KATHMANDU, JUNE 29
As many as 50 aspiring entrepreneurs gathered in Bardiya for a boot camp organized by Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) from June 22 to 26.
The boot camp aimed to learn, unlearn, and relearn the essentials of entrepreneurship and starting sustainable, climate-smart businesses. It brought together 30 ecopreneurs trained through Skill Up! Program by Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development - CEAPRED (funded by Welthungerhilfe) and 20 Climate Smart Entrepreneurs from the Nepali Yuwa in Climate Action and Green Growth Project (funded by the European Union).
Ecopreneurs were farmers with more than three years of experience running a business while Climate Smart Entrepreneurs were youth in the early stage of starting a business.
All the participants were young professionals, including women and marginalized groups from Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces. Trainers for the boot camp were Kumar Paudel, Binaya Poudel, Suhrid Chapagain, and Hari Poudel.
The boot camp started with an introduction to the Business Model Canvas (BMC), where participants learned the nine components of BMC that included the value proposition, customer segment, product value, key partners, activities and resources, revenue stream, and access to finance. Furthermore, a virtual session on the legal and technical aspects of entrepreneurship was also conducted.
Parallel sessions were conducted for Ecopreneurs and Climate Smart Entrepreneurs to cater to their specific needs. For the Ecopreneurs, the boot camp provided technical support through sessions focused on crop calendars and farming techniques tailored for vegetable and goat farming. For the Climate Smart Entrepreneurs, the boot camp provided young entrepreneurs with the essential knowledge and tools to succeed in business through interactive sessions, from which they learned about the business model canvas and addressing customer pain points. Furthermore, participants were introduced to the strategies and tools essential for effective marketing in the digital era.
Entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey came together for combined sessions to learn and share. The Market Place Exhibition on the final day showcased climate smart entrepreneurs' ideas and prototypes, while ecopreneurs shared their business experiences. The event also facilitated networking and potential collaborations for learning and growth.
YI-Lab supports ecopreneurs in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces by offering business incubation services.
