In a proud moment for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, two promising startups—Genetico Private Limited and GR8 Sports Private Limited—secured top honors at the Startup MahaRathi Challenge during the recently concluded Startup Mahakumbh 2025, organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from April 3 to April 5, the national event attracted participation from over 2,400 startups across 10 high-impact sectors. The two winning startups from J&K stood out among this competitive pool, collectively earning Rs 25 lakh in cash awards.

Top Honours for J&K Startups

• Genetico Private Limited clinched the Rs 20 lakh award under the HealthTech & BioTech sector, demonstrating excellence in life sciences innovation.
• GR8 Sports Private Limited won Rs 5 lakh in the Gaming & Sports sector, highlighting the emerging strength of digital sports solutions from the region.

These awards underscore the emergence of J&K as a growing hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, backed by policy support and mentorship from institutions such as the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI).

Government Support and Ecosystem Impact

The Government of Jammu & Kashmir, through its Industries and Commerce Department, has been instrumental in laying the foundation for a vibrant startup ecosystem. The implementation of the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27—spearheaded by JKEDI as the nodal agency—has already started bearing fruit.

This year, Rs 50 crore has been allocated under the state budget for promoting startup initiatives. The fund will cover seed funding, grants for incubators, scaling support, innovation contests, and entrepreneurship outreach programs.

National Recognition with Global Exposure

The Startup MahaRathi Challenge, under DPIIT, offered not only financial awards from a funding pool of Rs 70 crore, but also structured mentorship, incubation support, and access to top-tier investor networks.

In total, five startups from J&K represented the UT at the Startup Mahakumbh:

• GR8 Sports Private Limited
• CLMRAT Sports
• AL-Hamdaan Crafts
• Studio Agama
• BISA Innovation Private Limited

These ventures were mentored and led by Irtif Mehraj Lone, In-Charge at the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Business Modeling (CIIBM), and Zahid Ali Dar, Project Manager at JKEDI.

Founders’ Reactions

Arjun Gupta, Founder of Genetico, expressed his pride:
“It is wonderful that our years of hard work and commitment are being recognized. This award belongs to our entire team, partners, and the ecosystem that supported us.”

Fawz-ul-Kabir, Founder of GR8 Sports, said:
“We are truly honored to represent Jammu & Kashmir. This recognition reaffirms our belief in the power of gaming and technology to drive impact. We thank JKEDI and the J&K Government for their unwavering support.”

A New Chapter for UT-Based Startups

With the continued implementation of its startup policy, and visible support for early-stage ventures, J&K is positioning itself as a serious player in India’s national startup narrative. The victories at Startup Mahakumbh 2025 are expected to inspire more entrepreneurs across the region to pursue innovation-led ventures.