Get All Access for $5/mo

Excitel CEO Vivek Raina and 6 Others Launch 'Launchpad Kashmir' to Boost J&K Startups Launchpad Kashmir plans to invest between INR 20 lakhs to 25 lakhs per startup, targeting to fund and incubate 24 startups by FY '25.

By Entrepreneur Staff

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Vivek Raina, Co-founder and mentor of Launchpad Kashmir and Co-founder and CEO of Excitel

Vivek Raina, Co-founder and CEO of Excitel Broadband, has launched an incubation fund named "Launchpad Kashmir" to enhance the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

Along with six other industry leaders—Muheet Mehraj (Founder of Kashmir Box), Khalid Wani (Sr Director at Western Digital), Namrata Kaul (Director at Vivirti Capital), Kunal Harisinghani (CCO of FlapKap), Ishfaq Mir (Co-founder of Kashmir Box), and Dawood Khan (Principal Engineer)—Vivek aims to support early-stage startups with resources and mentorship.

Launchpad Kashmir plans to invest between INR 20 lakhs to 25 lakhs per startup, targeting to fund and incubate 24 startups by FY '25. The initiative will guide startups from ideation to seed funding, fostering connections with venture capitalists and angel investors.

Vivek Raina, Co-founder and mentor of Launchpad Kashmir and Co-founder and CEO of Excitel, said, "From our interactions with the budding startup community in Jammu and Kashmir, we understood that while these entrepreneurs have immense potential for local businesses and solutions, they face significant challenges in training and mentorship on how to take those ideas or solutions to the national and global level. Therefore, we took it upon ourselves to start this initiative. We look forward to building a larger, sustainable ecosystem that can truly transform startup opportunities in the region."

As per the official release, Launchpad Kashmir is a sector-agnostic initiative designed to provide entrepreneurs with all the necessary support for building and scaling their startups. Which includes space, mentorship, training, and funds for proof of concept.

Namrata Kaul, Founding Member of Launchpad Kashmir, said, "We want to nurture the startup ecosystem and provide incubation and mentoring facilities. The intent is to create a close-knit community of start-up entrepreneurs, academicians, and industry practitioners and provide a space where they can learn from each other, network, and flourish. I feel very excited about this initiative and look forward to seeing it flourish."

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

For more than 30 years, Entrepreneur has set the course for success for millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. We'll teach you the secrets of the winners and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success.
News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

News and Trends

IIT Kanpur Launches Hackathon to Empower Startups in Cybersecurity

Startups will pitch their solutions to a panel of industry experts, with selected teams gaining access to incubation support at IIT Kanpur to help bring their ideas to market

News and Trends

5 Things to Know About India's Chess Pride, Gukesh Dommaraju

He is not only inspired by Dhoni but also relies on a coach from Dhoni's cricketing era to help him prepare mentally.