On June 6, 2025 (Jestha 23, 2082), the halls of MIT College, Kathmandu, came alive with energy, vision, and a collective purpose to celebrate and empower student-led entrepreneurship. The event, Nepal’s Next Founders, marked more than just a gathering. It was the launch of a movement to spotlight students who are not waiting for the future but actively creating it.
Amid the silence surrounding student entrepreneurs in Nepal, this platform emerged as a response to a long-standing gap: the absence of spaces that recognize, amplify, and nurture young changemakers. With over 150 participants and 14 speakers from diverse backgrounds, the event showcased the power of peer-led stories and real, ground-level impact.
The Essence of the Event
Unlike traditional startup events focused on theory or celebrity success stories, Nepal’s Next Founders was created for students, by students. It brought to light raw, relatable journeys of young entrepreneurs who are building meaningful ventures across Nepal, often with minimal resources, but maximum determination.
From digital marketing and online learning to beauty services and handmade products, every story presented a version of what is possible when vision meets action.
Highlights from the Sessions
Student Founders’ Panel: Inspiring the Next
Moderated by Mohit KC, President of the MIT Entrepreneurship Club, the session featured:
- Santosh Magar (Online Class Nepal): Built an online English learning platform serving over 2,500 students in 17 countries using only college resources and a clear system.
- Umesh Pandey (Vistamails): Founded a digital marketing agency with zero capital, reaching clients across the US, Europe, and Australia.
- Kushalta Thapa (Wool of Love): Transformed her self-taught crochet skills into a thriving handcrafted business with a focus on personalization.
- Samriddhi Bhandari (Evsil Studio): Balanced academics and a growing beauty brand with disciplined time management and long-term vision.
These speakers discussed overcoming impostor syndrome, building consistency, and the importance of starting with whatever you have. Their message was clear: entrepreneurship is not about having all the answers, but about taking the first step.
Expert Roundtable: Empower, Innovate, Impact
The expert panel brought deeper industry insights from established professionals:
- Simon Dahal (CEO, Syanko Katti Roll): Encouraged students to find their purpose and not fear starting small. Shared lessons on discipline, growth, and the realities of building brands.
- Sudip Bhai Subedi (Founder, Indepth Story): Focused on digital independence, long-term value creation, and the discipline required to sustain passion.
- Kshitiz Chandra Ojha (CEO, Digital Gurkha): Discussed the unpredictability of entrepreneurship, the need for consistency, and why digital literacy matters.
- Suruchi Khadka (Founder, Aama’s Creation): Shared a profoundly personal journey of transforming caregiving and motherhood into a purposeful business.
Moderated by youth leader Niraj Kafle (Forbes 30 Under 30), the session emphasized starting with clarity, growing through failure, and building from real experience.
Voices of Change: A Policy Dialogue
In the closing session, Bipin Kumar Acharya, Joint Secretary General of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, brought together policy, entrepreneurship, and personal reflection. Drawing from his journey in science, media, and politics, he offered students a challenge:
“Are you a money-maker, or a passion-follower?”
He encouraged them to act now, take risks while they are young, and understand that failure in youth is a stumble, but in later years, it can be a cliff. His talk offered both strategic insight and emotional resonance, urging students to blend purpose with preparedness.
Impact and Reach
The event achieved more than just engagement; it fostered a culture of action:
- Created new connections between academia, startups, and policy leaders
- Amplified student voices and practical startup stories
- Encouraged participants to take tangible next steps in their own entrepreneurial journeys
- Sparked a new community of youth-led innovation
Demographics of Attendees
- MIT: 48.1%
- KMC: 22.7%
- Pathik Gyan Niketan: 7.8%
- Liberty, Trinity, British College, Phoenix, and others: 21.4%
What the Audience Said
“I’m just in Grade 10, but this event made me believe I can start something too. The speakers felt like friends, not distant figures.” - Alankar Rijal, Pathik Gyan Niketan
“It felt raw and real. For the first time, I saw people my age building something of their own.” - Aum Krishna, Attendee
