Visit of Her Excellency Veronique Lorenzo in Impact Hub Kathmandu
By Nischal Shrestha and Rohan Shrestha

On July 8, 2024, Impact Hub Kathmandu (IHK) had the honor of welcoming Her Excellency Veronique Lorenzo, the EU Ambassador to Nepal, along with her team from the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal. The delegation included Eloisa Astudillo Fernandez, Deputy Head of Cooperation of EU Nepal, and Kaluwa Vergamota, Progam Officer of EU Nepal.  The main objective of hosting this visit was to demonstrate the IHK’s initiatives and programs that have supported uplifting the entrepreneurial landscape of Nepal as well as IHK’s role in fostering the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Program Overview

The visit began with a warm welcome and a meet-and-greet session, where the IHK team introduced themselves to Her Excellency and the EU Delegation Nepal Team. Afterward, Padmakshi Rana, Executive Director of IHK, and Pallab Shrestha, Technical Lead at FabLab, gave a brief introduction about IHK and FabLab Nepal. Padmakshi Rana presented an in-depth overview of IHK’s initiatives where she highlighted key programs of the organization such as the Business Incubator where startups and enterprises are offered support during various stages of their business that may be ideation, operational plan, access to finance, marketing strategy, business modeling and business plan development, business skills training and building professional networks; FabLab Nepal’s role in fostering innovation and creativity through technical support, and the Impact Academy that focuses on capacity development and leadership coaching programs for civic actors in Madhesh and Lumbini Provinces. She emphasized the importance of collaboration and support from various stakeholders, acknowledging the generous contributions of IHK’s partners and collaborators. Pallab Shrestha then provided a brief insight about FabLab Nepal as a collaborative center for innovation, invention, education, and humanitarian outreach that provides fully equipped technical (digital fabrication) workshops designed to convert ideas from heads to hands through the increase in access to knowledge, tools, and resources. He also showcased various projects and initiatives of FabLab Nepal that support sustainability and inclusivity. 

Padmakshi Rana concluded this presentation with IHK’s positioning in the current entrepreneurial ecosystem to support elevating startups and enterprises.

FabLab Tour

Fablab Tour by Shashank DewanAfter the presentations, Her Excellency and her team were given a tour of the FabLab facility, led by Shashank Dewan, Technical Officer. The tour highlighted the various equipment and projects that make FabLab an innovation hub. The delegation was impressed with the state-of-the-art facilities and the hands-on approach to learning and development fostered at FabLab.

Entrepreneurs’ Marketplace
IHK organized an Entrepreneurs’ Marketplace/Haat Bazaar for the visit, where the entrepreneurs from the Roots of Circularity(RoC) and P2G Projects showcased their businesses, products, and innovative circular solutions. The marketplace was a vibrant and dynamic space, filled with the energy and enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs. Her Excellency personally interacted with each entrepreneur, viewed their products, and provided valuable feedback and insights. This direct engagement was a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to present their work to a distinguished audience and gain feedback that could help refine their business models and strategies for greater impact.

The following are the participants incubatees from RoC and P2G who presented their products and services in the Entrepreneurs’ Marketplace/Haat Bazaar: 

• Duluwa Outdoors: Duluwa Outdoors, based in Nepal, curates outdoor and travel experiences led exclusively by women. Founded by five young women travelers, the organization aims to build a community where women can pursue education through adventure. Their vision is to help women explore beyond societal boundaries, learning about themselves and the world. By promoting equitable pay for women guides, Duluwa Outdoors works to close the gender gap in Nepal’s outdoor industry.
  
