Coaching Teams for Global Customer Success

Multinational companies need to coach their team to handle clients based in different time zones, cultures, languages, and more. Easier said than done. Countless number of hours, sessions, content, and materials are shared internally to help the company’s team to properly and successfully interact with global clients.

A few tips on coaching teams for Customer Success with global clients (North America based):

1. Conduct sessions between team members based in Customer regions and other office locations. If your company’s customers are based in the US and you have a team based in Nepal, then have your Nepal team members interact as much as possible with their US counterparts. Similarly, if your company’s customers are based in Nepal and you have a team based in US, then have your US team members interact as much as possible with their Nepal counterparts. These sessions should focus on cultural greetings, acceptable language and behaviors, ways of doing business in each culture etc.

    2. Inter-office company visits. Organize company visits between your US team and Nepal team members. Nepal based team members will visit the US and learn about US culture and business and vice versa. These cross cultural experiences will add tremendous value to the respective team members and organizing knowledge sharing sessions post the team members’ visit can be fruitful and productive to the rest of the team.

    3. Look outside company’s network for cultural learnings. Besides facilitating ways to internally assist the team members based globally, do look outside your company to find creative ways to provide team members with wider cultural knowledge and experiences. If a team member’s friend or family member is visiting the US or Nepal for a short period or someone is moving to study or work in the US or Nepal, meet them and hear their experiences and share your experiences as well. You’ll get a broader perspective on the culture and it can enrich your cultural knowledge and cultural nuances.

    Silicon Peaks

    Pukar C. Hamal, Founder and CEO of SecurityPal, recently coined the term Silicon Peaks to capture the growing startup ecosystem of Nepal.

    On his LinkedIn page, Pukar wrote that “The Himalayas have always been a source of inspiration for me. And given that 8 out of the worlds 14 highest mountains are located here including the highest (Mt. Everest) and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th(!) highest, it only felt natural to pay homage to the incredible Peaks we have here! And thus ?️*Silicon Peaks* ?️ was born!”

    Silicon Peaks is here and will continue to grow! #SiliconPeaks

    Institutional knowledge : A case study

    Nepal is a beautiful country with its unique opportunities and challenges.

    Alicia and Ajay both attend a top management college in Kathmandu, center of colleges and universities in Nepal. Once they finish their undergraduate studies, they plan to pursue their graduate studies outside of Nepal (Europe, Australia, North America). After graduating top of their class, Alicia starts working at a technology company and Ajay starts working at a bank. After working a few years, they decide to pursue their graduate studies and apply to universities around the world. Alicia feels comfortable at her workplace and shares her graduate study plans with her supervisors and employer. Ajay is hesitant sharing his graduate study plans and wants to finalize his graduate admission first and then share the news with his employer.

    Many employers across all industries are aware of this “going abroad” trend among the young professionals in Nepal. Some employers have systems in place to manage the transition better than others. With Alicia, her employer starts planning a transition, starts gathering institutional knowledge and puts out a vacancy internally and externally to fill her role. With Ajay, his employer will find out at the last minute his graduate study plans and will have to scramble to find a replacement, rush to collect his knowledge/expertise gained from having worked several years at the company, and might struggle to fill his position on time.

    Given this circumstance, who should take more responsibility? Should employees better communicate their graduate and undergraduate plans with their employers? How should employers better prepare for migration trends of their employees and how should they handle when employees do share their going abroad plans (be it for studies, work etc.)? What can the company, industry, or the government do to understand these migration (studies, work etc) trends and better prepare as well as leverage the diaspora’s collective expertise and experiences to help the companies, industries and the country?

    30 Stories: Prabal Gurung

    @prabalgurung Story by @thestorieshub

    The world of Prabal Gurung is vast. He is a fashion designer, an activist, a cultural icon, a philanthropist, and an inspiration to many individuals around the world.

    Prabal’s journey to the highest echelons of fashion is nothing short of a beautiful, and humbling story. Born in Singapore and raised in Nepal, Prabal was raised by his heroic single mother who encouraged him to pursue his wildest dreams. As a young boy who was constantly bullied and harassed in school, Prabal’s mother was his biggest source of strength, comfort, and inspiration.

