How Many Startups Are There in Nepal? (2026 Data Explained)
Short answer
There is no single official number. Published figures range from about 110 ranked tech startups to over 17,000 registered ventures, because every source counts something different.
Startup counts in Nepal by source
| Source | Figure | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| Tracxn (2026) | 17,567 startups | Every company ever tracked, including 295 funded and 984 that shut down |
| StartupBlink (2026) | 110 ranked startups | Active, ranked tech startups; Nepal is #101 globally, #5 in South Asia |
| NYEF startup database | 280+ companies | Member and applicant companies across sectors |
| Government startup-loan applications | 10,000+ applicants | Technology and innovative enterprises seeking state support |
| New Business Age (estimate) | 50+ successful startups | Companies described as genuinely successful, no official data |
Why the numbers disagree
Tracxn counts registrations and historical records, so its total includes dead and inactive companies. StartupBlink counts only startups that meet its activity thresholds. The government figure counts everyone who applied for a loan, including idea-stage founders. None of them is wrong; they answer different questions.
Ecosystem context
Nepal's startup ecosystem is valued at roughly $1.5 billion. Over 90 percent of startup activity sits in Kathmandu, with Pokhara and Biratnagar growing. Fintech and digital payments (eSewa, Khalti, Fonepay, IME Pay), edtech (Programiz, Neema Academy), logistics (Upaya CityCargo, Pathao, Tootle) and IT services (CloudFactory, Leapfrog, Fusemachines) dominate the active list.
Verdict: which number should you use?
- Talking about the tech scene: use StartupBlink's ~110 ranked startups.
- Talking about entrepreneurial activity: use 10,000+ loan applicants or 17,000+ tracked ventures.
- Looking for an actual company: browse reviewed profiles instead of totals.
NepalStartups count
This directory takes a fourth approach: it lists only individually submitted and admin-reviewed startup profiles. The live count on the startups page is exact, not estimated, and every entry links to a full profile with founders, sector, stage and location.