India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network Training Concludes Successfully at IIT Madras

The first cohort of the 'India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network' training program has successfully concluded, adding a new dimension to the commercial relationship between Nepal and India. The program, organized at IIT Madras in Chennai under the initiative of the Indian Embassy, saw the participation of 24 Nepali startups.

The closing ceremony, graced by the presence of Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, further elevated the technological and entrepreneurial collaboration between the two nations, according to the Embassy. The eight-week, fully-funded program provided specialized training to Nepali entrepreneurs by the IIT Madras Incubation Technologists Foundation.

Participating startups presented their innovative ideas across various sectors such as cybersecurity, AI, agri-tech, health, and fintech. The effectiveness of the program was so significant that 9 out of the 24 participating Nepali startups succeeded in receiving investment and incubation offers from the IIT Madras Incubation Cell.

This is a major achievement for the Nepali startups, as the total market capitalization of the companies within that incubation cell exceeds $6 billion. During the training, Nepali entrepreneurs received mentorship from renowned professors and successful business leaders for four weeks, along with the opportunity for direct interaction with 25 CEOs of Indian startups.

In the subsequent weeks, they also gained experience working in Indian companies while developing skills in modern technologies like AI and semiconductors.

At the closing ceremony, Unika Bajracharya, founder of Adavor, and Asim Shrestha, founder of Edtra, shared their experiences, stating that the program taught them more than they expected. They also proposed establishing a Center of Excellence from IIT Madras in Nepal to institutionalize these learnings.

Considering the widespread interest and success of the Nepali startup community, the organizers are preparing to relaunch the second cohort of this program within the next few months, rather than making it an annual event.