India-Nepal Startup Connect Sets Stage for Startup Mahakumbh 2025

India-Nepal Startup Connect: Strengthening Cross-Border Innovation

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu hosted the second edition of the India-Nepal Startup Connect, setting the stage for Startup Mahakumbh (SMK) 2025. The event brought together key stakeholders from both nations to bolster cross-border startup collaboration and foster a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Uniting Key Industry Stakeholders

The event featured an insightful roundtable discussion with representatives from India's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Startup India, and Nepal’s leading business associations, including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Young Entrepreneurs Forum (CNIYEF). The gathering underscored the shared vision of both countries in driving startup growth and technological innovation.

Strengthening India-Nepal Startup Ties

Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithivi Subba Gurung, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing Nepal’s rapid strides in the IT sector and the immense opportunities for startups. He highlighted the natural synergy between India and Nepal, which makes cross-border business collaborations seamless and mutually beneficial.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, echoed similar sentiments, noting how India’s booming startup ecosystem, fueled by digital transformation and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), offers significant opportunities for collaboration. He cited the successful integration of Nepal’s FonePay with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has enabled over 400,000 merchant transactions since March 2024, as a testament to the potential of cross-border fintech innovations.

SMK 2025: A Global Platform for Startups

Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, India, presented an overview of Startup Mahakumbh 2025, positioning it as a premier global startup event. The scale of SMK 2025 is set to be unparalleled, featuring:

• 3,000+ exhibitors

• 10,000 startups

• 1,000 investors, incubators, and accelerators

• 50,000+ business visitors

The event will spotlight breakthrough innovations in sectors like Fintech, AI, Deeptech, Cybersecurity, Space Tech, Agritech, Climate Tech, Gaming, Biotech, and Healthcare, offering startups from India and Nepal an international platform to showcase their solutions.

Driving Nepal Startup Policy and Innovation Conversations

A series of thought-provoking discussions and presentations further enriched the event. Key highlights included:

• “Startup Policy in Nepal” by Umesh Kumar Gupta, Executive Director, Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI)
• IIT Madras Pravartak’s incubation efforts by Rajendra Mootha, Head (New Initiatives), IIT Madras Pravartak

Two engaging panel discussions provided deep insights into startup opportunities in both countries:

1. Opportunities for Emerging Tech Startups:

   • Prashant Mishra, CEO, TechXR – VR applications in tourism
   • Asgar Ali, Co-founder, F1 Soft – Fintech growth in Nepal
   • Amit Agrawal, Founder, Khalti Wallet – The rise of digital payments in Nepal
   • Rajendra Mootha, IIT Madras Pravartak – Success stories of Indian tech startups

2. Digital Public Infrastructure for Social Impact:

   • Sixit Bhatta, CEO, Vriddhi Sanjal Pvt Ltd – DPI development in Nepal
   • Neelesh Man Pradhan, CEO, Nepal Clearing House Limited – Fintech innovation through Nepal Pay
   • Prof. Bal Krishna Bal, Kathmandu University – Digital public goods development
   • Himanshu Tiwari, AVP, SchoolNet – India’s education DPI (Diksha platform)

A Call for Greater Collaboration

The discussions concluded with special addresses from Radhika Aryal, Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Nepal, and Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Nepal. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening India-Nepal startup ties.

A statement from the Embassy of India further emphasized this commitment:

“The Embassy will continue to support initiatives like India-Nepal Startup Connect. We invite all stakeholders in Nepal, including academic institutions, startups, and investors, to engage with Indian startups and incubators through Startup Mahakumbh 2025.”

Experts at the event underscored that India and Nepal present ideal markets for startups looking to expand internationally. They also stressed the importance of enhancing cross-border DPI connectivity and fostering deeper collaborations between incubators, such as IIT Madras Pravartak and Nepalese universities, to fuel startup growth.

A New Era for India-Nepal Startup Synergy

The second India-Nepal Startup Connect successfully reinforced the growing synergy between Indian and Nepali startups. By laying the groundwork for stronger bilateral innovation partnerships, the event signaled a promising future for startups in both nations. With the upcoming Startup Mahakumbh 2025, the collaboration is expected to scale new heights, unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators across borders.