Across Nepal, women are stepping into entrepreneurship with resilience and ambition, launching small businesses, leading tech ventures, and bringing innovation to local markets. But like many across South Asia, they still face challenges in accessing the tools, resources, and visibility needed to thrive. As 2025 unfolds, the opportunities for women entrepreneurs are growing. With targeted support and regional cooperation, Nepal’s women-led ventures are poised for real growth.
Key Initiatives Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, early support makes all the difference. Nepal has seen a growing number of programmes dedicated to uplifting women in business, offering mentorship, education, networking, and digital tools.
One impactful example is the work being done through various initiatives for women entrepreneurs that connect women with e-commerce platforms, business literacy resources, and promotional opportunities. These types of efforts not only build confidence but also help women-led businesses gain access to new markets and income streams.
The next step for Nepal is scaling these initiatives nationwide and integrating them with formal entrepreneurship frameworks.
Access to Strategic Training
Once a business is launched, its success often hinges on strategic decision-making, especially when markets are uncertain or resources are limited. For many women-led enterprises, structured training in leadership and planning is still difficult to access.
That’s where focused programmes and workshops become critical. Participating in a strategic leadership workshop can equip entrepreneurs with the skills needed to navigate complex business environments, identify long-term goals, and lead with confidence. These workshops bridge the gap between ambition and execution, turning ideas into structured plans with measurable impact.
Making these trainings accessible across Nepal, especially outside major cities, remains key to widening the circle of economic inclusion.
Financial Support and Funding Opportunities
Funding remains one of the most significant barriers for women entrepreneurs in Nepal. While small business financing is growing, women often face stricter loan requirements or lack access to financial institutions altogether.
There are, however, meaningful efforts being made to change that. One promising development is the Women Entrepreneurs’ Loan Scheme, which offers reduced interest rates, flexible collateral terms, and longer repayment periods tailored specifically for women-run businesses.
In addition, international financial institutions, such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), have begun investing in gender-inclusive finance in Nepal, working alongside banks to increase lending to women-led ventures. These programmes represent important steps in levelling the economic playing field.
Expanding into International Markets
While local growth is vital, international expansion is increasingly within reach for Nepalese entrepreneurs. Regional trade agreements and infrastructure investment across South Asia are opening doors in sectors where Nepal has a strong presence, especially agriculture, handicrafts, and renewable energy.
A major opportunity lies in hydropower, as Nepal and Bhutan seek investment from India for large-scale projects. With the right guidance and support, women-led enterprises can participate in supply chains, energy service contracts, and cross-border commerce tied to these developments.
To do this, they’ll need both policy-level support and access to trade education and market-entry resources.
Nepal’s future growth depends on the inclusion of its women entrepreneurs. Through smart initiatives, targeted leadership training, accessible funding, and expanding international opportunities, 2025 can be a turning point. Supporting women in business isn’t just a social goal, it’s an economic strategy that benefits the whole nation.
