KATHMANDU, June 3: The second cohort of the India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network (IN-SPAN) programme has begun, with 25 Nepali startups selected for an eight-week fully-funded training and innovation programme in India.
The programme, launched on June 1, is being conducted at the IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation in Chennai, India, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prof. Mangala Sundar, Prof. Gaurav Raina, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, and M. J. Shankar Raman, CEO of IIT Madras Pravartak. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, addressing virtually, welcomed the cohort and encouraged participants to engage with India’s startup ecosystem.
India launches IN-SPAN to support Nepali startups, applications...
IN-SPAN is a bilateral initiative designed to connect Nepali entrepreneurs with India’s deep-tech and startup ecosystem, while promoting cross-border innovation, investment linkages, and long-term entrepreneurial partnerships between the two countries.
According to the press release, the first cohort of the programme, held between December 2025 and January 2026, brought together 24 participants selected from around 250 applicants. Participants worked across sectors including AI, fintech, healthtech, agritech, cybersecurity, drones, clean energy, and climate technology.
Over eight weeks, participants attended workshops led by IIT Madras faculty, interacted with more than 25 startup CEOs, and underwent training in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and solar photovoltaics. Several also completed internships at Indian startups. The press release stated that nine Nepali startups received incubation and investment offers from the IIT Madras Incubation Cell and IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
Originally planned as an annual programme, IN-SPAN was advanced to a second cohort in June 2026 due to strong demand from Nepal’s startup community, the press release added.
The second cohort includes 25 startups selected from 380 applications across Nepal, representing sectors such as AI, biotechnology, fintech, health tech, agritech, e-commerce, mobility, manufacturing, construction technology, FMCG, aerospace, Internet of Things (IoT), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
The press release said the programme aims to strengthen cross-border innovation and build lasting entrepreneurial linkages between Nepal and India.
