Srinagar, July 29 -- That changed, briefly but meaningfully, over a Zoom call.

In a rare moment of direct engagement, veteran investor Naga Prakasam met a group of Kashmiri entrepreneurs in a virtual pitch session hosted by Startup Kashmir on July 28.

Known for early bets on impact-driven companies like Uniphore, a voice AI company now valued at $2.5 billion, Prakasam called the pitches "authentic" and "solution-first," and pledged ongoing mentorship under a new cohort at the Indian Institute of Management.

Over ten promising startups, powerd by Startup Kashmir presented their innovative business ideas during the session.

These startups represented a diverse array of sectors and showcased ideas rooted in local relevance, innovation, A...