Here - Start-up Kashmir!

These findings clearly suggest that an overwhelming majority of Kashmiri youth perceive
entrepreneurship as a challenging or very challenging path. It is possible that a youth perception
of entrepreneurship as a challenging process might be one of the deterring influences
holding back the level of total entrepreneurial activ-
ity in the Kashmir Valley.
The SKYE Baseline Survey revealed that only 22% of the
total youth surveyed had tried to become an entrepreneur.
To assess the survival rate of youth entrepreneurs in Kashmir,
the SKYE Project conducted a survey of 40 youth
from across the Kashmir Valley who attempted to start a
business in the last 1 year. Within this sample, we found
that 7 out of every 10 Kashmiri youth start-up attempts
failed within the first year. This is very dismal compared
to start-up survival rates in developed economies. 10 As mentioned earlier, the SKYE Baseline
survey revealed that only 28% of all youth surveyed have knowledge/awareness of
successful entrepreneurs/enterprises in Kashmir. Though it exists and there are hundreds
of examples, entrepreneurial success is not visible enough to youth in Kashmir. A high
prevalence of youth start-up failure might be shaping Kashmiri youth perceptions of entrepreneurship
in such a way that, in turn, is deterring youth from taking up the challenge
of entrepreneurship.
Kashmiri youth entrepreneurs face problems related to social acceptance, market opportunity,
lack of proper training, deficiencies in business development services, difficulties in
getting access to finance and issues related to administrative and regulatory framework. To
gain an understanding of how youth perceive these challenges, the SKYE Baseline Survey
asked youth to identify the issues they perceive as de-motivators (fears) to engage in entrepreneurship
in Kashmir. Rank-wise, the results were as follows:
1. Ongoing Conflict
2. Financial Risk
3. Corruption
4. Lack of skills
5. Administrative
hurdles
6. Stigma of failing &
Market demand
7. Gender
Discrimination
8. Competition
9. Social risks/costs
10. Workload
It is of interest to point out that
the five top-ranking de-motivators
(fears) to engage in entrepreneurship
were: ongoing
Though it exists and there
are hundreds of examples,
entrepreneurial success is
not visible enough to youth
in Kashmir.
10 The Small Business Admiistration estimates that in the United States, seven out of ten new employer firms last at least
two years, and about half survive five years. (http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/7495/8430)
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