Kathmandu, Nepal — October 2025
Image source: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/
The year is experiencing a historic rise of women-led businesses in Nepal with female entrepreneurs in the country pushing records and remaking the economic history of the country. Women are becoming the dominant force in the industries such as agriculture, tourism, fashion and digital innovation, starting with tech start-up’s in Kathmandu and small scale business in rural areas.
The Department of Industry presents the 2025 women-owned business growth as 35% higher than it was the year before, an all-time high in terms of women-owned businesses in Nepal. Most of these businesses are currently expanding to foreign markets, they export goods and services and make Nepal known to the rest of the world.
Women entrepreneurs are making opportunities to themselves and the society despite the long standing challenges of limited access to finance and expectations by the society. Sujata Gurung, the founder of an organic skincare brand based in Kathmandu, writes, “Women are no longer waiting to be given a chance but we are making them. 2025 has demonstrated that Nepal women can compete on the global scale retaining their identity.
These entrepreneurs have been supported by government and private programs such as She Leads Nepal and organizations (Women in Innovation Grant 2025) to mentor and provide seed capital and networking opportunities. Most rural women, especially, are using the digital platforms to start home based businesses, be it handicrafts or online freelancing to reach customers nationally and internationally.
Female entrepreneurship is no longer just boosting the GDP of Nepal; but also bringing socially change. Most of the women led companies focus on hiring other women, encouraging them to be financially independent, educated, and equal in gender among other things within their communities.
It is estimated that by the year 2030, women would have been half of the entrepreneurial force of Nepal which would make the country a role model of an inclusive economic growth in South Asia. The results of 2025 indicate that Nepalese women are not the mere actors in the economic development process, but are making the future of the same.
“With record-breaking growth and inspiring achievements, Nepali women entrepreneurs are leading the way, proving that the future of Nepal’s economy is bright, inclusive, and female-driven.”
