Mission YUVA Selection Round at IIM Jammu marks a landmark milestone in transforming J&K’s startup ecosystem

JAMMU: In a defining moment for the entrepreneurial landscape of Jammu & Kashmir, the Mission YUVA Selection Round, hosted at the Indian Institute of Management Jammu, concluded with resounding success, signaling a new era of innovation-led, grant-backed enterprise development in the Union Territory.

Bringing together some of the most promising innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs from across Jammu & Kashmir, the event served as a powerful platform for showcasing research-driven, scalable, and impact-oriented ventures. Participants presented their ideas before an eminent Selection Committee constituted under the Mission YUVA Neo-Innovative Enterprises Scheme, ensuring a rigorous, transparent, and merit-driven evaluation process aligned with national innovation priorities.

Following an extensive multi-stage screening process, 86 high-potential startups earned the opportunity to pitch for prestigious grant funding. The ventures demonstrated exceptional technological depth, strong commercialization potential, and a clear vision for generating measurable economic and societal impactcollectively reflecting the rising maturity and ambition of the region’s startup ecosystem.

The pitching sessions stood as a testament to Jammu & Kashmir’s growing innovation capabilities, featuring cutting-edge solutions across diverse sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, healthcare innovation, agri-tech, sustainability, and technology-enabled social enterprises. Each startup was meticulously evaluated on key parameters including innovation quotient, intellectual property potential, market viability, scalability, financial planning, and alignment with regional and national development goals.

The evaluation process was led by a distinguished Selection Committee comprising senior leaders from government, academia, industry, and the investment ecosystem:

• B. S. Sahay, Chairman, Selection Committee & Director, IIM Jammu
• Kumar Rajeev Rajan (IAS), Secretary, Labour & Employment Department, Government of J&K
• Harvinder Singh (IAS), Director Employment & Mission Director, Mission YUVA
• Anil Wali, CEO, BITS BioCyTiH Foundation
• Tushar Gandotra, Founder, X42 Venture Studio & VC Connect
• Gagan Jain, Director, VKC Nuts Pvt. Ltd.
• Muqbil Burhan, CEO, Innovation Hub & Chairperson, CEISD, IIM Jammu

The presence of such a diverse and high-powered committee ensured adherence to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and innovation benchmarkingfurther strengthening the credibility and impact of the initiative.

The selection round was conducted under the strategic guidance of Sh. Harvinder Singh (IAS), Mission Director, Mission YUVA, with seamless coordination by the dedicated organizing team from IIM Jammu, including Dr. Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer, and team members Ms. Gauri Deoli, Ms. Tejal Sharma, Mr. Kannav Padha, Ms. Druvi Sharma, and Ms. Anjali Goswami.

This landmark initiative stands as a transformative milestone for Jammu & Kashmir, reinforcing its emergence as a vibrant hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic resilience. By enabling access to grant funding, mentorship, and institutional support, Mission YUVA is not only nurturing startups but also catalyzing a sustainable and inclusive growth ecosystem in the region.

The culmination of this selection round by IIM Jammu in collaboration with Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir underscores its pivotal role as a catalyst for nation-building, empowering local talent, fostering innovation-driven enterprises, and shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir.