BIS 2026 Concludes Successfully, Strengthening Nepal’s Startup Ecosystem

Kathmandu – The Business Incubation Service (BIS) Program 2026, organized by ICT Foundation Nepal, has successfully concluded in Kathmandu. The closing and final pitching event was held in a grand setting at Anupam Foodland & Banquet, Battisputali, marking a key milestone in promoting startup growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Nepal.

The program aimed to enhance the capabilities of startup founders by supporting idea development, business model design, mentorship, networking, and overall entrepreneurial growth. Innovative startup teams from Koshi and Bagmati provinces showcased their ideas, technology-driven solutions, and business plans in the final stage.

According to coordinator Rachana Kharel, the program provided emerging entrepreneurs with a valuable platform to learn directly from experienced mentors and connect with the market ecosystem.

Key Insights from Experts

Chief guest Prof. Dr. Sudan Jha, member of the National Planning Commission, emphasized that entrepreneurship is a continuous learning and research journey. He encouraged startups to develop impactful ideas based on research and social value.

ICT expert Hempal Shrestha highlighted the importance of understanding customer needs and building strong business models.
Founder & CEO of Pratik Innovations Jatin Bhusal motivated participants to pursue entrepreneurship with long-term vision and clear purpose.
CBO of TingTing Sujan Prajapati noted that while Nepal offers strong startup potential, securing funding and resources remains a major challenge.

Winners of BIS 2026

A competitive pitch session was held between top startups from both provinces:

Koshi Province Winner: Safari Yatri (among top five: Local Bazar, Medicaab Technologies, Mind Bridge, Volt V)
Bagmati Province Winner: Sampark Digital Loyalty (among top five: Cloud Sathi, Match24 Orbitals, Retail Sathi, The Visionary Nepal)

Each winning team received NPR 100,000 cash prize, certificates, and recognition. All top-five teams were awarded participation certificates.

Mentors & Jury Panel

The program was guided by experienced mentors including Prashant Phuyal, Asmi Karki, Raj Bikram Maharjan, Bhushan Raj Giri, Vikas Karan, Manoj Kumar Ghale, and Santosh Paudel.

Final evaluation was conducted by a distinguished jury panel including professionals from Plan International Nepal, the Ministry of Science & Technology advisory team, and Leapfrog Technology.

Strong Presence of Distinguished Guests

The closing ceremony was attended by former minister Ganesh Shah, government officials, industry leaders, academics, and technology experts, making the event highly impactful and collaborative.

Organizers expressed confidence that BIS 2026 has strengthened collaboration among entrepreneurs, mentors, government bodies, and the private sector, further empowering Nepal’s growing startup ecosystem.