The Startup Weekend, an event designed to provide “superior experiential entrepreneurship education” will now be an annual event.

The information and communications minister DN Dhungyel announced this during the fourth edition of Startup Weekend that started yesterday at the College of Science and Technology (CST) in Phuentsholing.

The event is a platform where students from different colleges and entrepreneurs could participate and pitch business ideas. The best three entrepreneurial ideas would be awarded.

The event is organised in collaboration with Thimphu Techpark, Techstars, Department of IT and Telecom (DITT), and UNDP.

The focus this time will be on ideas that use technologies such as the Internet, e-commerce, IT, mobile apps, animation, and web.

Unlike in the past, the Startup Weekend this time is also open to the students. Students from CST, Royal Thimphu College, Gaeddu College of Business Studies (GCBS), and Sherubtse College are participating in the competition. Unemployed youth are also participating.

“Meet and Learn session” with self-made influential leaders was also conducted in the morning.

A senior ICT officer Deepika Rai said that the session’s aim was to inspire the participants.

A freelance web developer, Nima Moktan, was one of the four Meet and Learn speakers yesterday.

“It took me six months to get my first client,” the web developer said, adding that is was difficult in the initial days.

A US-based client also paid him USD 1,600 for developing a website, which he said was his highest payment for a project.

However, Nima Moktan said that there were so many challenges starting from sustainability to producing quality designs.

“Review and ratings are very essential,” he said.

Pema Choden Tenzin, the CEO of Yeewong, Bhutan’s only women and lifestyle magazine also talked about her struggle in bringing up the magazine. She highlighted eight lessons to leading an entrepreneurial success.

Loden Foundation’s founder and president, (Dr) Karma Phuntsho and RIGSS director Chewang Rinzin were the other two speakers at the Meet and Learn session.

The participants have started to pitch their ideas. Demos and presentations would be made on Sunday.

Addressing to the students and participants, Lyonpo DN Dhungyel said the government would help aspiring entrepreneurs in their journey.

“We will do this again and make this an annual event,” he said. “We are on the right track in right direction.”

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing