Pokhara, Nepal: Despite having the desire and innovative ideas to start a business, many young people hesitate to take the first step due to uncertainty about how to begin, where to secure investment, whether their business will succeed, how to sustain it, and whether banks will provide loans. At the same time, as an increasing number of young people aspire to go abroad immediately after completing their studies, questions about how to utilise Nepal’s own opportunities, resources and human capital are becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, the provincial-level campaign of Startup Summit Nepal 2026 has officially begun in Pokhara, with the aim of encouraging Nepali youth to identify opportunities within the country, develop businesses, promote local production and create employment for others.
With the central message, “Let us stay in Nepal, produce in Nepal and create employment,” the summit organised in Pokhara on Wednesday presented entrepreneurship not merely as a way of starting a business, but as a national movement to build a self-reliant economy, reduce youth migration and generate employment opportunities at the local level. The programme aims to reach all seven provinces of Nepal to identify potential startup and business opportunities based on each province’s geography, natural resources, market conditions, human resources and local needs.
The initiative also seeks to expand development, investment and entrepreneurial opportunities beyond Kathmandu, extending them to provinces, districts, municipalities, rural municipalities and local communities. According to the organisers, the objective is to establish enterprises wherever opportunities exist, create employment for local people in their own communities and help young people who feel compelled to leave their hometowns in search of opportunities recognise the potential around them.
Prior to this initiative, Niti Research had already conducted various interactions and discussions on entrepreneurship and startups at Tribhuvan University, schools and colleges. Programmes focusing on opportunities, challenges and the future of women’s entrepreneurship had also been completed. Similarly, several rounds of discussions and interactions had been held with diplomatic missions, chief executive officers of banks and financial institutions, and private-sector representatives on startup investment, access to finance, market expansion and institutional collaboration. The Pokhara programme marks an effort to extend these experiences, insights and opportunities to the provincial level and translate them into practical action.
Speaking at the programme, Shobha Gyawali, Chairperson of Startup Summit Nepal 2026, said that encouraging young people to move beyond the mindset of seeking jobs and become entrepreneurs who create employment for others was an urgent national priority. She noted that although many young people possess innovative ideas, skills and the determination to contribute to nation-building, a lack of opportunities, guidance and access to investment often prevents their potential from being transformed into viable businesses.
“We have launched this campaign to encourage young people to become job creators rather than job seekers. If we can utilise the knowledge, skills and capabilities of the talented human resources who are increasingly looking abroad, we can create employment opportunities within Nepal and lay a strong foundation for economic prosperity,” Gyawali said.
She emphasised the importance of introducing entrepreneurship education from the school level. Noting that going abroad has become the first choice for many students after completing their higher secondary education, she said young people must be informed about the opportunities available within Nepal at an early stage.
“Simply telling young people not to go abroad is not enough. We must show them why they should stay in Nepal, what they can do here and how they can succeed. Our effort is to transform brain drain into brain gain,” she said.
According to Gyawali, another important reason for organising programmes in all seven provinces is that each province has different economic potential and business characteristics. While Gandaki Province offers opportunities in tourism, hospitality and local products, other provinces may have potential in agriculture, medicinal herbs, industries, technology, services and businesses based on local needs. Therefore, rather than promoting the same type of business everywhere, entrepreneurship should be developed according to local resources, markets and requirements.
She said the summit would provide aspiring entrepreneurs with information and guidance on business planning, identifying investment opportunities, accessing banks and financial institutions, market promotion, branding, packaging, labelling and the use of digital technology. It also aims to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills and technological knowledge needed to connect local products with national and international markets.
“We have the capacity to produce, we have resources, and we have people with the necessary skills. However, production alone is not enough. Quality, packaging, labelling, branding and market management are equally important. We must use digital technology and artificial intelligence to connect Nepali products with the global market,” she said.
Drawing on her experience in promoting women’s entrepreneurship, Gyawali said women have considerable capabilities and management skills, but their potential remains underutilised due to a lack of opportunities and an enabling environment. She added that young people, too, need a supportive ecosystem that helps transform their ideas into practical businesses, from preparing business proposals to establishing and operating enterprises.
She stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the government, private sector, banks, financial institutions and investors. She also called for simpler business registration and operating procedures, easier access to startup loans, increased loan limits and improved financial access for entrepreneurs with viable business plans but without collateral. She suggested that the government should lead by example by prioritising the use and promotion of Nepali products within its own institutions.
Gyawali further announced that after completing programmes in all seven provinces, the summit plans to select four to five promising startups or business concepts from each province and organise a final conference in Kathmandu. The conference aims to connect Nepali startups with domestic and international investors, facilitate access to seed capital and create opportunities for banking partnerships.
Addressing the programme, Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey said the effectiveness of government support for startups and entrepreneurship, as well as the proper utilisation of such support, must receive greater attention. Referring to past experiences in which grants were distributed without achieving the expected results, he emphasised the need to link financial assistance directly with production and measurable outcomes.
According to him, the Gandaki Province Government has been implementing production-based grants and matching-grant programmes. He said the provincial government has also been playing a facilitating role by promoting coordination and cooperation between industries and farmers.
Commenting on the Startup Gandaki programme, the Chief Minister said that although support had been provided to people interested in establishing new businesses, some participants had failed to continue their initiatives with the level of commitment and enthusiasm initially demonstrated.
“Some startups did not even participate in the programme, while others who participated could not deliver the expected results. Receiving grants or support is not the achievement in itself. What matters is using that support effectively and demonstrating tangible results in production and employment generation,” he said.
Stating that nation-building cannot be achieved merely by criticising previous generations, Chief Minister Pandey urged young people to come forward with fresh ideas, capabilities and a strong commitment to work. He said the younger generation should be prepared to take leadership and bring meaningful change.
Dhan Raj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, described startups as a necessity for the country. He said the primary purpose of startups is to connect innovative thinking and creative ideas with entrepreneurship and employment generation.
“A startup is not simply a means of finding employment for oneself. It is a process of developing an enterprise that can also create jobs for others. Young people must be able to transform their innovative ideas into viable businesses,” he said.
Informing the audience about the initiatives being implemented through the Business Promotion Centre of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Mayor Acharya said the metropolitan city has been supporting entrepreneurship through training, seed capital and business clinic services that provide consultation and assistance in resolving challenges faced during business operations.
He also encouraged students not to make going abroad their only priority after completing their studies. Instead, he urged them to consider starting their own businesses in Nepal and creating employment opportunities for others.
Mohammad Aamir Khan, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, said the future of young people was closely linked to startups and innovation. With the advancement of technology, he noted, there are substantial opportunities to create businesses within one’s own country by transforming innovative ideas into commercial ventures.
Referring to Pakistan’s experience in startup development and technology-based enterprises, he encouraged young people to prioritise technology, creativity and innovation. He also expressed the view that cooperation between Nepal and Pakistan could create new opportunities to promote entrepreneurship. He said the Embassy of Pakistan had extended its cooperation to the initiative because Startup Summit Nepal aims to inspire young people to pursue entrepreneurship.
Abha Shrestha Karn, Chief Secretary of the Gandaki Province Government, said Nepal possesses enormous potential in natural resources and its young population. She expressed confidence that the future of entrepreneurship would be promising if these resources and human capabilities were properly utilised.
She encouraged young people to identify the resources, assets and opportunities available in their own communities and use them to promote production and create employment. According to her, connecting innovation and creativity with local needs can strengthen the foundation of economic self-reliance.
Representatives of banks and financial institutions also shared their perspectives on access to finance and the importance of sound business planning for startup development. Hari Dhakal, Gandaki Province Head of Nabil Bank, and Narayan KC, Gandaki Province Head of Machhapuchhre Bank, presented information on financial services, loan facilities and the role of the banking sector in supporting startups and emerging entrepreneurs.
Similarly, Ram Bahadur Yadav chairman of the Nepal Microfinance Bankers’ Association emphasised the need to include microfinance institutions in the startup ecosystem. He said that microfinance institutions had already been practising the concept of providing loans without collateral, a feature that is now widely being highlighted in discussions about startup financing.
Presenting a paper on digital technology, marketing and branding, Oscar Man Katila stressed that products should be designed and marketed in ways that create a lasting impression in consumers’ minds. He shared important insights on effective market promotion and the role of branding in building successful businesses.
