The J&K government-sponsored startups M/s Genetico Private Limited and M/s GR8 Private Limited have won top honors at the Startup Mahakumbh 2025. They clinched a total cash award of Rs 25 lakh in the Startup MahaRathi Challenge. M/s Genetico Private Limited received Rs 20 lakh under the HealthTech and BioTech sector.
M/s GR8 Sports Private Limited won Rs 5 lakh under the Gaming and Sports sector. They stood out among startups from across India in their categories. The Startup MahaRathi Challenge is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
It recognizes promising early and growth-stage startups across 10 high-impact sectors. This year, 2400 startups from all over the country participated. The awards were presented at the concluding ceremony of Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi from April 3 to April 5, 2025.
Startup Mahakumbh winners and initiatives
The challenge offered over Rs 70 crore in funding, grant support, recognition, exposure, mentorship, incubation, and access to investor networks. Five startups from Jammu and Kashmir participated in Startup Mahakumbh 2025.
They were led by Irtif Mehraj Lone and Zahid Ali Dar from the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI). The J&K Industries and Commerce Department has played a key role in creating a robust startup ecosystem in the Union Territory. They formulated the J&K Startup Policy-2024 and are ensuring its implementation through JKEDI.
Arjun Gupta, Founder of Genetico Private Limited, said the award recognizes their team’s hard work and commitment. Fawz-ul-Kabir, Founder of GR8 Private Limited, expressed gratitude and thanked the J&K Government and JKEDI for their support. The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has allocated Rs 50 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year to implement the J&K Startup Policy 2024-27.
The funds will provide seed funding, awards, grants for incubators, mentorship, and initiatives to strengthen the startup ecosystem across the Union Territory.
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