International
03 Jun, 2026
25 Nepalese startups participate in training programme in India
Business To Business, Kathmandu, 3rd June, 2026: The launch of the second cohort of the India–Nepal Startup Partnership Network (IN-SPAN) marks a continuing effort by India and Nepal to deepen cooperation in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development. Twenty-five Nepali startups have begun an eight-week, fully funded training and acceleration programme at the IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation in Chennai.
Key details
- The startups come from a wide range of sectors, including AI, biotechnology, fintech, healthtech, agritech, cleantech, aerospace, manufacturing, mobility, IoT, SaaS, and e-commerce.
- The programme is supported by India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Startup India initiative.
- Participants will receive:
- Entrepreneurship and business training
- AI-focused skill development
- Investment-pitch opportunities
- Networking with Indian startups
- Internship and collaboration opportunities within the Indian startup ecosystem.
Why it matters
IN-SPAN is designed to strengthen cross-border startup collaboration between India and Nepal. By exposing Nepali founders to India's larger startup ecosystem, the programme aims to help them access mentorship, technology expertise, investors, and potential business partners.
Results from the first cohort
The first IN-SPAN cohort, which concluded earlier in 2026, involved 24 Nepali startups selected from around 250 applications. Several participants established business partnerships with Indian startups, and nine Nepali startups received incubation or investment offers from IIT Madras-affiliated innovation platforms.
The programme therefore serves not only as a training initiative but also as a platform for building long-term economic and technological ties between
India and
Nepal.