Roots of Circularity (RoC): Lumbini Cohort 2 Kicks off, Reflection on Lumbini Cohort 1 Circular Journey, Building the Momentum for Bagmati Cohort 2 and Circularity Toolkit Launch
Lumbini Cohort 2 Kicks Off
Impact Hub Kathmandu (IH KTM) is delighted to announce the successful onboarding of Lumbini Cohort 2 under the *Roots of Circularity (RoC) Incubator Program 2025, funded by the European Union.
The call for applications open to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups across Lumbini Province received an enthusiastic response, with 23 applications submitted. After a thorough selection process, 15 applicants advanced to the interview round, and finally, 10 outstanding enterprises were selected to join the cohort.
On 8 October 2025, the cohort officially began its journey with an onboarding and orientation session held at the IH KTM Lumbini Incubator Space, Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BUCCI). Participants were introduced to the program’s objectives, framework, activities, and commitments, all aimed at embedding circular economy principles into their businesses.
The following day, Masterclass 1 and 1.1, focused on “Introduction to Circular Economy” and “Developing a Circular Mindset,” set the tone for their circular journey. Facilitated by Keshav Dhakal (Program Officer) and Suresh Sapkota (Business Coach) for Lumbini Province, with support from Bisheshta Shrestha (Programs & GEDSI Lead) and Rohan Shrestha (Programs Officer), the sessions encouraged regenerative thinking, explored the transition from a linear to a circular model, and introduced frameworks like the Butterfly Model to deepen participants’ understanding of circularity.
Lumbini Cohort 1: Continuing Their Circular Journey
The Lumbini Cohort 1 incubatees concluded their transformative incubation experience with Masterclass 7: Reflection and Planning (Circularity Roadmap) on 24 June 2025. This session prompted participants to reflect on their six-to-eight-month journey through prompts such as “What did you like, learn, and long for?” and “What should you keep doing or start doing?”
Each incubatee developed 6-month milestones, key activities, and performance indicators, setting a strategic direction for their circular business growth.
Earlier, on 29 April 2025, they had completed Masterclass 6: Circular Business Plan focused on defining business descriptions, crafting value propositions, developing circular strategies, and mapping value networks, equipping enterprises to transform their ideas into actionable circular business plans.
Bagmati Cohort 2: Building Momentum
In the Bagmati Province, RoC Cohort 2 continues to gain traction with a series of impactful masterclasses:
Masterclass 2: Circular Finance (4 June 2025), led by Aarati Shrestha (Deputy/Finance Director), the session explored financial models for circular businesses and engaged participants in *World Café Discussions. Rohan Shrestha (Programs Officer) guided incubatees on pre-seed funding utilization received from this incubator program.
Masterclass 3 & 3.1: Circular Strategy and Stakeholder Mapping (9 July 2025), facilitated by Bisheshta Shrestha and Rohan Shrestha, participants mapped stakeholders, identified circular opportunities, and developed business solutions using circular strategy cards.
Masterclass 3.2: Visibility and Branding (20 August 2025), featured sessions by Prajwal Gadtaula (Board Chair, IH KTM) where he discussed brand elements and emphasized the importance of clarity and consistency in conveying a brand message.and Rashi Maharjan (Programs & Research Officer) on storytelling. Participants crafted personal story videos to enhance their brand narratives.
Masterclass 4.1: Environmental Practices (19 September 2025), led by Sanjeevani Yonzon Shrestha (Director, Wildlife Conservation Nepal), the session offered valuable insights into environmental sustainability. Participants learned about sustainable business practices, strategies to combat climate issues, ways to avoid greenwashing, and the importance of practicing environmental ethos. The masterclass was rich with facts and case studies on sustainability and circular economy practices.
Masterclass 4.2: GEDSI (16 October 2025), facilitated by Bisheshta Shrestha and Rohan Shrestha, the session thoroughly addressed Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI). Key areas of focus included social and disability inclusion, sexual harassment prevention, and the practical application of GEDSI principles in the circular economy and business practices. Through in-depth group discussions, participants explored strategies for achieving gender equity, understanding intersectionality, and promoting safer workspaces.
Launch Of The Circularity Toolkit
IH KTM proudly launched the Circularity Toolkit for MSMEs in Bagmati and Lumbini Provinces under the RoC Project, funded by the European Union. Designed for Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local Government, Private Sectors, and Academia, the toolkit provides practical tools, frameworks, and methodologies to integrate circular economy principles.
Toolkit Objectives:
- Understand CE trends, frameworks, and sectors
- Strengthen organizational and ecosystem capacity
- Integrate circular economy into program design and delivery
Developed by Bisheshta Shrestha (Programs & GEDSI Lead) and Rohan Shrestha (Programs Officer) under the guidance of Dr. Padmakshi Rana (Executive Director), the toolkit reflects IH KTM’s continued commitment to advancing circular innovation. Special thanks to Marine Hasson and Tom Johnson (IHA) for facilitating the Training of Trainers and to Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) for their partnership in this shared mission.
The Circularity Toolkit is now available on the IH KTM website, empowering organizations and entrepreneurs to lead the transition toward a regenerative, circular future.
