KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 8

The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, organized the 2nd India-Nepal Startup Connect: Curtain Raiser for Startup Mahakumbh (SMK) 2025. Prithvi Subba Gurung, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Nepal, was the Chief Guest.

The event featured a roundtable discussion with representatives from DPIIT, Government of India, Startup India, FNCCI, CNIYEF, NAS-IT, and Nepali startups.

In his address, Minister Gurung highlighted Nepal's advancements in IT and its growing startup ecosystem. He underscored the strong bilateral ties between Nepal and India, emphasizing the ease of cross-border collaboration and encouraging Nepali startups to participate in Startup Mahakumbh 2025, according to the press release issued by the indian embassy in Kathmandu.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Shri Naveen Srivastava, addressed the inaugural session, highlighting how India's startup culture has become mainstream and the role of digital public infrastructure in fostering cross-border collaboration. He cited the successful interoperability between Nepal's FonePay and India's UPI, which facilitated over 400,000 merchant transactions since its launch in March 2024, the release stated.

Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Government of India, provided insights into Startup Mahakumbh 2025, describing it as a flagship event in the startup ecosystem. The event is expected to host over 3,000 exhibitors, 10,000 startups, 1,000 investors, and 50,000+ business visitors. Key sectors to be featured include Fintech, AI, Deeptech, Cybersecurity, Defense & Space Tech, Agritech, Sustainability, Gaming, Sports Tech, Biotech, Healthcare, and Incubation & Acceleration.

Panel discussions covered emerging tech opportunities and digital public infrastructure. Experts from TechXR, F1 Soft, Khalti Wallet, Nepal Clearing House, and IIT Madras Pravartak shared insights on cross-border startup collaboration.

Key takeaways included the potential for India-Nepal startup expansion, DPI-driven innovation, and increased cooperation between incubators and investors. Nepali startups welcomed the chance to join SMK 2025.

The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to fostering India-Nepal Startup Connect and encouraged participation in Startup Mahakumbh 2025.