KATHMANDU: The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has officially launched the second cohort of the India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network (IN-SPAN), welcoming 25 Nepali startups into an intensive, cross-border acceleration program.

The selected startups represent a highly diverse array of industries, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), biotechnology, cleantech, fintech, healthtech, agritech, e-commerce, mobility, manufacturing, construction tech, FMCG, aerospace, IoT, and SaaS.

The inaugural ceremony was hosted at the IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and attended by prominent academics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, alongside Shri M J Shankar Raman, CEO of the foundation.

Addressing the event virtually, the Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, commended the diversity of the participating cohort and encouraged the entrepreneurs to actively collaborate with and leverage the vast Indian startup ecosystem.

Supported by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Startup India, the 25 startups will now undergo a rigorous eight-week program.

The curriculum features specialized entrepreneurship training, AI skilling, investment pitching opportunities, and targeted networking and internship placements with Indian startups within their respective sectors.