    Prabal found a home in New York City, where he could fulfill his ambitious dreams. He knew that taking a chance to study at Parsons was his decision and would live with the results if things didn’t work out. After his education at Parsons as well as his experiences at Donna Karan, Cynthia Rowley and Bill Blass, Prabal decided to launch his own label in 2009. Although 2009 was not the ideal climate to launch a fashion label because of the recession, Prabal adjusted by even collecting unemployment and downsizing his apartment.

    Fast forward 10 years later, Prabal has created a luxury brand with a soul and purpose. His designs have been worn by the most influential women around the world including the former first lady Michelle Obama, Oprah, Zoe Saldana, Priyanka Chopra, The Duchess of Cambridge, Kerry Washington, Sarah Jessica Parker, Queen Rania of Jordan, Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, Deepika Padukone, Gabrielle Union, Ashley Graham, Hikari Mori, Katy Perry to name a few. He also started the Shikshya Foundation Nepal in 2011, which provides comprehensive education to children in Nepal.

    Bio: Prabal Gurung launched his collection in February 2009. He leads the brand with purpose and responsibility, choosing to manufacture locally in the garment district of New York City and partnering with artisans in his home country of Nepal. Follow Prabal @prabalgurung

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Offering Happiness

    @offeringhappiness Story by @thestorieshub

    Our entrepreneurial journey began when we decided we needed to work on a  sustainable business. We had worked on numerous development related projects with donor agencies and now wanted to start a business that was different, creative, profitable, and offered a solution to an existing problem in the market. 

    We realized that a lot of people wanted to do something special for their loved ones, but did not have the time, so we decided to offer a solution, while also adding excitement in their relationships. After a lot of ideation, we decided on becoming surprise planners or surprise gift deliverers and with less than one lakh of investment, we started Offering Happiness in 2017.

    The first year of business operations consisted of many ups and downs. We had started out without much market research or a concrete business model. In the initial phase, some days we got a lot of business, while other days we were not busy at all. By participating in business competitions and reaching out to mentors, we were able to hone our business model and our vision became much clearer.

    Bio: Started by four co-founders, Offering Happiness is a pioneer in experiential gifting in Nepal and has delivered more than 10,000 gifts and experiences since it’s launch. Offering Happiness was the 2019 winner at Seedstars Kathmandu and were awarded the Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards (GSEA) Nepal 2019. Get happy at @offeringhappiness

    Image credit: Offering Happiness Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Red Mud Coffee

    @redmudcoffee Story by @thestorieshub

    “Every Revolution Starts in a Coffee Shop”

    The journey of Red Mud Coffee began from a short trip that Aashish Adhikari took when he went to visit his grandparents in Kavre. He discovered that his ancestral lands were perfectly suited for planting coffee and as a coffee lover, he was deeply interested in starting a coffee plantation in Nepal. He wanted to grow coffee and export it around the world. However, this vision did not come to fruition. Eventually, he came across an opportunity to buy a struggling coffee store in Thapathali and with his brother and school friend bought it and renamed it Red Mud Coffee. This is how the coffee revolution began for them.

    One of the biggest challenges for Red Mud in the initial stages was getting access to capital. After two to three years of having established the coffee shop, they found a Dutch partner who believed in their vision. With the new partnership, vision, and team, Aashish is determined to make Red Mud Coffee the “Starbucks” of Nepal. With 5 Red Mud outlets in Nepal to date ranging from Thapathali to Manang, Aashish is really proud to have created and provided jobs to many young people. He is also very happy to have created a brand that a lot of young individuals can associate with. His vision has really come true – Red Mud is regarded as a socially vibrant space where you can mingle and network.

    Bio: Started in 2012 by Aashish Adhikari, Red Mud Coffee now has 5 outlets and a coffee kiosk inside the United States Embassy in Maharajgunj. Aashish also runs Mero2Paisa, a platform and podcast that is focused on producing content that is relevant to issues faced by the youth of Nepal. Follow the revolution @redmudcoffee

    Image credit: Red Mud Coffee Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Sneha Shrestha (Imagine)

    @imagine876 Story by @thestorieshub

    “You can imagine, too.”

