Entrepreneurs in the South and Central Asia can provide a bridge between new market opportunities and (talent and natural) resources, driving innovation in the region to an all-time high. Such an attempt is being made by the South Asia Connect entrepreneurs’ training program for building regional cooperation for enhancing intra-regional trade and investments.
The South Asia Connect (SAC) program is funded by the US Department of State and operated by IC2 Institute of the University of Texas (at Austin) out of the Nexus Start-up Hub in the American Center, New Delhi. It aims to support implementable start-up concepts in five countries of South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. There is a laid thrust to impart training to at least 25% Women Entrepreneurs through this program.
The program was formally launched by US Ambassador to India on February 8th, 2018 and the team has sensitized entrepreneurs, leaders of entrepreneurship organizations, early-stage investors, government officials and other stakeholders in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India since then.
Ten leaders of entrepreneurship organizations attended the orientation program in New Delhi to build regional cooperation and connecting to regional networks, mentors, training, and venture opportunities from April 1st to 5th, 2018. These 10 leaders also received three one-week visits with travel funding at the Nexus Startup Hub at the American Centre in New Delhi for networking and resources planning. As for now, entrepreneurs from five different countries are currently being recruited.
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Among the ten chosen leaders, two of them were from Nepal- Mahim Singh and Bibhuti Neupane. Singh is the program manager at Nepal Entrepreneur’s Hub whereas Neupane is the founder of her very own start-up “Antarprerana”.
Mahim Singh says that South Asia Connect with its broader vision, not only helps the entrepreneurs grow their companies, it also serves as a platform for South Asian countries to share their knowledge regarding the entrepreneurial ecosystem among each other and also provide support. During the one week training, we could easily see how diverse each country is in terms of their startup culture.
The program will choose 160 traditional and technology entrepreneurs from five countries to get online and in-person training, mentoring and networking. Entrepreneurs with receive best-practice training, ongoing mentorship, and access to networks that can advance their ventures.
Of the entrepreneurs completing the online training, 40 entrepreneurs will be selected to attend a one-week session at the Nexus Startup Hub in the American Centre, New Delhi with travel funding support. The first group of 20 entrepreneurs will receive training from May through July, while the second group of the remaining 20 entrepreneurs will receive training from September through November.
Programs like these have a profound impact on the cross-cultural and cross-nation collaboration in the South Asian entrepreneurial ecosystem. With entrepreneurship booming forward all around the world, South Asia Connect has definitely contributed in helping entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India to grow their companies.