World News | Valediction Ceremony of First Cohort of India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network Commences | LatestLY

The valediction ceremony of the first cohort of the India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network (IN-SPAN), consisting of 24 Nepali startups, commenced on Friday at IIT Madras in Chennai. The eight-week program, funded and delivered in collaboration with IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, provided training and innovation opportunities for the participants. Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North) of the Ministry of External Affairs, attended as the Chief Guest and praised the initiative for fostering India-Nepal startup collaboration.

The 24 startups were selected from around 250 applications and represent diverse sectors including cybersecurity, edtech, and fintech. The program involved lectures, workshops, engagement with Indian startup CxOs, and skill development in areas like AI and semiconductors. Several participants forged business collaborations with Indian startups, and nine received incubation or investment offers from IIT Madras Incubation Cell and IIT Madras Pravartak.

Due to strong interest, the IN-SPAN program, originally planned as an annual event, will launch another cohort in the coming months. The initiative aims to strengthen the startup ecosystem between India and Nepal, with the potential establishment of an IIT Madras Pravartak Centre of Excellence in Nepal.

(Source：Latestly)