    The graffiti art form mesmerized Sneha. She had never seen American graffiti and learned more about the art form from her mentor, Rob Gibbs, a pioneer of graffiti in Boston. When she started writing in Nepali, she felt that her voice could really shine. She realized she could show who she is as a person, where she’s from, and a bit about her culture. She finds inspiration for her paintings from the vibrant traditions and cultures of Nepal, where she was born and raised. Her pieces convey a positive phrase – “You can imagine, too.” 

    Although Sneha went to one of the best schools in Kathmandu, she still felt that she did not have an art experience opportunity. From her own experience growing up and realizing how important art experiences are to kids, she established Nepal’s first Children’s Art Museum. The museum provides educational and creative learning experiences and has had over 7,000 participants to date.

    Bio: Sneha Shrestha (Imagine) is an artist from Nepal who paints mindful mantras meshing aesthetics of Sanskrit scriptures with graffiti influences. She has collaborated with Reebok, Neiman Marcus, and Red Bull and her work is held in the private collections of Facebook, Google, Capital One and Fidelity Investments. She is the founder of Nepal Children’s Art Museum. In 2016, she was given the key to the city by the mayor of Worcester. Follow her @imagine876

    Image credit: WhereTraveler website

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Trisara

    @trisara_restaurant Story by @thestorieshub

    The journey of Trisara began with three friends who always wanted to open a restaurant. Once they acquired the land they wanted in Lazimpat, the restaurant was on its way to become a beloved hang out spot for many Kathmandu residents. 

    Over the years, Trisara evolved with the changing times, tastes, and expectations. When the restaurant first started, they had half of the current food and drink items available on the menu. They had not even thought about hosting live music shows and events. Today, people excitedly discuss their food, customer service, live music, and especially the restaurant’s ambience on social platforms. 

    With the success of the restaurant’s first branch in Lazimpat, the friends have opened a second one in Pokhara, followed by the latest one in Durbarmarg. They opened Trisara The Baking Factory as well. They eventually want to open a branch outside of Nepal.

    Bio: Trisara was founded in 2011 by three friends Arun Shrestha, Raunak Rana, and Sovan Malakar. The restaurant is now extremely well known in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Follow them @trisara_restaurant

    Image credit: Trisara Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: 108 Wears


    @108ktm
     Story by @thestorieshub

    The number 108 holds multi-dimensional meanings. It is considered sacred in many religions and traditions and is also a recurring number in astrology, science, and mathematics. In एक सए आठ the individual numbers 1, 0, and 8 represent onething, nothing, and everything respectively.

    We wanted to bring unique and meaningful designs inspired by Nepali culture into a clothing brand and that’s how 108 wears came about. We had been designing limited edition tees by outsourcing our tailoring and printing since 2012. Then, in 2017 we started printing tees through our own print workshop. One of the main reasons behind this was to be able to experiment with different printing techniques.

    We remember the days when we printed our first design (Nepal United F.C.) at a local print shop, but the color was printed opposite to what we had wanted. We went all around town trying to find the right printers to change the design multiple times and make things work. We have really experienced the challenges of printing and producing high quality tees without having our own print shop.

    Now, we are able to produce good quality designs in our print shop and bring it to the market.

    Bio: 108 Wears was started by Kushal and Salil in 2012. They sell their products through @thelocalprojectnepal_tlp@blockoutktm as well as online. Follow them @108ktm

    Image credit: The Local Project Nepal 

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Arniko

    @arniko_official Story by @thestorieshub

    Marius “Arniko” Arter initially did not plan to make a business out of selling skateboards. He went to Nepal to see if he was going to be able to produce skateboards and after three months of producing skateboards in Nepal, he brought two boards back to Switzerland. Many people in his network in Switzerland liked the skateboards so much that he went back to Nepal to produce more, which ultimately led to the creation of his business, Arniko.

    Arniko is well known for their skateboards, which they proudly produce in Nepal and was the first company to introduce the skateboarding culture on a large scale in the country. Back in 2011, Arniko had about 70% foreign customers and 30% local Nepalese customers. The skateboard scene was rising in Nepal and Arniko believed that there was potential in growing and getting more Nepali customers. 

    Fast forward to today, we now have @skate_nepal, which is spreading skateboarding to the people of Nepal. There is now also a community-built skatepark in Pokhara, Nepal @annapurnaskatepark.

