Ja.kop Footwear – a startup
currently undergoing incubation under PRIME is founded by Mr. Tengsrang Sangma,
a self-taught entrepreneur from Rongkhon Songital, Okhapara, West Garo hills
who learnt the process of making slippers through Youtube. He started
manufacturing slippers in September 2021 with the assistance of the PMEGP loan
with the aim to provide affordable footwear to the low-income group and daily
wagers which shows that he has compassion for the people of the villages. He
also started this business in hope to renew an abandoned house that his late
father had built which he was part of with still so much memories left.
Mr. Tengsrang was overjoyed when
his startup was shortlisted in the Top 50 category of the Chief Minister’s
E-Championship Challenge 3.0 which he considers as a great achievement. He
invested the prize money that he had won into sourcing raw materials and
purchasing of a few tools that would help him further enhance the process of
production. He is positive that the 9 months of the incubation programme in
PRIME will enable him to boost his skills and most importantly to be able to
network and collaborate with other startups as well.
With a team of 10 local youth who
are employed under the startup, Ja.kop is able to produce 200 pairs of slippers
per day with six working hours daily for four days weekly. Mr. Tengsrang is
grateful that his young employees, two of whom are still pursuing their
bachelor’s degree, work tirelessly and dedicate their time to Ja.kop Footwear.
Mr. Tengsrang aims to set up a
production unit and store in Tura as well which is approximately 9 kms from
Rongkhon Songital and relies on PRIME to guide him in this venture. With the
mentoring support and financial assistance through PRIME, Mr. Tengsrang also
aims to upgrade and enhance the branding and packaging of his products which
would help him target the niche market.
