From Local Hustle to Global Impact

A quiet revolution is reshaping Nepal’s economic narrative. Beyond the familiar stories of outmigration and remittances, a new generation of builders is forging a different path. From tech startups attracting international investment to homegrown ventures reaching global markets, Nepal’s entrepreneurial spirit is undergoing a profound transformation—proving that innovation knows no borders.

This momentum builds on the foundation of a “golden era” over a decade ago, which gave us disruptive pioneers like eSewa and Foodmandu. They demonstrated that scalable businesses could emerge from humble beginnings. Today, we are witnessing Startup Nepal 2.0: a wave that is more informed, better connected, and globally ambitious.

The evidence is compelling. Adex International, a Nepali IT firm, was acquired by a U.S. tech company in a multi-million-dollar deal. The education software VEDA, having secured one of the largest investments on Shark Tank Nepal, now serves over 1,300 schools across four countries. Meanwhile, the Nepal Tea Collective exports the authentic taste of Nepali organic tea to more than 40 nations from its base in New York. These are not isolated anecdotes but signals of a maturing ecosystem.

This progress, however, has been hard-won. Entrepreneurs continue to navigate a daunting landscape: a critical funding vacuum for growth-stage companies, bureaucratic hurdles that stifle innovation, and a societal tendency to celebrate only success while overlooking the grueling, invisible struggle of building a business. As many experts note, the ecosystem is still not designed to support startups through their most fragile early years.

Yet, the momentum is undeniable. Platforms like Shark Tank Nepal have not only injected capital but also revitalized the national conversation, inspiring a new wave of risk-takers. There is a growing understanding that entrepreneurship is not a glamorous buzzword but a test of resilience, execution, and grit.

The path forward requires a concerted effort. We must bridge the financing gap with smart, mid-sized capital tailored for growing SMEs. Policymakers must move beyond siloed initiatives to create a unified, supportive regulatory framework. Most importantly, we must celebrate the attempt as much as the outcome, cultivating a culture that values perseverance.

The message from this new generation is clear: they are not just dreaming of a different Nepal—they are building it, one venture at a time. Their success is a testament to the power of local ideas with global potential. It is now our collective responsibility to ensure the ecosystem matures to support them, transforming this current wave into a lasting tide of economic renewal and global competitiveness.

Madan Lamsal
[email protected]