• Kinnovation Trading Pvt. Ltd.: Since 2019, Kinnovation Trading has spearheaded Nepal’s energy transformation, focusing on renewables, clean cooking, electric mobility, and agri-tech. They empower rural farmers with solar solutions, promote electric vehicles, and offer green technologies like solar food dehydration systems, EV charging stations, and all-electric cooking solutions. Their mission is to advance green energy adoption, foster circular economies, and uplift communities for a greener tomorrow.
• Re-Kriti (Re: कृति): Re-Kriti (Re: कृति) is an upcycling brand that breathes new life into discarded textiles by transforming them into high-utility bags. The name Re-Kriti (Re: कृति) reflects its essence: “Re” stands for Reused, Repurposed, and Recycled, while “Kriti” means Work of Art. Rekriti aims to offer customers a joyful, environmentally friendly shopping experience with products that showcase the craftsmanship of women artisans. Their main products are upcycled handbags and laptop bags, and the brand also provides an upcycling service, allowing customers to convert their old clothes into custom-made items.
• Hatthatti Nepal: Hattihatti Nepal is dedicated to empowering women from marginalized communities, helping them achieve their full social and economic potential. The organization provides essential life skills and opportunities, fostering sustainable connections for a better future. Committed to sustainability and ethical fashion, Hattihatti Nepal repurposes sarees into a variety of products, including kimonos, bow ties, tops, hair accessories, and ties.
• Eco-Sathi Nepal: Eco-Sathi Nepal promotes sustainable living by offering eco-friendly products such as bamboo toothbrushes, dish scrubs, hair combs, recycled newspaper pencils, recycled paper notebooks, and kitchenware made from wood and bamboo, including forks, spoons, and stirrers. Their mission is to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action, working with Nepalese brands to foster a cleaner, plastic-free, and greener Nepal. A portion of their income is donated to environmental organizations, reflecting their commitment to giving back. 

• Coffeebhatti: Founded in 2021, CoffeeBhatti, focuses on quality, sustainability, and supporting local farmers by producing single-origin Arabica coffee with natural flavors of lime, mango, pineapple, and flowers. CoffeeBhatti processes, roasts, and serves its coffee at the Coffee Bhatti Cafe, and also sources highland organic Arabica from small-scale farmers. They train farmers in quality coffee production to ensure better prices for their cherries and provide excellent coffee for customers.
• Kapal Fertilizer Agricultural Farm: Kapal Fertilizer is an environmental and social enterprise addressing fertilizer scarcity in Nepal, particularly in Karnali Province. The company focuses on managing difficult-to-degrade wastes, such as chicken feathers and hair, by developing liquid fertilizers from these materials. This innovative approach not only solves waste management issues but also provides an alternative to the burning problem of fertilizer shortages in Nepal.
• Naturo Earth: Naturo Earth specializes in natural skincare and healthcare products, inspired by the healthy lifestyle movement and ancient wisdom. The company offers premium products from the Himalayas, promoting conscious living and overall wellness. Their range includes genuine, organic items such as handmade soaps, essential oils, body scrubs, salt lamps, and shilajit, providing both personal care and environmentally sustainable alternatives.
• Shikar Agro Pvt. Ltd: Shikar Agro Pvt. Ltd., focuses on running its slaughterhouse with stringent standards, including sourcing healthy raw materials through health testing, ensuring safe transportation, maintaining clean conditions for live animals, and conducting humane butchering. They also emphasize quality meat inspection, certifications, and the standard transportation of various meat products, such as sausages, salami, and minced meat.
• Khagraj Krishi Udhyog Pvt. Ltd.: Khagraj Krishi specializes in growing red and yellow capsicums using hydroponics. Located in Teraute Tole, Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City, Lumbini Province, the greenhouse utilizes coco peat and drip irrigation to nurture the plants from seedlings to mature fruits. The climate-controlled facility ensures optimal temperature and humidity, producing fresh, crisp, crunchy, and juicy capsicums. In its second season, Khagraj Krishi sells its capsicums through various retailers in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Narayanghat.
• GD Labs: Green Decision Labs and Research (GD Labs) is a research and innovation lab dedicated to promoting urban sustainability in Nepal. By partnering with innovative Green and Social Ventures, GD Labs addresses key like air quality, waste management, mobility, and livelihood to foster sustainable urban lifestyles. One of their notable projects, Shital Chhana, tackles plastic waste management and the harsh Himalayan cold by offering low-cost upcycled plastic insulation rolls.
•  Paramendo: Paramendo is a waste management company that transforms plastic waste into usable recycled products. By collaborating with local communities and the government, Paramendo addresses the waste problems in Nepalese villages, focusing on both plastic and other recyclable materials. Their mission is to empower villagers by raising awareness about plastic issues, providing employment, and fostering a circular economy through the sale of recycled/upcycled products. Currently, based in Ree, Dhading, Paramendo offers LDPE sheets and recycled tiles for roof repair and replacement. 

Our entrepreneurs gained valuable feedback from the EU Ambassador, which will help them improve their business models and strategies for greater impact. IHK  through its initiatives will continue to work towards bringing positive change and fundamental shift in the entrepreneurial landscape by encouraging and developing the capacity of the entrepreneurs to integrate sustainable practices, innovation, and inclusiveness within their enterprises.