Acknowledging that governments are traditionally cautious about investing in ventures without guaranteed outcomes, Abdullah said that building a robust startup ecosystem requires a fundamental shift in approach. On the occasion, the Chief Minister distributed seed fund cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to seven startups to support their entrepreneurial ventures. He expressed confidence that ASCEND 2026 would become the launchpad for some of Jammu and Kashmir’s future unicorns. He launched the Junior Level Idea Challenge 2026 for the Under-18 school category, Startup Idea Challenge 2.0 for college and university students, the Compendium of Business Opportunities in J&K, the Himalayan Journal, and the Startup Coffee Table Book. He expressed confidence that the event would open new avenues for the startup ecosystem and pave the way for meaningful collaborations in the years ahead.