The hall of the Model Institute of Technology buzzed with ideas, innovation, and inspiration as Nepal’s Next Founders, a dynamic youth entrepreneurship event organized by the MIT Entrepreneurship Club, took center stage in collaboration with Opportunities Forever. Held on Jestha 23 (June 6), the event welcomed over 100 attendees, including enthusiastic students from Grade 9 and 10, signaling a strong entrepreneurial spirit among Nepal’s youth.
Student Founders Panel: ‘Starting from Scratch’
Moderated by Mohit KC, President of the MIT Entrepreneurship Club, the panel showcased young changemakers who have already left their mark:
- Santosh Magar of Online Class Nepal built a platform serving 2,500+ students in 17 countries—entirely online, with no physical office.
- Umesh Pandey of VistaMails turned freelance gigs into a global agency.
- Kushalta Thapa of Wool of Love transformed a NPR 2,100 investment into a growing brand, learning entirely through YouTube.
- Samriddhi Bhandari of Evsil Studio shared her journey of balancing academics with running a beauty brand.
Students raised thoughtful questions about time management, pricing, and scaling up.
Expert Roundtable: Real Journeys, Honest Advice
In a thought-provoking session moderated by Niraj Kafle (Forbes 30 Under 30), seasoned entrepreneurs shared real stories of wins, losses, and growth:
- Simon Dahal emphasized solving real-world problems with purpose-driven ventures.
- Kshitiz Ojha spoke on maintaining authenticity while evolving.
- Sudip Bhai Subedi discussed the power of personal branding.
- Suruchi Khadka advocated for slow, quality growth in a fast-paced environment.
Each expert encouraged students to embrace failure, stay authentic, and keep taking small steps forward.
_fircB5n.png)
Policy Dialogue: Youth and Systemic Change
Speakers Bipin Kumar Acharya and Bijendra Shah shed light on how students can influence policy and societal transformation. Bipin encouraged youth to be active drivers of the change they wish to see.
A Platform With Purpose
The event was co-founded jointly by Sayuj Gyawali, Founder of Opportunities Forever, and Mohit KC, President of MIT Entrepreneurship Club, inspired by the lack of platforms showcasing student founders’ stories. Their goal is to motivate students from Grade 10 and beyond to take initiative and start something of their own. According to them, if even one student leaves inspired to begin their journey- that's real success.
During the Q&A session, Mr. R.K. Dahal praised the panelists, stating that the discussion had surpassed his expectations. He inquired about how they manage studies alongside business. As a response to the query, student Umesh shared that he focuses on balance by maintaining a daily schedule to stay organized. Similarly, Samriddhi highlighted boundaries as she enforces strict academics, while Santosh emphasizes managing tasks that he uses time-blocking to effectively manage priorities.
Additional questions covered topics such as working with friends in business—Santosh stressed the importance of clear communication and defined roles. In response to a question about childhood aspirations, Pushalta shared how she once wanted to be a doctor or pilot, but found real happiness through her business, urging others to explore without fear.
A distinguished guest with 31 years of teaching experience also commended the student CEOs, stating they possess not only the capability to lead businesses but the potential to lead the nation. Before the event took place, the college had announced an invitation to students to register for participating in the event.
