History
Companies, products and programmes that closed, were acquired or became part of the record
2020s5
| Entry | Kind | Outcome | Years | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DIGI Nepal Fintech Challenge Twelve-month challenge programme for five finance-sector startups, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation through the DIGI Nepal project. It offered technical assistance, workshops, mentoring and networking, and concluded in 2025. | Programme | Historical | –2025 | — |
OrangeNXT App-based digital-only banking service launched by Laxmi Sunrise Bank on 25 January 2024 with fintech FoneNXT. More than 65,000 customers had opened accounts with deposits of Rs170 million when NRB ordered it suspended in August 2025. | Product | Dormant | 2024–2025 | — |
TechX Acceleration Twelve-month acceleration programme for eight edtech and healthtech ventures run by Accelerator Nepal with SDC funding through the DIGI Nepal project; concluded in 2025. | Programme | Historical | –2025 | — |
Tootle (original operator and app) Ride-sharing app launched in January 2017. After a hiatus, in September 2023 Zapp Today relaunched the Tootle brand with a new app under new management. | Platform | Dormant | 2017–2023 | Tootle by Zapp (Zapp Today / Zapp Services) |
Sajhadeal.com Online marketplace founded in 2017 by four entrepreneurs; relaunched in August 2022 as Saajha Online Shopping under a board led by chartered accountants, with a new website saajha.com.np. | Platform | Rebranded | 2017–2022 | Saajha Online Shopping |
2010s3
| Entry | Kind | Outcome | Years | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BhatBhateniOnline.com Online shopping portal acquired by F1Soft International, owner of eSewa, in June 2018 and rebranded and operated as eSewaPasal.com to tie it to the eSewa brand. | Platform | Rebranded | –2018 | eSewaPasal.com (F1Soft International / eSewa) |
Kaymu Nepal Open online marketplace in Nepal operating as Kaymu; renamed Daraz in July 2017 with new logo, name, apps and domain (daraz.com.np). The kaymu.com.np domain was retired. | Platform | Rebranded | –2017 | Daraz Nepal |
Mero Mobile Consumer mobile brand of Spice Nepal, described as Nepal's first private mobile operator, launched in 2005. After TeliaSonera took a majority stake (2008) the brand was changed to Ncell in March 2010 and Mero Mobile was retired. | Service | Rebranded | 2005–2010 | Ncell |
2000s1
| Entry | Kind | Outcome | Years | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nepal Telecommunications Corporation State-owned telecom corporation formally established under the Communications Corporation Act; transformed into the company Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited (NDCL) from Baisakh 1, 2061 BS, trading publicly as Nepal Telecom. | Company | Rebranded | –2004 | Nepal Telecom |
Date not recorded2
| Entry | Kind | Outcome | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
Government business incubation programme (first phase) Government programme supporting young and prospective entrepreneurs through business incubation, run for five years from fiscal year 2006/07. It was discontinued for seven years and restored in 2019 under the Department of Cottage and Small Industries. | Programme | Dormant | 2006– |
Rs 1 billion startup promotion fund (2021-22 budget) Startup promotion fund of Rs 1 billion provisioned in Nepal's 2021-22 budget, with a credit procedure meant to provide seed capital. The finance minister later said it could not be implemented because the government changed. | Fund | Dormant | — |