develop any viable solution after talking with several big network providers. Finally, under 2G connectivity, Gatoes was made operational despite all odds. The launch of this technology was successful despite initial apprehensions about how people would react. Gatoes founder Jibran Gulzar said that the company had reached its 2,50,000+ shipments in only months.

“We have fulfilled over 2.5 lakh orders in the valley alone, despite major problem statements such a lack of high-speed internet and limited technological adoption.” In comparison to competitors, we give our consumers a lower price and faster delivery, which is likely why our rapid expansion in Tier 2 cities such as Srinagar, Jammu, Ladakh, Baderwah, and Udhampur,” he added.

The firm has also begun expanding to other states throughout India, including Punjab, Haryana, and others, putting it in a limited group of Jammu and Kashmir-based startups that have expanded their operations nationally. Using technological breakthroughs, the Gatoes team is currently trying to reduce their last-mile grocery delivery time to under 30 minutes.

“We have conquered various hurdles – from political to infrastructure-related issues like internet and technology adoption,” says Tofail Akram, Gatoes’ Chief Operating Officer. We scaled beyond Kashmir in less than 6 months, generating over a million dollars in sales due to our customer-centric approach.”

“Now that we have effectively established ourselves in Kashmir and its neighboring states, we are moving towards spreading across the nation,” Gulzar said of expansion plans. We’re aiming to improve our technology to give high-quality deliveries across the country. We also plan to hire more young people as delivery partners. Unemployment has been a serious problem in Kashmir for a long time. We have helped to address this by employing hundreds of individuals through Gatoes. As a result, we hope to employ over 5,000 people by 2022.”

Jibran Gulzar founded Gatoes in 2020 as an online delivery company. India’s fastest-growing food and grocery delivery startup, the Srinagar-based company, has had a turnover of over a million dollars in the past 7 months. Over 450 of the company’s employees work in Jammu & Kashmir. Gutoes is developing a national expansion strategy.

Company Overview 

6. KashmirOneStop.co

There is no other eCommerce store like it, and it is regarded as one of the most famous one-stop online and retail customers. It is still one of the greatest efforts by uprooting the Kashmir Pandit founders Rohit Bhat and Meenakshi Rakesh Bhat. They offer the best chances for reuniting Kashmir with Japan and even bringing Kashmir close to the greatest part of India and even the world.

This company stands out in various ways because it is known as one shop for all the fantastic and unique kinds of Kashmiri and Srinagar products, including a special category for all Kashmiri Pandits. It is also seen as a catalyst in providing the youth with the best possible job opportunities and entrepreneurial support to reduce terrorism in the hit state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Company Overview

7. Go Kash Adventures

Under Unique Holidays and Tours, Go Kash Adventures is based out of Srinagar. The startup arranges tours that combine historical and geographic sites in Jammu and Kashmir.

In May 2015, Danish Mir founded the startup, which offers affordable small-group tours, expeditions, and safaris in the Valley. The company reportedly generated Rs 6 lakh in revenue and served 100 customers in its first month of operation. In addition, the company provides visiting tourist attractions, hotel accommodations, and transportation packages.

In addition to Jammu and Kashmir, Go Kash Adventures also specializes in Ladakh, Kargil, and Gurez.

Company Overview

8. StartupJK

One of Jammu and Kashmir’s most innovative startup initiatives offers users an online tool for finding different kinds of actors in Jammu and Kashmir’s startup ecosystem, such as entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, and mentors, providers, and many types of government agencies.

There are many entrepreneurs and service providers within this ecosystem that provide the opportunity to connect. In addition, this platform even provides access to essential learning and development resources like the Learning and Development program.

 It enables the team members to brainstorm, discuss, and learn from the news, blogs, and government schemes. In addition, our customers are given access to many startup courses.

Company Overview

9. Parsa’s

His eponymous brand, created by Javid Parsa, has taken off in Wazwan, targeting college-going students.

An October 2014-founded startup provides fusion cuisine of Kolkata and Hyderabad from Jammu and Kashmir. In addition to the Kathi roll, mutton korma, kebabs, and biryani, Parsa’s menu includes various kebabs and biryanis ranging from 50 to 190 rupees.

The Parsa chain has over 400 outlets throughout Srinagar, Anantnag, Lakadh, Sopore, Awantipora, and other cities. They also employed Jammu and Kashmir’s first waitress at Parsa’s.

Company Overview

10. Kashmir Box

Muheet Mehraj and Kashif Khan founded Kashmir Box in 2011 to revive Kashmir’s handicraft industry.

Startup company aims to offer crafters, producers, and other creative entrepreneurs the opportunity to sell their products. In addition to 1,000 artisans, many local brands and more than 200 producers are represented by Kashmir Box.

Carpets, Aari embroidery, copperware, pashminas, paper mache, and stone art are among their listings.

However, Kashedif has left Kashmir Box to pursue a new venture independently.