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- Major boost to J&K startup ecosystem under Cohort 2.0 initiative
SRINAGAR: In a major push to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, the Greenovator Incubation Foundation (GIF) at National Institute of Technology Srinagar (NIT) awarded ignition grants to 10 emerging startups under Cohort 2.0 during the Ignition Grant Felicitation Ceremony 2026.
Held under the theme “Providing your ideas a hand of warmth and technology”, the ceremony marked a significant step towards promoting innovation-driven entrepreneurship by supporting early-stage ventures across sectors such as artificial intelligence, agri-tech, healthcare, IoT, and automation.
The event was organised by the GIF core team comprising Sana Aftab (CEO), Jehangir Hameed (Incubation Manager), and Waseem Ahmad Mir (DEO), who highlighted the importance of structured incubation support in enabling young entrepreneurs to scale their ideas.
A total of nine startups were felicitated under Cohort 2.0 and provided grant support by the GIF NIT Srinagar for their innovative solutions, including DreamCabs KMR Pvt. Ltd., owned by Uzair Hameed Zargar & Murchana Baishya, which received ₹2,00,000; Safavi Organics LLP, owned by Syed Sakib Abbas, ₹1,50,000; FireProtek, owned by Syed Faizan & Midhat Yassin, ₹1,50,000; Kashbrew Innovations Pvt. Ltd., owned by Yousman Zahoor, ₹2,00,000
ReWright AI Pvt. Ltd., owned by Ovais Nazir & Aaliya Nazir, ₹1,00,000; Bluepulse Labs Pvt. Ltd., owned by Zubair Ahmad Dar, ₹1,00,000; Dextrogo LLP, owned by Sikandar Ahmad Mir, ₹1,00,000; Abilixa Assistive Technology Pvt. Ltd., owned by Sania Jan, ₹2,00,000; and Tree Task Technologies Pvt. Ltd., owned by Dr. Ahmer Bashir Shah, which also received ₹2,00,000.
The programme was attended by senior faculty and officials, including In-Charge Director and Dean Research & Consultancy Prof. (HAG) Roohie Naaz Mir, Institute Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman, Dean Faculty Welfare Prof. Manzoor Ahmad Ahangar, Dean Alumni and International Affairs Prof. M. A. Shah, Dr. M. Hanief (HOD MED), and Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, Assistant Professor.
From the administration, Deputy Registrar (Accounts) Mrs. Nazia Nazir, Deputy Registrar (Administration, Director’s Office) Mr. Faisal Irshad Ganai, Assistant Registrar (Administration) Mr. Mubashir Ahmad Wani, and Assistant Registrar (Accounts) Mr. Shahid Hamid Najar were also present. In his message, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, said that such initiatives show the institute’s commitment to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among youth.
He said that incubation support, along with financial help, allows young innovators to turn their ideas into meaningful solutions for society. Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman said that platforms like GIF are important for nurturing talent and promoting research-based entrepreneurship. The continued institutional support will help startups grow and create job opportunities in the region, he added.
Prof. Babar Ahmad (MED) said that working across different fields is important for building successful startups, adding that the selected startups reflect new technologies and also address local challenges.
Dr. Saad Parvez (Principal Investigator – GIF) said there is a need to build a strong culture of innovation in academic institutions. He noted that incubation centres help young entrepreneurs and stressed the importance of linking research, innovation, and entrepreneurship for economic growth. CEO GIF Sana Aftab said that such grant programmes help bridge the gap between ideas and their implementation.
She said that timely funding and mentorship are important for startups to survive and grow. Incubation Manager Jehangir Hameed said the Ignition Grant programme supports early-stage startups by helping them turn ideas into practical products and services. He added that, in addition to funding, the programme provides mentorship, technical support, and access to resources to help startups grow.
GIF-NIT was established in 2022–23 as a Section 8 company with the aim of fostering an innovation-driven economy in the region. It is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the iTBI NIDHI Scheme, with Saad Parvez serving as Principal Investigator (PI) and Prof. Rakesh Sehgal as Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI).
The GIF is currently managed by a seven-member Board of Directors (BoD), chaired by Director NIT Srinagar. The board comprises distinguished professionals from academia, financial institutions, the startup ecosystem, and industry, ensuring diverse expertise and strategic guidance.
