Project Udyam: Opening Doors for Young Entrepreneurs in Nepal
Project Udyam, by Ekjut Nepal, connects young people and first-time founders with mentors, seed funding, networks and practical guidance.
Udyam means enterprise and effort. Project Udyam is the Ekjut Nepal project for young people who want to build something of their own, irrespective of background or privilege.
The gap
Nepal has no shortage of ambitious young people. Students and first-time founders have ideas for businesses that could create jobs at home. What many lack is not ambition but access: to mentors, capital, knowledge, and people who can open the next door. Encouragement alone is not enough.
What Project Udyam offers
- Mentoring and practical guidance from people who have built businesses
- Seed funding and introductions to funders
- Business and investor networks
- Entrepreneurship learning and opportunities to test an idea
Why Ekjut is well placed
Ekjut's registry includes business owners, professionals and connectors who have shown up for disasters and medical cases over many years. Many of them can do the same for a young founder: an hour of advice, an introduction to a supplier, a first customer or a small investment. Project Udyam turns that goodwill into a structured path.
Where the idea comes from
Ekjut's founder Chirag Goyal has worked with young entrepreneurs for years, including as President of the Kathmandu Chapter of the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs' Forum (NYEF), an independent organisation, and as Nepal's representative at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance in July 2023. That experience showed how much energy young people already have, and how often what holds them back is access to networks and a first opportunity.
Project Udyam is Ekjut's own initiative, built on that lesson: leadership is not simply a title, but being given enough trust and opportunity to do something with it.
Get involved
- Experienced entrepreneur, investor or professional? Join the registry and choose "Business / entrepreneurship".
- Young founder or student with an idea? Submit a request describing your idea and what support you need, or message the team on WhatsApp at +977 9802000100.