Nepal's IT exports are estimated to be around $500 million to $1 billion.
What you should know
Entrepreneurs from both countries have said that partnerships with Indian startups will be important for the development and expansion of Nepal's startup ecosystem. Speakers participating in the 'Startup Summit Nepal 2025' held at Hotel Royal Tulip in Lalitpur on Saturday pointed out that such partnerships will create an environment for creating startup unicorns in Nepal, just like in India.
The energy of the young generation in both Nepal and India is commendable, can be harnessed in the startup sector, India treats startups as a basis for economic development: Manjeev Singh Puri, Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal The Startup Network and the India-Nepal Center of the PhD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) organized a Startup Summit to discuss the priority given by the Indian government to the startup sector and how startups in Nepal face the challenges of scaling their businesses. Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said that the energy of the young generation in both Nepal and India is commendable and can be harnessed in the startup sector. He said that the Indian government treats startups as a basis for economic development.
The speakers at the program's panel discussion on 'Nepal's partnership with India for a $100 million startup economy' highlighted the initiatives, limitations and potential here. In the session, CG Core Global Managing Director Varun Chaudhary described Nepal and India as ‘natural partners’. Referring to the potential of this partnership to make a business global by keeping ownership in Nepal and capital in the country, he claimed that if a Nepali startup can survive in the Indian market, it can succeed in any corner of the world. Chaudhary also expressed his belief that the next billionaire will not be born from any one family or company but from the ‘startup ecosystem’.
In India, OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal became a billionaire at the age of 26, Neeraj Singh is leading a new unicorn company, why shouldn’t we follow that path too! : Varun Chaudhary, Managing Director, CG Core Global ‘In India, OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal became a billionaire at the age of 26, Neeraj Singh is leading a new unicorn company, when there are such examples in our neighborhood, how can we not follow that path,’ Chaudhary said, ‘If startups work within a certain system, unicorns will emerge from this ecosystem.’ However, he pointed out that the big achievements now are possible only through partnerships and not through solo efforts and that we should see India not only as a neighbor but also as a partner.
In a discussion moderated by Atul K Thakur, senior advisor to Nepal-India Center, PHDCCI and others, Dilip Bhattarai of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nikki) said that they are not limited to facilitation only, but are now also taking the lead in investment promotion. He said that Nikkei is about to set up an office in Delhi, India, and that there are plans to build a large incubation center in Nepal in collaboration with the Indian Embassy and the governments of both countries.
Hempal Shrestha, an expert in the field of information technology, estimates that Nepal's information technology exports are around $500 million to $1 billion, and believes that a big leap can be made in this sector through partnership with India. He pointed out that the current situation in Nepal's information technology sector is similar to that of India in the 1980s and that it has great potential for development. ‘We should not limit ourselves to a population of 30 million, we have an opportunity to connect with a market of more than 100 million (India),’ said Shrestha, ‘Although we have made a lot of efforts in areas such as hydropower, tourism, agriculture, we now have the potential to expand on a large scale in a short time in information technology.’
Speaking about the role of the media in promoting startups and ‘incubating’ new ideas for the past decade, Mahesh Swar, CEO of Kantipur Media Group, pointed out. ‘When we started the Next Venture Startup Promotion Program with Kabir Joshi 6/7 years ago, people did not even think much about how startups progress,’ said Swar, ‘For any startup to succeed, it needs the innovative thinking of the youth, the support of investors and the support of the media. The media helps in bringing the latest business ideas to the community and promoting them.’ It revitalizes the market and develops entrepreneurship among the youth.’
While social media is a powerful medium for startups, access to established media is essential for business credibility, suggested Charu Chadda, editor of Media Nine. Jagdish Kharel, Minister for Communications and Information Technology of the Government of Nepal, addressed the conference as the chief guest. A startup pitching competition was also organized at the event. In it, young entrepreneurs presented their innovative business plans to a panel of judges.
