Google Business Group Nepal chapter held the second edition of BizStart 2019 on Saturday in Kathmandu to provide a platform for startup companies.

According to the organiser, 210 startups participated in the one-day event and drew over 10,000 visitors.

“Our main aim is to provide a platform to the startups so that they get an opportunity to find investment, business and networks,” said Amit Agrawal, manager at Google Business Group Nepal chapter. Besides the exhibition, the organiser also conducted a training session on developing entrepreneurship skills for entrepreneurs.

Last year, a total of 100 startup companies participated in the event.

‘Even unregistered startup companies participated in the event as there is no fee to join and visitors can enter for free,’ said Agrawal.

The startups showcased their ideas, from using drones to irrigate farms, reviving analogue music to creating customised tour packages. Some were working on robotics, recycling, food business, health, apparel and developing mobile apps.

The tourism sector is also buzzing with startups. The Visit Nepal 2020 campaign aims to attract two million tourists.

Google Business Group has been organising the event on an annual basis to bring entrepreneurs and startup-founders together from around the country under one roof. Besides displaying their products and services, startups also get an opportunity to learn new strategies and expand their businesses with Google’s technology, said the organiser.

The changing business environment in the country and rise of successful startups have inspired youths to set up their own companies, he said, adding that the government needs to do more to encourage startups.

Madhav Pandit, a visitor at the event from Dhobhighat, said that innovative ideas in existing products and services were something he found interesting in the event. “In a scenario where youths are choosing to go abroad instead of staying and working in Nepal, it is great to see them starting their own companies,” said Pandit who works at development agency.

He revealed that the number of startups using digital platforms were unnecessary as they had not conducted market research and lacked a clear business model.

Similarly, Roshan Shrestha, co-founder of Daami Music, an online Nepali song streaming service said that this type of event is a boon for startups as it allows them to promote their products and services.