    Bio: Established in 2007, Arniko produces a wide range of fashion articles and skateboards in Nepal and India. Arniko has a flagship store in Zurich, Switzerland and also sell their merchandise through The Local Project Nepal store in Kathmandu, Nepal.

    Image credit: Arniko website

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: The Local Project Nepal

    @thelocalprojectnepal_tlp Story by @thestorieshub

    “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.” – Steve Jobs

    Sachin Shrestha believes that all the work experiences that he had and the environment he grew up in helped him co-found “The Local Project Nepal.” His father had a successful garment factory, which sustained the family. Over time, the orders decreased for the products they were manufacturing and then one day his father decided to close down the factory and hoped to restart the business in the next few years. However, the factory never restarted again.

    During his work journey, Sachin worked for KN International for about three years. The company’s long time business clients from Japan started to demand chemical free fabrics that were produced ethically through fair practices, which gave him a lot of exposure in those areas. These experiences also helped shed light into the opportunities and challenges of ethical production of goods in Nepal. Deep inside, Sachin really wanted to start his own brand or delve into manufacturing, but he couldn’t do it for a variety of reasons, until an opportunity came along.

    When a business opportunity to start a store that promotes local products inside Evoke Cafe & Bistro came about from Sachin and Binam’s friends, they immediately said yes. Sachin believes that providing a platform for local manufacturers brings him joy and closer to his manufacturing roots. Now, “The Local Project Nepal” has two locations in the Kathmandu valley and is a hub for authentic and locally made products.

    Bio: Started by Sachin Shrestha and Binam Shakya, “The Local Project Nepal” encourages local entrepreneurship and production, while providing a platform for Nepal made vendors to sell their products. Follow them @thelocalprojectnepal_tlp

    Image credit: Evoke Cafe & Bistro

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Arthur Gunn

    @arthur_gunn Story by @thestorieshub

    When I got my first guitar from my mom, I was ecstatic and started singing and playing songs I heard on the radio and TV. That’s how I fell in love with music. 

    After high school, I moved to America from Nepal and settled in Wichita, Kansas. Living in Wichita really got me into Bluegrass and Country music. I had not listened to those kinds of music before, but I was pulled towards it. This attraction was magnetic.

    I made my American dream come true by being runner up in the American Idol 2020 competition. Thank you to all of you beautiful people around the world for supporting my @AmericanIdol journey. American Idol gave me a universal platform to share my love for music with you and I hope you will join me on the road ahead.

    Peace&Love!

    Bio: Dibesh Pokharel who goes by the stage name, Arthur Gunn came 1st runner up on the American Idol 2020 competition. He won many hearts from fans all around the world and judges alike with his talent, style, and personality. His 7-track EP “Self-Titled” was released in the summer of 2020. Follow him @arthur_gunn

    Image credit: The Wichita Eagle

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Himalayan Java

    @himalayanjava Story by @thestorieshub

    Tea remains a huge part of the daily Nepali culture and experience. Most people have multiple cups of tea throughout the day. Back in 1999, coffee culture in Nepal was mostly non-existent when Gagan Pradhan and Anand Gurung brought it to the masses by opening the first Himalayan Java in Thamel. Nowadays, coffee culture is widespread, trendy, and fashionable in Nepal.

    Gagan fell in love with coffee beans when he was a student studying hospitality management in Australia. The small, independent coffee shops that he frequented as a student became the model and inspiration for his own Himalayan Java franchise. Gagan recalls that he does not remember a single outlet in Kathmandu that served freshly brewed coffee, and wanted to fill that gap. He wasn’t sure of how customers would respond to brewed coffee. However, he was a passionate coffee-head determined to turn his passion into business and went ahead to start Himalayan Java. From the beginning, the co-founders wanted to sell an experience through coffee.

    Today, Himalayan Java not only offers the best tasting Nepali coffee beans in the country, but it is also a distributor of coffee machines, offers Barista training/Bakery training, and has its very own coffee farm.

    Bio: Gagan Pradhan and Anand Gurung started Himalayan Java, which has been serving Nepali coffee since 1999. They now have 27 Himalayan Java outlets located throughout the world including Toronto, Canada, Omaha, US, and Minnesota, US. Follow them @himalayanjava

    Image credit: Himalayan Java Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Urban Girl

    @iurbangirl Story by @thestorieshub

    When we were in college, we would see so many products on international shopping websites that we wanted to buy, but we could not because we did not have international credit cards. Then, an idea of an online shop for the Nepali market came to us and Urban Girl was born in 2012.

