20 founders from across Nepal to showcase ventures at U.S. Embassy Capstone Accelerator finale

Twenty emerging entrepreneurs from diverse sectors across Nepal are set to showcase their innovative ventures at the U.S. Embassy's Capstone Accelerator finale in Kathmandu this Friday.

This event marks the culmination of a nationwide entrepreneurship initiative that provided practical business skills to over 200 founders. Participants received training in areas such as marketing, storytelling, communication, AI readiness, export orientation, and investment readiness through regional workshops and virtual sessions.

Selected from a competitive national process, the 20 finalists participated in a three-day residential accelerator in Kathmandu. They will present their businesses to investors, business leaders, and ecosystem partners during an Investment and Global Market-Focused Pitching Session. This session is designed to offer constructive feedback, helping entrepreneurs refine their market positioning, scalability, and investment potential.

The program, supported by the U.S. Embassy Nepal and implemented by the International Development Institute in partnership with Aadyanta Advisory, aims to foster economic growth and strengthen U.S.-Nepal partnerships. Mike Harker, Public Affairs Chief at the U.S. Embassy Nepal, highlighted the initiative's role in equipping Nepali entrepreneurs with essential skills and global perspectives.

Following the pitching session, the finale will feature the Capstone “Main Street” Showcase, an interactive marketplace modeled after the traditional American Main Street. This interactive exhibit will allow founders to demonstrate their products and services, gather market feedback, build professional networks, and explore potential collaborations. The participating founders represent a wide array of industries, including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and social enterprise.

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Strong economic partnerships are built by investing in people. By equipping emerging Nepali entrepreneurs with the skills, networks, and global perspectives they need to grow, this initiative reinforces the longstanding partnership between the United States and Nepal while creating new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation, and private-sector collaboration.