Starting a business is never easy, and especially so, in a region like Jammu and Kashmir, where budding entrepreneurs have to face difficulties such as a dearth of resources, societal pressure, and political unrest. However, some young Kashmiris have overcome these challenges and established themselves as successful entrepreneurs. Here we look at Kashmir’s top 10 young entrepreneurs 2021.
Wasif Rashid Bhat
Born in Duroo village, Sopore, he always wanted to be a businessman. Today, at the age of 17, Wasif Rashid Bhat is the owner of a Digital and IMEX marketing company, and known for being the youngest entrepreneur in Kashmir. His enterprise is called ‘Your World’, which employs over 80 people and works with the mission to create an entrepreneurship infrastructure for the Kashmiri youth.
Israr Ahmed
Native to Pampore, this young Kashmiri boy, aged 16, started a business of selling toys, gift articles, and decorative wall frames. He is a young entrepreneur of Kashmir, who wants to bring about a change in the people’s mindset and encourage youngsters to be self-starters.
Beenish and Omaira Khan
Beenish Bashir Khan from Chanapora and Omaira Qayoom Khan from Tengpora, aged 29, are friends-turned-business-partners, working to revive crochet. Crochet had always been Beenish’s hobby, which turned into a business when a neighbour asked her to crochet socks, following which, she started receiving several orders and decided to take Omaira’s help. With this, their entrepreneurial journey began. They expanded the business, and are thinking of starting a training centre for girls.
Khurshid Dar and Tanveer Sheikh
Native to Srigufwara in Anantnag, these friends started a manufacturing unit of paper napkins and disposable glasses, products they selected for being eco-friendly and because they are widely used by tourists and locals. These young entrepreneurs from Kashmir attribute their success to Prime Minister’s Employment Guarantee Programme. Their business has created 25 jobs and earned them good revenue. They are working towards expanding the business and guiding youngsters who wish to be entrepreneurs.
Sana Imtiyaz Hussaini
A woman in her 20s and the first one to feature on the Homebakers’ List of 2020, Sana runs a home-based baking business by the name Sweet Temptations by Sana Imtiaz. Since childhood, she had a passion for baking and cooking which she selected as her profession. She competed courses in baking and cake decoration, and promoted her work on Instagram and other online platforms. She is among the most successful woman entrepreneurs in Kashmir.
Iqra Mukhtar and Bushra Mukhtar
Iqra, aged 27 and Bushra, aged 23 are young entrepreneurs from Kashmir, who have started a clothing line by the name ‘Kashmiri Pehnava’. Started in 2018, this business venture aims at preserving Kashmir’s traditional clothing, which they have modified to suit the modern times.
Sami Ullah and Abid Rashid
Amid the Covid-19 crisis, Sami Ullah and Abid Rashid started a logistics company by the name ‘Fast Beetle’. They aim to promote Kashmir’s handicrafts, horticulture and other locally manufactured goods. Their company markets these goods and sells them online. It is a fast-growing company, which is said to be Kashmir Valley’s first company that gives end-to-end services to users. It has helped 500 women related to crafts, and earned a business of 5 crores.
Malik Aadil
Native to a village in Bandipora, Aadil, who has completed an MBA, started Kashmir’s first and largest online grocery store, named ‘Groxery-The Store next Door’, at the young age of 28. His online store provides goods at the users’ doorstep. He has developed the Groxery app, which has 45,000 Android users and 50,000 iOS users. Through Groxery, he aims to serve the people of his region by providing them the best-quality goods at the best prices.
Huzaifa Bazaz
At a young age of 21, she is the owner of the online shopping portal ‘Style Hub by Huzaifa’. She is pursuing an MBA, and also running the business with a team of four members. She uses Instagram where she has already garnered 12.4 K followers, and other online platforms to promote her business. Branded goods, primarily catering to youngsters, are sold on Style Hub and they are getting a good response across India.
Sharik Sharief Rather
Native to Shopian, Sharik Sharief Rather is the only person in the district who runs a business in food processing. After completing his education in biochemistry, and a diploma in food processing, he started a food processing unit. His business idea was driven by the fact that a lot of vegetables and fruits are grown in South Kashmir, which are wasted due to less consumption. He thought that preserving them would minimize wastage, and hence, ventured food processing and preservation. He has a team of 20 that works in canning fruits and vegetables.
These young entrepreneurs of Kashmir have pursued their dream with great determination and written success stories that continue to inspire Kashmir’s youth.
