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Nepal's Young Innovators: Inspiring Stories of Local EdTech, HealthTech, and Green Tech Startups Changing the Country and Attracting First Investments
Mention Nepal and the imagination conjures up images of the majestic Himalayas, the ancient temples of Kathmandu, and serene monks. That image is certainly true, but it is no longer complete. Today, a dynamic new story is unfolding against the backdrop of eternal snows – the story of a technological revolution led by a younger generation of Nepalese. Armed not with ice axes but with laptops and smartphones, these innovators are not waiting for change, but actively creating it, solving their country’s most pressing problems with the help of technology.
This shift is not just a collection of disparate initiatives, but a powerful trend backed by numbers. While there were only about 300 registered startups in Nepal in 2015, by 2023 their number had exceeded 1,500. This explosive organic growth has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, the Nepalese government took a historic step by formally approving the Startup Support Policy, defining a “startup business” in law for the first time. This is not just a formality. The new policy opened up access to a government-backed soft loan program worth 1 billion Nepali rupees (about $7.5 million), providing young companies with collateral-free loans at minimal interest rates. This marked a shift from years of promises to real action.
However, this internal rise comes amid serious external and internal challenges. Nepal has fallen to 107th place in the global startup ecosystem rankings, reflecting intense competition and structural issues. The country continues to struggle with a massive "brain drain": as of 2022, about 1,700 young people leave Nepal every day in search of work abroad, depriving the economy of its most valuable resource - talent. Political instability and bureaucracy (ranked 94th in the ease of doing business index) create additional obstacles. The private equity market, although developing, is still in its infancy compared to neighbouring giants such as India.
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By Alpha Business MediaMention Nepal and the imagination conjures up images of the majestic Himalayas, the ancient temples of Kathmandu, and serene monks. That image is certainly true, but it is no longer complete. Today, a dynamic new story is unfolding against the backdrop of eternal snows – the story of a technological revolution led by a younger generation of Nepalese. Armed not with ice axes but with laptops and smartphones, these innovators are not waiting for change, but actively creating it, solving their country’s most pressing problems with the help of technology.
This shift is not just a collection of disparate initiatives, but a powerful trend backed by numbers. While there were only about 300 registered startups in Nepal in 2015, by 2023 their number had exceeded 1,500. This explosive organic growth has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, the Nepalese government took a historic step by formally approving the Startup Support Policy, defining a “startup business” in law for the first time. This is not just a formality. The new policy opened up access to a government-backed soft loan program worth 1 billion Nepali rupees (about $7.5 million), providing young companies with collateral-free loans at minimal interest rates. This marked a shift from years of promises to real action.
However, this internal rise comes amid serious external and internal challenges. Nepal has fallen to 107th place in the global startup ecosystem rankings, reflecting intense competition and structural issues. The country continues to struggle with a massive "brain drain": as of 2022, about 1,700 young people leave Nepal every day in search of work abroad, depriving the economy of its most valuable resource - talent. Political instability and bureaucracy (ranked 94th in the ease of doing business index) create additional obstacles. The private equity market, although developing, is still in its infancy compared to neighbouring giants such as India.