    Our vision is to create a one-stop solution for all online shopping requirements. Having started out by selling fashion jewelry and customized products such as tee-shirts, we have evolved to sell makeup, home decor, electronics, and eventually cakes. 

    In 2020, we launched our biggest project to date, UG Bazaar, which is a social e-commerce platform. From being one of the earliest e-commerce startups in Nepal, to now having launched UG Bazaar, it has been an incredible and humbling journey. 

    Bio: Nikita Acharya and Kiran Timsina co-founded Urban Girl in 2012 with an initial investment of $200. Today the company employs more than 50 individuals and operates in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The two co-founders were on the Forbes 30 Under 30 – Asia – Retail & Ecommerce 2020 Follow them @iurbangirl

    Image credit: Urban Girl Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Mheecha

    @mheecha Story by @thestorieshub

    The backpack market in Nepal is dominated by imported goods. Local Nepali brands are able to capture only a small percentage of the market, while the majority is covered by imported generic and branded backpacks.

    Our motive at Mheecha is simple. Inspired by the traditional Mheecha for its minimal, classy design, strength, and durability, we design and develop our products with these characteristics in mind. We believe that Nepalese consumers do not have to choose between world class standard qualities and products made locally in Nepal.

    A lot of time is spent on the design process to make sure our products are simple and appealing to our customers. Today, Nepalese consumers can choose merchandise like ours that meet the highest quality standards and are functional, durable, and fashionable. 

    Bio: Founded by Anish Bajracharya, Pratik Shakya, and Nishan Bajracharya in 2016, Mheecha (a Newa term which means ‘pouch’) is proud to manufacture the highest quality bags in Nepal. Follow them @mheecha

    Image credit: mheecha.com

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Bhav Products

    @bhavproducts Story by @thestorieshub

    A customer recently wrote to me “All Bhav Products are so creative, that you can’t help not being the same once you start using them. My long lost skills of calligraphy, doodling, and sketching have found a new earth to pour again all my creative ink into! Highly recommended!

    When one of your creations gets appreciated like that, I feel pure joy. Bhav began as a determined, personal attempt at creating the best notebook possible for my own use. When I did not find what I was looking for in the market, I thought why don’t I make it myself. However, starting out I never imagined that it’d be hard. In my mind, I thought that I’d just buy a bunch of paper, design it, print it, and sell it. It required me to evolve and work along with suppliers who initially disregarded my queries or give me an empty promise of calling me later. I was committed to bring quality stationary in the market, so I worked with suppliers and made the best use of what was available. 

    I love Nepali words and Bhav was a word I had been in love with for a long time. Since notebooks are something we pour our hearts out in, Bhav just clicked in. In addition, me being someone who’s into marketing, the word seemed like a short and sweet one that was easy to remember.

    Bio: Bhintuna Jyapoo established Bhav Products in December 2014 to fill in the gap that was ever widening between enthusiast and quality stationery.
    Bhav products is a Nepali brand that sells a wide range of creative stationery supplies. Follow @bhavproducts

    Image credit: @siraj.ig

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Paras Khadka

    @paraskhadka77 Story by @thestorieshub

    Cricket always came first. There were other sports I liked growing up such as football, basketball, and table tennis. However, cricket was love at first sight. From the days I played club-level cricket on Saturdays, where match-winners would win the match ball and the losing team would pay for the cold drinks to playing and representing Nepal cricket on the world stage, my journey has been incredible. 

    The proudest moments for me in my cricket career was when we played in the 2014 World Cup and when we achieved One Day International (ODI) status. Nepal felt like a different country after returning from playing in the World Cup, because cricket was played and viewed by the masses. Getting ODI status was also special because with it came recognition and a chance to play against teams with international status. Looking back, these are the two moments that I feel blessed to be a part of.

    Join me as I share my story, perspectives, and all things Liverpool on my website and social media.

