#Startup

AI Hardware Startup Nominal Raises $240 Million at $3 Billion Value Nominal, a startup from Austin in the United States, has raised $240 million in new funding and is now valued at $3 billion. Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round, with Insight Partners as co-lead. The company builds an AI platform that helps engineers test complex hardware, from aircraft and nuclear reactors to smart factories. Its value has tripled in just eight months, after a $155 million round in March had valued it at $1 billion. Nominal says it now serves 80 commercial and government customers, and the US Air Force picked it for $71.2 million in funding in October. Co-founder and chief executive Cameron McCord is a former US Navy submarine officer. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Source: TechCrunch #Startup #Nominal #AI #Funding #TechNews

Polygon Co-founder Says Nepal Can Turn Hydropower Into AI Computing Power Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of the global blockchain network Polygon, said in Kathmandu today that Nepal can become a regional hub for AI infrastructure and digital payments. He said Nepal can turn its hydropower into AI computing power and sell it over the internet instead of selling cheap electricity. He said a compute industry could add a lot to Nepal's economy within two to five years and raise exports by 50 to 100 percent. He met Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle and Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Bishwo Nath Poudel during the visit, and Polygon gave USD 275,000 to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund for flood victims. Photo: Florian Hirzinger via Wikimedia Commons (image for representation) Source: ePardafas #NepalStartups #AI #Hydropower #SandeepNailwal #TechNepal

Four Nepali startups join a new climate innovation accelerator The World Food Programme and the Government of Nepal have started a new accelerator for climate and food security. Four Nepali startups will take part in a nine-month programme with technical support, mentoring and funding. The four were picked from 278 applicants: aQysta Nepal, DV Excellus, Gham Power and PlantSat. Their work covers solar irrigation, clean energy, digital advice for farmers and satellite-based farm insurance. The aim is to help farming families cope with floods, droughts and extreme weather. Photo: StockSnap Source: World Food Programme #NepalStartups #ClimateInnovation #AgriTech #WFP #Nepal

ArtiVidya brings AI into Nepali college classrooms A new Nepali startup called ArtiVidya has launched on Founders Nepal. It is a software tool for colleges that turns the official syllabus and daily class notes into an organised record teachers can approve. Students can then ask questions, catch up on missed classes and track how much of the syllabus is complete. The product was built by Samyak Subedi of Samyak Labs and is live now. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Source: Founders Nepal #NepalStartup #ArtiVidya #EdTech #AIinNepal #FoundersNepal

Nepal plans a Matribhumi Fund for AI factories and a tech hub Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has announced a new sovereign fund called the Matribhumi Fund in the budget for fiscal year 2026/27. It will finance big long-term projects, including dedicated AI factories and fuel storage that can last three months. The government also plans to sell part of its shares in Nepal Telecom to the public while keeping a 66 percent controlling stake. The money raised will help build a modern tech hub and update the country's digital landscape. Source: Nepal News Photo: Pexels #NepalStartups #AI #TechHub #MatribhumiFund #NepalTech

Three young graduates turn flower farming into a growing business in Banke Bedraj Acharya, Asim Sigdel and Chetan KC started growing flowers on 10 katthas of land at Futaha in Nepalgunj under their venture Fit Farm. They began with seeds brought from Chitwan and chose land with good drainage to protect the crop from monsoon water. With demand rising ahead of Tihar, they are already taking advance orders and have sold flowers worth about Rs 50,000. They now plan to grow watermelons and strawberries next, and say social media has helped them reach customers far beyond their local market. Photo: Pexels Source: eNewsPolar #NepalStartups #YoungEntrepreneurs #FlowerFarming #Banke #Tihar

400 startups to get concessional loans of up to Rs 2 million The government will give concessional loans to 400 startup businesses in this fiscal year. The Industrial Enterprises Development Institute has called for project proposals, and the last date to apply is November 27. Loans carry only 3 percent interest, and the government has set aside Rs 730 million for the programme. Startups in 16 sectors, from agriculture and tourism to technology and renewable energy, can apply. Photo: Pexels Source: The Annapurna Express #NepalStartups #StartupNepal #Entrepreneurs #BusinessNepal #IEDI

Nepal Rastra Bank Showcases 27 Fintech Ideas in Kathmandu Nepal Rastra Bank has held its Fintech Innovation Showcase Event 2026 in Kathmandu to promote technology based financial services. The event featured 27 exhibition stalls showing new fintech ideas and solutions. A panel discussed digital lending and access to credit for communities that banks reach less easily. Governor Biswo Nath Poudel said the central bank is working on innovation friendly rules that still protect stability, security and customers, and the event fits its new Fintech Strategy and Fintech Nexus plan. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Source: ShareSansar #NepalFintech #NepalStartups #DigitalBanking #Kathmandu #Innovation

70 young entrepreneurs in Dhangadhi move ahead to intensive business training Seventy aspiring entrepreneurs have been picked for an intensive business training programme in Dhangadhi after a three-day conference in Sudurpashchim Province. Hundreds of young people from across the province took part in the event. The selected group will get expert mentoring for 90 days to turn local ideas into businesses that can attract investment and create jobs. The programme focused on young graduates and returnee migrant workers, and no registered business was needed to take part. Photo: Sarah Pflug via Shopify Burst Source: The Himalayan Times #NepalStartups #Dhangadhi #Entrepreneurship #Sudurpashchim #StartupNepal

Nepal plans reforms to help its gaming and IT startups go global Prime Minister Balendra Shah has promised policy reforms to help Nepal's gaming and IT industries grow internationally. He said Nepali made games such as Ludo and Callbreak have already reached huge audiences abroad, with Ludo near 200 million downloads and Callbreak past 150 million. After meeting game developers, he said the government is working on their problems, including simpler taxes and easier rules for international earnings and reinvestment. The plan also includes support for the wider startup ecosystem through game jams, startup programmes and hackathons. Regular talks with Nepal Rastra Bank and the Finance Ministry are planned to remove barriers for tech companies. Source: Makalu Khabar

Welcome to Startup on Niguro. Every day, one startup, launch, funding update or founder lesson, in plain words. Tell us in the comments: which startup should we cover first?

Good news for Nepali founders. 922 startups have now received concessional loans worth Rs 1.057 billion under the government's startup loan scheme, according to the Industrial Enterprises Development Institute (IEDI). The loans are collateral-free at 3% interest, from Rs 500,000 to Rs 2 million. If you run a startup, what is the hardest part — the idea, the funding, or finding customers? Tell us below.