With an almost equal female and male population all around the world, women entrepreneurs are said to encompass approximately 1/3 of all entrepreneurs worldwide. As more women break barriers and gender specific roles across the globe to challenge the status quo we are showcasing five women entrepreneurs from Nepal.
We asked to give a piece of advice for aspiring youth of our country or social entrepreneurs in nepal in their quest of entrepreneurship and here is what they said.
(Disclaimer: Listing is not in any order or rank and do not forget to check their full stories on our website)
To upcycle, recycle or reuse old clothes, Pushpa Sthapit and Rajan Chakradhar are on a mission to reduce the waste created by clothes thrown away with their business, Revive. Inspired by her mom who made chair covers, pillow covers, and other DIYs out of old clothes, Pushpa Sthapit wished to work on reviving clothes to solve the wastage of valuable clothes and materials.
Pushpa Sthapit expressed passionately, “Go ahead and do what you believe in, don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Do whatever you have to do to get there. If you have to rebel then be a rebel!”
Read more about Pushpa and her upcycling venture here
Tackling two problems; migration of trained workers and xenocentric consumers in Nepal, Mint Studio gives women a choice to stay in Nepal and work with Mint Studio in making high quality apparels that are made to substitute other foreign brands in the market. Richa Rajbhandari and Ankiti Joshi believe that if the trained workers who migrate can make this apparel in other countries, they can make them in Nepal and with right equipment and quality materials, Nepali’s should also have access to the quality they deserve instead of counterfeits.
“Nothing happens over-night, entrepreneurship is a journey so plan well, be patient and be ready to perceive and at the end of it believe in yourself.” Advices Richa Rajbhandari of Mint studio
Go to this link to read about Mint Studio’s journey.
Set out to do more than just complain, Ayushi KC aims to build Nepal as the world’s top 20 recyclers by 2030 with her venture, Khaalisisi. “Entrepreneurship is itself is largely about bringing a social impact through the business. You don’t need to be a different kind of entrepreneur to do what you’re set out to do.” Being asked where the sirs were when she approached her first Khaalisisi friend, Ayushi KC had a vision of uniting all ‘Kawadi walas’ and streamlining the waste sellers through an online platform. By digitizing the traditional process of waste management, Khaalisisi bridges the gap between the Khaalisisi friends and the people who want to sell their wastes.
“Dreams, hardwork, courage, success and failure aren’t gender biased, so why should you be. Go for it! NO EXCUSES.” was Ayushi KC’s strong advice.
We recently covered Khaalisisi on our website. Head over to this link
“Being a woman entrepreneur and running a women led organization is not easy in our society. I receive comments like ‘what you are doing here’, ‘get a job in a bank or in an NGO’.” With her idea of making bags made out of fabric, Stuti Thapa, CEO of MyEarth Eco friendly Bags, started out with a bang with an order of 10,000 bags for Bhatbhateni during the blockade. This young entrepreneur completed the order within 3 months with the help of 5 to 8 didi’s she hired on pay-per-piece basis.
Stuti Thapa says, “You should be your own motivation. Believe in yourself and do not care too much about anyone else’s view or opinion. It is going to be very difficult but you must follow your heart and break the norm!”
Learn all about Stuti and her initiative to make shopping more eco-friendly here
Ojaswi Baidya and Loonibha Manandhar found a sustainable way to make products out of discarded tires with their venture – Tyre Treasures. These women run their business by getting their hands dirty and getting involved in all aspects of the business right from picking up the tyres from auto workshops, co-ordinating with carpenter’s to business development. They hire women from disadvantaged community to make the products and a local artist to make the final product attractive and funky to create beautiful furniture to adorn offices and homes.
“It is very hard to do something unconventional. But if you believe in yourself then people around you will also start believing in you.” says Ojaswi Baidya.
Read more about this duo who are keeping waste tyres from polluting our rivers over here
If you know any women social entrepreneurs in Nepal who is working hard to make this world a better place then write to us at info@nullblincventures.com and we would love to showcase her on our website.
