During the second semester of my BICTE program, a life-changing incident shifted my perspective entirely. I had recently purchased a scooter and was testing its maximum speed when I got into a serious accident. That moment became a turning point for me. It made me realize the fragility of life and the importance of doing something meaningful—something that could have a real impact.
Before this accident, I had already started transitioning my mindset from being a job taker to a job giver. My early investment experiences in the share market had sparked this change. However, after the accident, this desire to create something valuable intensified. I wanted to solve real-world problems, offer impactful solutions, and earn money as a byproduct of creating value.
One area that fascinated me deeply was the health sector, especially digital health. I imagined a future where every individual’s medical data—from birth to death—could be stored and accessed on a centralized platform. This idea started forming during my third semester of college. I wanted to pursue entrepreneurial work with real value and purpose.
At my college, Janamaitri Multiple Campus, I joined an entrepreneurial support program offered by Skill Lab. Through its bootcamps and workshops, I began learning the basics of entrepreneurship.
During this journey, I met Mr. Devraj Joshi, an inspiring individual with a vision for transforming Nepal’s health ecosystem. Together, we brainstormed ideas and launched Nepa Health, my first startup. The focus of Nepa Health was online doctor consultations. We were excited about this venture, and deciding on the name felt like a milestone for us.
In the beginning, we operated in bootstrap mode. We partnered with a third party to sell sanitary pad vending machines, installing our first one at Janamaitri Multiple Campus. Meanwhile, I worked on developing the first version of Nepa Health’s website and planned to integrate a system for online doctor consultations.
However, as we moved forward, Devraj and I realized we had different visions for the company. While I was committed to online doctor consultations, he wanted to explore areas like pregnancy surveillance and psychological therapy. Both ideas were valid and impactful, but our inability to align our goals created a communication gap.
This misunderstanding eventually led to us parting ways. It was a difficult decision, but I decided to leave Nepa Health. Despite the challenges, I hold no resentment. I genuinely hope Devraj continues to do great work in the health sector through Nepa Health.
Although this was a short and unsuccessful chapter in my entrepreneurial journey, it taught me some invaluable lessons:
- Ideas are easy, but execution is what matters most.
- Teamwork and alignment of vision are critical to success.
- Clear communication with co-founders is non-negotiable.
- Never mix personal relationships with startup goals.
- Focus on delivering real, valuable solutions to problems.
Nepa Health may not have worked out for me, but the lessons I learned from this experience are priceless. It strengthened my resolve to build something meaningful and helped lay the foundation for my future entrepreneurial endeavors.
