idea studio where idea meets investment

Idea Studio Nepal

Idea Studio is a platform to turn promising ideas into solutions and ultimately ignite social change by enabling youth potentials in favour of entrepreneurship through innovation.
The realisation to find new solutions to the current challenges facing societies led to social innovation to take a central stage supported by decision-makers at the highest levels worldwide. This is coupled with the wave of technological advancements and the enormous expansion of the possibilities frontier brought about the new technologies. Governments nowadays are prepared more than ever to collaborate with the private sector and civil societies on new ideas in search of guidance and inspiration on how to scale cost-effective solutions to social problems. At the centre of the emergence of social innovation movements worldwide are the young and motivated new generation. They are technological savvy, ambitious, creative, and willing to take risks. New initiatives were launched all over with one keyword in common— innovation.

PROCESS

The process starts with calling for innovative ideas across the country, which is shortlisted and mentored by renowned business leaders at the business incubator at KUSOM-Idea Studio. This is the first business incubator in Nepal located at the premises of Kathmandu University School of Management. The best ideas nurtured at the business incubator is showcased on prime-time national television in the form of a reality show, where business leaders, investors and organisations interested in the ideas, partner and invest with innovators to put sustainable solutions in place. The top four innovative ideas in the categories: Made in Nepal, High Flying, Greenovation and Social Impact become eligible to receive seed investment starting from USD 5,000 to start, launch, and implement their ideas into a real solution and business.

IDEAS CALLING STAGE

Aspiring entrepreneurs from different walks of life are reached out through nationwide media campaign. They are encouraged to submit their innovative ideas during this stage. Idea Studio focuses on promoting economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable innovative ideas that address and solve problems in Nepali society.

IDEA SUBMISSION AND SELECTION STRATEGY

Ideas are submitted via email and online application form. A selection committee screens through the pool of submitted ideas and shortlists 75 ideas. Thereafter the selected participants are called for an audition where entrepreneurs pitch their innovative ideas. Finally, 35 ideas are shortlisted and invited to attend the incubation process at the incubation center. The ideas are selected based on the following criteria:
  • Impact of the idea
  • Creativity of the idea
  • Venture readiness
  • Feasibility plan of launch, investment, and sustainability of the venture
  • Risk of launching calculated and aware business
  • Entrepreneur Readiness
  • Is the entrepreneur passionate and serious about implementation and has the skills and knowledge?
  • Any prior experience

MENTORING AT INNOVATION INCUBATOR

Selected 35 applicants enter into one to two month long intensive lab-based studio incubation programme. The learning at the incubation program occurs in three stages.
In the first stage the ideators/entrepreneurs go through three days intensive experiential lab-based learning where they learn entrepreneurial skills and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. The experiential lab-based learning focuses on developing entrepreneurial skills such as:

  • Innovation/creativity
  • Self-knowledge/self-Awareness
  • Critical thinking
  • Communication
  • Collaboration/teamwork
  • Research Skills
  • Entrepreneurship knowledge
  • Responsibility

Experiential lab based learning is designed using the double diamond human centric design thinking using project based experiential learning.
In the second stage the ideators/entrepreneurs go through an intensive five days business creation workshop. Where they learn:

  • dentifying customers - Who is your customer? Customer segmentation
  • What can you do for your customer and how can your customer acquire your product? (Customer decision making units and customer decision making process)
  • How do you make money off your product? - Designing a business model
  • Designing and building product
  • Scaling your business - Adopting strategies to grow and scale your business
  • Measuring impact

The entrepreneurs enhance their business knowledge in this stage of the incubation programme. They also learn research, analytical, and decision-making skills. These are crucial for the success of any business.
In the third stage incubation center provides one-on-one coaching sessions with mentors from the private sector, experts, and academia. This prepares the participants to pitch their ideas to a potential business partner. The learning is customised according to the requirement of the entrepreneur. The key learnings from the first two stages of the incubation programme are now implemented in this section and scrutinised along with constructive feedback from the mentors/coaches. During this stage bi-weekly seminars are conducted in the areas of:

  • Legal compliance
  • Taxation and audit
  • Accounting and budgeting
  • New technology
  • Leadership

NATIONAL TELEVISION

The incubated ideators/entrepreneurs are showcased in an engaging TV reality show. Each ideator/entrepreneur is given five to 10 minutes to pitch the idea in front of a panel of business gurus (business leaders/experts/TV panelist). They need to use their best skills and knowledge to convince the panel of judges. The show is broadcast on national television as a reality show to increase the awareness and create the national curiosity to bring about a social movement of innovation through entrepreneurship. This is a critical stage and it also provides a unique opportunity to create a nationwide social movement for innovation and social responsibility. In the final episode, the top four promising business ideas will be announced winners under the categories of Made in Nepal, High Flying, Social Impact and Greenovation.