The speakers emphasised that young people planning to start businesses must develop clear business concepts, effective proposals and realistic business plans. They said startup loans may also be available without collateral, depending on the quality of the business plan, market potential and the entrepreneur’s capacity to repay the loan.
They further highlighted the importance of understanding the potential market, expected income, operational costs, risks and future business plans before starting an enterprise. According to them, the role of banks is not limited to providing loans; it also involves assessing business potential and risks and supporting enterprises that demonstrate the capacity to operate sustainably.
Students attending the programme also raised important questions about the practical challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs and prevailing social attitudes towards entrepreneurship.
Student John Shrestha questioned why loans are relatively accessible for young people seeking to go abroad for employment or studies, while banks and even parents often hesitate to support those who want to establish businesses in Nepal. He asked what would happen if young entrepreneurs borrowed money based on innovative ideas and business plans but failed to achieve the expected results, and who would bear the financial consequences.
He also raised questions about how an environment could be created to help young entrepreneurs manage business risks and recover from failure. Although risk is an inherent part of entrepreneurship, he stressed the importance of having mechanisms that allow young people to learn from setbacks and try again.
Similarly, student Ismi Shrestha questioned the tendency of parents to provide loans and financial support when their children express a desire to go abroad, while hesitating to offer similar assistance when they want to start businesses in Nepal. She asked whether banks could provide collateral-free loans to young people based on the strength of their business proposals and individual capabilities, even when their parents were unable to provide collateral.
These questions highlighted that access to finance alone is not sufficient for startup development. A broader change in the attitudes of families, banks, society and the state is equally necessary. The discussions underscored the importance of building an environment that offers young entrepreneurs not only financial assistance but also trust, mentorship, risk-management support and opportunities to make another attempt after failure.
Delivering a special address, Engineer Umesh Kumar Gupta said programmes such as the summit play an important role in establishing direct connections among entrepreneurs, banks, financial institutions and investors.
According to him, many investors have the financial capacity to invest but may lack opportunities to reach entrepreneurs with promising business concepts. Similarly, young people with innovative ideas may not know how to approach investors or lack the experience required to prepare professional business presentations.
“In many cases, investors are looking for suitable opportunities, while aspiring entrepreneurs have ideas and potential but do not know how to access investment. Programmes like this can act as a bridge between entrepreneurs, banks, financial institutions and investors,” he said.
The discussions at the summit made it clear that providing loans and grants alone would not be sufficient to develop entrepreneurship in Nepal. Identifying business opportunities, preparing sound business plans, ensuring market access, adopting technology, facilitating investment, improving government policies and promoting products must all move forward together.
In particular, utilising locally available resources and human capital to establish businesses based on local needs can generate employment opportunities from villages to cities. To achieve this, opportunities concentrated in Kathmandu must be extended to provinces and local governments, entrepreneurship education should be introduced from the school level, and young people must be given the confidence that they can build successful futures in their own communities.
Startup Summit Nepal 2026 aims to identify the potential of all seven provinces and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship at the local level. Its success will not be measured merely by the number of programmes organised or participants reached, but by how many new enterprises are established, how many jobs are created, how many local products gain access to markets and how many young people begin to see a future in Nepal rather than abroad.
The programme also featured an exhibition of business products and services through stalls operated by approximately 20 entrepreneurs who had started their businesses with startup loans. Around 400 people attended the event, with students forming the largest group of participants.
The programme was organised by Niti Research Pvt. Ltd., in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan, and with support from Nabil Bank Limited, Machhapuchhre Bank Limited and Pokhara Metropolitan City.
Ultimately, the campaign to encourage young people to build their futures in Nepal must go beyond slogans. The country must create an environment where their dreams can be realised through opportunities, investment, market access, technology and trust. Only when the opportunities that young people seek abroad can be created in their own villages, cities and provinces will the vision of a self-reliant economy and a prosperous Nepal become a reality.
With this vision, the campaign launched in Pokhara under Startup Summit Nepal 2026 is expected to open new doors for entrepreneurship and unlock the potential of all seven provinces.
