Two entrepreneurs from Nagaland, D Ledia Awomi and L. Chuba Lkr won awards in the category for Best Cultural Performance and Best Aromatic Plant, respectively at the Ideabaaz Startup Fest 2026 in association with Film Expo India, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 26th - 30th August 2026.
Ideabaaz is a startup-investment and edutainment platform whose stated aim is to provide entrepreneurs and startups an opportunity to pitch their innovative ideas directly to venture capitalists, investors, mentors and industry experts, while simultaneously creating a live learning environment for students and aspiring entrepreneurs. Exhibitions, presentations, networking sessions, awards, workshops, panel discussions and showcases were held during the fest.
D. Ledia Awomi, President, Ethnic Group of Nagaland (EGON), curated an ethnic fashion show during the event to showcase the ethnic attire and handlooms of Nagaland. Sharing how she came in association with Ideabaaz, she said that it was her previous body of work, which includes working with women organization, organizing fashion events, and being part of local movie production, that has brought her in contact with it. She expressed her hope that the rich culture of the State will be further promoted through her future collaborations with Ideabaaz. She also acknowledged the Tourism Department, Government of Nagaland for their support.
Entrepreneur, L. Chuba Lkr received the Best Aromatic Plant Award. He is the proprietor of M/s L.C. Longkumer Agar Processing Unit, which was set up in 2016. His father started agarwood plantation in the early part of 1960s, after his father passed away, he started the processing unit for agarwood oil production. He has decades of hands-on experience in cultivation, sourcing, processing and distillation of agarwood oil. He shared that one of his motivations on starting the enterprise was to get fair price for locally produced agarwood, support growers and plantation workers, protect communities from unfair practices, and create employment opportunities.
With the State having favourable soil, water and climate condition for producing high quality agar oil, he said that Nagaland’s agarwood oil is a prized commodity in the market. He revealed that Agar oil produced in the State are more resinous, with a distinct sweet smell, which lasts longer compared to others but this distinctiveness, he added, has also given rise to fake claims of agarwood oil originating from the State.
Chuba mentioned that most of his customers are from middle eastern countries and his future plan is to expand the enterprise’s retail presence in international markets such as Dubai and Bangkok, and also produce a new agar grade oil made entirely from 100% Nagaland agarwood, which he stated, is a project “very close to my heart.” Disclosing that limited distillation capacity is a challenge faced right now in the State, expanding distillation will be critical in order to leverage agarwood oil production. Encouraging young entrepreneurs to take up the venture he said that it does not require much expertise and need comparatively lesser yearly maintenance cost, except for initial capital investment, but also cautioned that it is a tedious process and requires patience to produce good quality agarwood oil.
(Nouneseno Peseyie, IA New Delhi)
