PRIME Meghalaya hosted a program at Ward’s Lake, Shillong to celebrate the Top 75 Startups selected through the Chief Minister’s E-Championship Challenge 6.0, marking the commencement of their incubation phase and the graduation of 75 Startups from Cohort 5. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma emphasized the transformative potential of entrepreneurship for both the state and the nation, highlighting the evolution of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Meghalaya over recent years, which has gained recognition from the Government of India through various awards.
Sangma shared his personal struggles as an entrepreneur before entering politics, expressing empathy for the challenges faced by new business owners. He affirmed the government’s support for fostering entrepreneurial initiatives but warned of inherent challenges, noting that PRIME is designed to assist in navigating these obstacles. He further linked the development of entrepreneurship to broader economic strategies, infrastructural progress, and policy frameworks of the state government.
During the event, he acknowledged the need for recognition of outstanding entrepreneurs and startups, asserting that industry champions inspire further development in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He also highlighted the importance of instilling an entrepreneurial culture in the youth of Meghalaya. Lastly, Sangma encouraged the entrepreneurs to persist despite failures and launched the PRIME Entrepreneur Catalogue, awarding top performers from the incubation program and honoring the graduates from Cohort 5 and Cohort 6.