Aadhyanta kicks off accelerator programme in Province 1

• Applications open for agri-based entrepreneurs to participate in Aadhyanta Accelerator Programme

KATHMANDU: Aadhyanta, a fund management company, started Aadhyanta Accelerator Programme, in Province 1, on Wednesday, January 18. This five-month business programme aims to improve the competence of agricultural enterprises to scale up and be investment ready. The programme was announced among local stakeholders, authorities, programme partners, and the press at Big Hotel in Biratnagar. The programme is being run under the partnership between Aadhyanta Fund Management, a Nepali-owned fund mobilisation platform, and Sahaj-NAMDP (Nepal Agricultural Market Development Programme), alongside FNCCI Province 1, and the Investment Authority of Province 1. The programme is designed for high-growth-potential Agri small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Province 1. The interventions seek to boost the province's startup and entrepreneurial dynamics, promoting increased economic activity and innovation. At the end of the programme, 10 enterprises will be investment-ready. [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="32595,32600"] The accelerator programme will offer tailored workshops for selected entrepreneurs along with access to mentorship, networking opportunities, funding opportunities, branding and visibility, and support for innovation. The unique and tailored business acceleration programme will assist agri-entpreneurs in expanding and scaling their enterprises through product development, financial and business structuring, networking, and access to private capital, among others. Province 1 has a strong foundation and is the richest among provinces in terms of tourism, agriculture, trade, and industry. The province has enormous potential for the development of agriculture. With the right interventions, the province stands a great chance of becoming a successful and self-dependent region of the nation. At least 10 agribusiness owners from Province 1 will be made investment-ready during the programme's five-month duration. The programme also intends to assist agri-entrepreneurs in engaging with the community surrounding them to generate a significant number of employment possibilities. This is the first accelerator programme in Nepal being run outside the capital, retaliating the notion that such programmes only cater to entrepreneurs based in Kathmandu. The accelerator programme is also the first of its kind to be run using the public-private partnership approach. FNCCI, the largest organisation in the private sector, and the Provincial Investment Authority, on behalf of the provincial government, have each contributed to making this programme a success. This public-private collaboration enables the PE/VC firm to implement a cutting-edge business model, particularly with regard to enterprise sourcing for investment evaluation and the linkage of them with alternative funding possibilities. The partnership taps into an opportunity to bring about changes in the way the various actors of the ecosystem are currently interacting and collaborating. This programme is expected to allow entrepreneurs to access a greater network of experts and peers, along with support and resources beyond the lifespan of the programme. This will help create synergies between ecosystems’ actors and builders. Manoj Paudel, founder of Aadhyanta said, “Aadhyanta aspires to be the most impactful and largest fund mobilisation platform in Nepal by making investments accessible and engaging enterprises organically, taking risks together, and supporting them in each step.” He added, “We are here to unleash the true potential of the agriculture sector and provide adequate support to potential high-growth enterprises.” [gallery columns="1" link="file" size="full" ids="32598,32597"] The speakers at the press meet included the Vice Chairperson of FNCCI Province 1, Rajendra Raut; Joint Secretary of Province 1 Ministry of Agriculture, Pashupati Pokharel, CEO of Investment Authority of Province 1, Saroj Koirala; Team Lead of SAHAJ, Rick Van Der Kamp; and founder of Aadhyanta, Manoj Paudel. The application for the programme will be open till February 1, 2023. Aadhyanta is a Nepali-owned fund mobilisation platform with the mission to build a nurturing ecosystem for entrepreneurs and enterprises through a transformative approach to capital mobilisation. It empowers entrepreneurs and enterprises with investment intelligence and integrative alliance enabling them to lead innovation. It is working to accelerate Nepal’s transition to middle-income status by making investments accessible and engaging enterprises The Nepal Agricultural Market Development Programme (NAMDP), also known as Sahaj, operates under a bilateral agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Switzerland. Sahaj is a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) project, implemented by a consortium of Swisscontact (as the lead agency) and the Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED). The programme focuses on Province Number 1 (the far-most eastern province). READ ALSO:

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