Rockstart Impact has started accepting applications for its annual 100-day business support programme, under which viable and scalable businesses will get assistance to formulate business plans and design financial and legal structures. This initiative, Rockstart Impact says, will help businesses attract investors to foster growth. 

Under the programme, 10 companies are selected every year. These companies undergo a 100-day accelerator programme. In these 100 days, national and international mentors help selected companies to formulate business plans and get their financial and legal structures straightened out, says a statement issued by Rockstart Impact.

At the end of the 100-day session, selected companies will get an opportunity to pitch their business plans to investors in Nepal and the Netherlands, adds the statement. “The main purpose of the programme is to build a viable business case which would be appealing to and match the expectations of local and foreign investors,” said Victoria Ous, programme director of Rockstart Impact.

This makes Rockstat Impact a programme that serves the “missing middle”: companies that are too big for micro-financing and too small for larger funds.

Launched in 2014, the Rockstart Impact accelerator programme was the first of its kind in Nepal. It not only bridges the gap between entrepreneurs and impact investors, but also connects entrepreneurs with national and international experts and high net worth individuals from around the globe. 

In the four years since its launch, Rockstart Impact has accelerated 29 companies, raised more than 3 million euros in investment with 21 investment pledges, says the statement.This year, the programme intends to support 22 companies, instead of 10 as in the past. “Applicants, this year, can apply for Rockstart Impact programme as well as Nepal Communitere’s I-Cube Incubation Programme,” says the statement. “Thus, instead of 10 companies, 22 companies will be selected this year. 

Out of the 22 companies, 10 will join Rockstart Impact acceleration programme and the remaining 12 will join I-Cube programme.” Interested companies can submit their applications till the midnight of October 5, adds the statement. 

Udhyami holds ‘pitch day’

NIC Asia Udhyami Seed Camp, an initiative of Startups Nepal, an online startup community that intends to make entrepreneurship accessible to all, held its ‘Pitch Day’ on Thursday. During the event, 16 teams that were working on their ideas for the last five days pitched their business plans. 

Udhyami Seed Camp is a six-day entrepreneurship bootcamp where early stage startups and entrepreneurs come to refine their ideas, develop business model, learn from experts, attract seed funds and kick start their ventures. During the programme, teams go through rigorous curriculum and mentorship sessions to refine, validate and transform their ideas into viable business ventures. 

These teams get support from seasoned entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors to start their entrepreneurial journey, according to Startups Nepal.