Shillong: PRIME Meghalaya on Thursday organised an onboarding and graduation programme at Ward’s Lake in Shillong, celebrating the entry of 75 new startups into its incubation programme and the graduation of 75 startups from Cohort 5.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma as the chief guest. The 75 new startups were selected through the Chief Minister’s E-Championship Challenge 6.0 and will begin their incubation journey under the PRIME initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said entrepreneurship has the potential to transform both the state and the country.
He said that while Meghalaya earlier lacked a structured ecosystem to support entrepreneurs, the state has made significant progress in recent years, with its entrepreneurship programmes now receiving national recognition and awards.
Referring to his own experience as an entrepreneur before entering politics, the chief minister said he could relate to the challenges, apprehensions and setbacks faced by young founders.
He assured continued government support, while also cautioning that entrepreneurship is inherently demanding and requires resilience and sustained effort.
Sangma said entrepreneurship plays a critical role in the development of all sectors and noted that the state government’s economic agenda, infrastructure development, mission-mode programmes and policies are closely linked to promoting entrepreneurial growth.
Highlighting the Chief Minister’s E-Championship Challenge, he said recognising and rewarding outstanding startups and industry champions helps sustain a vibrant entrepreneurial culture.
He also stressed the importance of nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among the youth from an early age and urged startups not to be disheartened by failures.
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“Keep moving forward despite challenges, as these struggles will define your journey in the years to come,” he said.
Commissioner and Secretary Dr Vijay Kumar D, in his address, said entrepreneurship promotion in Meghalaya remains both challenging and exciting due to the state’s distance from major markets.
However, he noted that innovation and persistence among entrepreneurs have helped the state build a growing startup ecosystem.
He said the expanding range and scale of entrepreneurial programmes have contributed to economic growth and positively impacted the lives of youth and women across the state.
During the event, the chief minister launched the PRIME Entrepreneur Catalogue, awarded top performers of the incubation programme in various categories, and felicitated graduating startups from Cohorts 5 and 6.
