MIT, Ncell, KU to promote tech entrepreneurship

Kathmandu, June 15

The United States-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Ncell and Kathmandu University today announced a collaboration to promote technology entrepreneurship in Nepal targeting the country’s technological advancement.

As a part of this initiation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology launched the MIT Global Start-up Labs (GLS) — a global initiative that promotes technology entrepreneurship among youths, especially in emerging nations.

This collaborative effort that focuses on mobile technology and entrepreneurship, will engage 35 selected students of Kathmandu
University to take part in an intensive boot camp where instructors from MIT will help them grow as entrepreneurs and foster start-ups.

Starting today, the boot camp will last until August 2.

MIT GSL-Nepal will last for seven weeks, during which the students will develop start-up projects — from ideation stage to execution.

MIT has been conducting such programmes since the last 18 years in 25 countries, including India and Sri Lanka in South Asia, promoting economic development by cultivating young technology entrepreneurs.

The MIT GSL programme focuses on mobile and internet technologies and is structured so that students are exposed to the commercial possibilities of technologies.

“We are delighted to partner with MIT and KU to bring the MIT GSL programme to Nepal. This is in line with our vision to help nurture ‘technopreneurship’ spirit among young talent through innovation,” said Suren J Amarasekera, managing
director of Ncell.

During the launch event, Professor Saman Amarasinghe, faculty director of MIT Global Start-ups Lab, MIT said that the programme has trained nearly 3,000 budding entrepreneurs across the world to become leaders in the new information economy.

“MIT has brought GSL programme to Kathmandu for the first time. We hope some of the participants will be able to use this experience to revolutionise Nepali digital ecosystem and even make a global impact.”

Similarly, Professor Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha, vice chancellor of Kathmandu University, said that the boot camp will provide the participating students an opportunity to get utmost exposure and encourage them to go back to their own community to identify their needs and the potential that exists in their own community and come up with innovative ideas that would be globally validated
and propagated.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal Swarna Perera; Cultural Affairs Officer of US Embassy Grace Caroll; Senior Director of Nepal Telecommunications Authority Ananda Raj Khanal; Registrar of KU Professor Bhola Thapa, MIT’s Professor Amarasinghe, and MD of Ncell Amarasekera jointly inaugurated the MIT GSL in Nepal.