ICT Foundation Nepal to run incubation programme for over 50 startups

KATHMANDU: ICT Foundation Nepal (IFN) has been selected by the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI) of the Government of Nepal to run a Business Incubation Service Operation and Management Programme supporting early-stage digital and IT-enabled startups.

The Digital and IT-enabled Startup Incubation Programme will support more than 50 startups based in Kathmandu Valley (Bagmati Province) and Itahari (Koshi Province). The initiative will run from March to June 2026 and will be delivered through a hybrid model combining online and in-person activities.

Participating startups will receive one-to-one mentorship from industry experts, capacity building, business development and validation support, and investor-readiness preparation. Organisers say the programme is designed to help startups refine business models, strengthen market presence and prepare for investment.

The incubation drive also aims to expand entrepreneurship beyond Kathmandu by including entrepreneurs from historically underserved regions. The stated goal is to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem.

Top-performing startups will be eligible for seed investment support and will gain access to national platforms, including the ICT Award, Startup and Idea Fest, National Conclaves and the AI Conference. IFN has previously promoted regional innovation through events such as the Digital Karnali Conclave and Digital Madhesh Conclave.

The programme forms part of IFN’s broader effort to bolster Nepal’s startup ecosystem, promote inclusive regional entrepreneurship and create pathways for startups to scale nationally and internationally.

Interested startups can register online. Registration is open until 11:59 pm on April 23, 2026. Registration link: https://shorturl.at/e5n98