𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁

There’s a lot of criticism on social media these days about the start-up culture in Nepal. The usual complaint? That people are just opening tea stalls and T-shirt printing brands and calling it a startup. (May be they don’t know the technical difference).

Without going into textbook definitions of a startup, or debating the difference between a “small business” and a “startup etc., let’s pause for a second: what exactly is wrong with opening a tea joint? And earning money honestly in the process?

Why is no one questioning the corporates? With all their means, what are they doing? Some are importing ice cream brands. Some are bringing in packaged juice brands. Even if they are producing something they are busy imitating the identity. (Barring few exceptions)

Some are investing in schools and colleges. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with that but let’s not pretend they’re building Ivy League institutions here. I have not seen any visible contribution to the quality of education.
In one of the colleges I know, the faculty doesn’t even get paid on time.

So maybe, just maybe, it’s time to stop mocking the ones trying to start something and start questioning the ones who already have everything but choose to play it safe.