IMPLEMENTATION

The winners will next put their business ideas into action with the help of the Idea Studio business incubator, which will provide assistance and mentorship to the ideators/entrepreneurs in order to successfully launch the business.
The incubators can provide the following services:

  • Office space for six to nine months
  • Legal services to start the venture
  • Technical and business mentorship
  • Networking opportunities with different stakeholders

Districts Reached- 70
Ideas Collected- 4500
Ideas Incubated- 350
Successful Startups- 65

ELIGIBILITY

All Nepalis with an innovative idea to solve a social problem is eligible to participate.

VISION

Enable the youth of a nation through entrepreneurship and innovation to ignite a social economic change.

MISSION

Create innovative startup venture to generate new jobs in the economy and address major social challenges in the society.

CORE VALUES

Promote social innovation by generating investments for social change ensuring social justice by creating knowledge for sustainability and to restore human dignity for all.

nepal population under 30

CORE VALUES

OUR GOODWILL AMBASSADORS


Our Ambassadors: Anupama Khunjeli, Capt. Vijay Lama, Prakash Saput, Ani Choying Drolma, Deepak Bista, Paras Khadka, Anil Keshary Shah, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bamsha Acharya

BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Idea Studio Nepal has 6 Board Members and 6 working Staffs. Board Members are Dr.Tshering Lama; Chairperson, Ms. Barsha Shrestha; Treasurer, Mr.Suresh Simkhada, Ms. Malvika Subba, TV Host and Mr. Vivek Singh Thakuri.
dr. tshering lama chairperson idea studio nepal
Dr. Tshering Lama
Executive Chairperson
rupesh krishna shrestha general secretary board of director idea studio nepal
Mr. Rupesh Krishna Shrestha
Co Founder, Knowledge Director
Ms. Barsha Shrestha
Treasurer
suresh simkhada idea studio board of members
Mr. Suresh simkhada
Board of Director
Mr. Rabindra Shrestha
Board of Director
Ms. Malvika Subba
Board of Director
Mr. Vivek Singh Thakuri
Board of Director

INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Jonathan Chang

Google for Education Next Billion Users

Jacqueline (Jackie) Xu

Facebook

Justin Baird

DHL

Kimmo Paajanen

Oulu University of Applied Sciences

Marieme Jamme

iamtheCODE

Amjad Rabi

Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund

BUSINESS GURUS AND MENTORS


Ani Choying Drolma
Aarati Gurung
WWF Nepal
Bal Krishna Joshi
Thamel.com
Dr Ghanshayam Gurung
WWF Nepal
Mani Ram Pokhrel
Prabhu Bank
Nirmala Bist Rawal
Prabhu Bank
Rajendra Suwal
WWF Nepal
Renu Prasad Pandey
Prabhu Bank
Kawish Bhakta Shrestha
Sajilo Marmat Sewa
Pukar Acharya
Sajilo Marmat Sewa
Sujeet Regmi
Sajilo Marmat Sewa

Idea Studio Broadcast and Production team


Sofia Maharjan Karki
Presenter/Producer/Production Coordinator, Space 4K TV
Ramesh Thapa Magar
Production Department Head, Space 4K TV
Saroj Bhandari (Mister B)
Senior Engineer and MCR Head, Space 4K TV
Nikita Baral
Make-up Artist, Space 4K TV
Manish Shrestha
Graphics Designer and Visual Editor, Space 4K TV
Subash Jayana Shrestha
Digital Marketing Lead, Space 4K TV
Kamal Shrestha
Camera Person, Space 4K TV
Pujan Pokharel
Camera Person, Space 4K TV

KNOWLEDGE CREATORS


Dipesh Karki
Assistant Professor, Economics, Kathmandu University School of Management
Nisha Adhikari
Lecturer, Account and Finance, Kathmandu University School of Management
Roshee Lamichhane
Assistant Professor,Marketing, Kathmandu University School of Management
Dr Umesh Rajopadhyaya
Assistant Professor and Research Scholar, Kathmandu University School of Management
Sunanda Sharma
Assistant Professor, Kathmandu University School of Management
Hari Gopal Risal
Assistant Professor
Kathmandu University School of Management
Srawan Kumar KC
Assistant Professor, Management Information
Kathmandu University School of Management
Sanjay Pudasaini
Assistant Professor, Kathmandu University School of Management
Pradeep Parajuli
Principal / Managing Director
Liberty College

EXECUTIVE TEAM


Alisha Singh
Director of Business Development
Ahshia Sherchan
Project Officer
Prabesh Acharya
Business Development Manager
Prajwal Tamang
Business Development Officer
Er. Anupam Bhattarai
IT Consultant
Pranita Tuladhar
Finance and Compliance Manager
Pragya Ghimire
Project Coordinator
Abi Tamang
Finance Intern
Sachin Saud
Business Development Fellow
Sarvesh Singh
Business Development Fellow
Nirmala Bhujel
Office Staff