A major new project has been initiated to reinforce the relationship and enhance cooperation between the emerging startup ecosystems of India and Nepal. This program, dubbed the India-Nepal Start-up Partnership Network (IN-SPAN), will also bridge the two countries together in the context of innovation and entrepreneurship in order to help the two countries grow together in the regional startup environment. The introduction of IN-SPAN highlights the clear attempt to exploit the intellectual capital of both nations, enabling the development of viable businesses based on the high-level exposure and guidance. 

Strategic Initiative and Objectives

India-Nepal Startup Partnership Network (IN-SPAN) is a strategic project that is targeted directly at improving the cooperation between Nepali and Indian startups. The Ministry of External Affairs of India announced that the main part of the program is an intensive, fully-funded training and innovation providing. This is offered to the innovative and transformative Nepali entrepreneurs.

The selected individuals will be placed in an eight-week, full-scholarship training and innovation program based in a leading institution: IIT Madras, in partnership with the IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITM Pravartak). This is a major association with IITM Pravartak, as it is ranked as one of the leading incubators in India, with a history of incubating 46 startups, where 14 have managed to commercialize their technologies.

The program is designed in such a way as to offer huge advantages to the Nepali startups involved in it, giving them the required tools and conditions to bring their ideas to working enterprises. The program is bound to deliver a number of important aspects required in the initial stages of entrepreneurship.

The participants will be provided with immersive training in real-life applications that will help them overcome the problem of startup building and scaling. The program will also involve mentorship by the established experts who will guide and offer strategic advice in different business areas. Placements of internships will be provided to expose the participants to real-life business environments and help them know how their ideas are practically applied.

The general objective of IN-SPAN is to empower the participants to transform their creative ideas into feasible businesses. Through offering exposure to high-level training, mentorship, and exposure to the industry in the best innovation hubs in India, the initiative directly seeks to support a practical collaboration of the young entrepreneurs of India and Nepal. This will lead to mutual development, building a stronger and more connected regional startup ecosystem.

Establishment and participation process

IN-SPAN is not a one-off event but an expansion of the previous events of cooperation between the two countries. The project is a natural follow-up to the success of the 2 previous events dedicated to the cross-border entrepreneurial interaction: the first Startup Connect and the second Startup Mahakumbh. The two events were sponsored by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, meaning that it is a long-term effort by the Indian government to provide commitment to such cross-border entrepreneurial connections. IN-SPAN is the next stage of development and institutionalization of such cooperation, leaving one-time events aside and creating a systematic, long-term development program.

The IN-SPAN program is competitive, and therefore, the resources circulated are given to the most viable and committed entrepreneurs. The participants are going to be selected in a strict procedure in accordance with two criteria.

Initial screening will be done depending on the submissions made by the entrepreneurs. The ultimate decision will be made following a competitive interview process, which will be guided by the fact that only the most motivated and potential startups will be selected. In the official announcement, the application window of the IN-SPAN program will have a very short time period, which is going to be November 1-15, 2025.

Conclusion

The introduction of the India Nepal Startup Partnership Network (IN-SPAN), which provides an eight-week fully funded training and innovation program in association with IIT Madras, is another important move towards enhanced cross-border startup partnerships. Through the support of the leading innovation engine in India, the initiative will offer practical learning and professional mentorship, and industry exposure to Nepali businesspeople committed to transformations. With the experience of the past joint startup events, IN-SPAN is well placed to facilitate viable collaboration between the youths of the two countries, which ultimately will lead to common entrepreneurial development and a dynamic regional startup culture.