KATHMANDU, JANUARY 30 Team Ventures, a leading private equity and venture capital firm has made its first investment in the hospitality sector through an investment in Hotel Garima Limited, the owner of Soaltee Westend Itahari, with Team Ventures and its affiliates acquiring a 27% equity stake in the company. Soaltee Westend Itahari, a five-star–level hotel, is located in an emerging commercial and transit hub in eastern Nepal and operates under the Soaltee Hotels & Resorts brand, Nepal's first international hotel chain. 'The investment is expected to support the company's next phase of growth by advancing expansion, strengthening governance, and enhancing institutional capabilities,' said Kesang Shrestha, Chairman of Team Ventures. The investment is supported by Team Ventures' board and leadership team, which brings deep sectoral and hospitality experience, including senior leadership and board-level involvement with international hotel chains in Nepal and the region. 'We have been actively exploring opportunities in the hospitality sector, given its importance to Nepal's tourism ecosystem and the broader economy,' said Dorje Gyaltsen Lama, Director of Team Ventures. 'Soaltee Westend Itahari combines a strong brand, an experienced operator, and clear growth potential, and we look forward to supporting the company as it continues to scale and strengthen its institutional foundation.' 'As an equity partner, our role will go beyond capital,' said Bijaya Bahadur Shrestha, Director of Team Ventures. 'We will focus on strengthening governance, building organizational capacity, and working alongside management to support long-term, professionally managed growth.' 'We are pleased to welcome Team Ventures as an equity partner,' said Binod Poudel, Managing Director of Soaltee Westend Itahari. 'The partnership brings institutional capital and experience that we believe will support our expansion initiatives and the company's continued growth.' Team Ventures is a leading alternative investment firm established in 2016, focused on investing in growth-oriented businesses across multiple sectors. Its investment portfolio spans clean energy, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and media.