    Bio: Paras Khadka was the captain of Nepal’s cricket team for 10 years (2009-2019). Follow him @paraskhadka77

    Image credit: Paras Khadka Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories: Sastodeal

    @sastodeal_insta Story by @thestorieshub

    Dec. 2011
    9%
    Rs. 50,000

    Our journey started with those numbers. Nepal was opening up to E-commerce and by registering SastoDeal, we were not only launching a company, but an industry.

    Nepal is still mostly a cash based economy. We love going to shops, feeling the products, conversing and bargaining with the shop owners, and walking out with a great deal in our hands. However, with the changing lifestyles, work schedules, and the convenience of online shopping, the country was beginning to enter a digital economy. With Rs. 50,000 in hand and facing a 9% national internet penetration rate, launching SastoDeal in December 2011 was a pioneering decision. 

    Today, Sastodeal is the leading E-commerce company in Nepal.

    Bio: Founded in 2011, Sastodeal.com is one of Nepal’s biggest and most popular online shopping platforms. SastoDeal is targeting to achieve Rs 1 billion in annual revenue within the next 18 months.

    Follow them @sastodeal_insta

    Image credit: Sastodeal Facebook page

    This story was first published on https://www.instagram.com/thestorieshub/

    30 Stories. 30 Days.

    From August 1st to August 30th, The Stories Hub is going to feature stories of individuals and brands that represent inspiration, authenticity, creativity, innovation, and are making a difference (locally, nationally and globally).

    If you know of individuals and brands that meet the above criteria, do share with The Stories Hub. That story could be one of the 30 stories.

    Please share this blog post with your network. Stories Hub wants to hear, highlight, and share the amazing stories. One of them could be your story. Let the stories begin!!!

    Trying to become the next Steve Jobs

    I’m going to be the next Steve Jobs. That’s what I was thinking to myself.

    I had a business idea that I believed was going to change the world. It was an idea I had been pondering about for the last few months.

    Upon researching start up events, I found out that the first ever Startup Weekend was coming to town on February 2013 in Nepal’s capital-Kathmandu. This would be a great place to test out my business idea, so I registered to attend this event.

    The day before the event, I looked at myself in the mirror and asked one question repeatedly:

    What are the consequences of publicly sharing my idea at the Startup Weekend Kathmandu?

    I weighed the pros and cons of sharing that idea at the Startup Weekend Kathmandu. I was thrilled to be participating in the competition and wanted to fully utilize my time in it. However, the above question kept coming back to me and I couldn’t decide what would be the best course of action.

    After much contemplation of various scenarios, I decided to share the idea because the benefits of sharing outweighed not sharing it. By sharing my idea to an audience, I would know if the idea could become a business. Holding on to an idea that could not become a business would not be useful to me.

    On that Friday evening at the Startup Weekend, I stood behind 10 individuals waiting for my turn to pitch the idea on stage. Behind me, there were about 30 more aspiring entrepreneurs equally excited to share their ideas. Waiting in that line had my nerves excited and my heart beating faster. The abundant energy in that hall invigorated me and I couldn’t wait to get on that stage to pitch my idea in 1 minute. 1 minute was all I had to explain my idea that could change everything.

    When my turn came, I went on the stage and pitched my idea of a mobile/web app that allowed users to download books from Nepali writers and read them through the app anywhere in the world.

    Over the course of the three day Startup Weekend Kathmandu, we created a team and built the idea. After working and iterating the idea for more than 50 hours, we had a prototype ready to be presented to the judges on the final day. The three judges actively listened, looked at our prototype, and asked us questions. At the end of the event, the results were announced and we had earned the 1st runner up position in the startup competition. Our team was ecstatic and we were congratulated by many attendees that night. That was a special evening for our team and in the ensuing days, we were featured on tech blogs and national newspapers.

    If I had not participated in that event, the idea of a mobile/web app for book lovers would have stayed in my head forever. Additionally, I would have never received such amount of valuable feedback in a short period of time and validated if the idea made business sense. There are moments in our lives when we are presented with an opportunity and we have to strike it when it’s hot. That moment for me came in the form of Startup Weekend Kathmandu. I also realized that you can make a difference in the world if we shared our ideas rather than holding on to them.

    After the Startup Weekend Kathmandu, I didn’t become the next Steve Jobs, but I became a much better Nirmal Thapa.