September 21: Oscar Kneppers, the founder of Rockstart Accelerators, is in Nepal to observe the entrepreneurship scenario in Nepal. The Netherlands-based business accelerator programme has been helping start-ups in Nepal through Rockstart Impact, which organised an interaction programme with Kneppers on September 20.  

During the interaction, Kneppers shared his experience about starting Rockstart.  Prior to establishing Rockstart, Kneppers launched several cross media brands since 1998 focusing on new media, innovation and technology. He founded Rockstart in 2001 after selling his two businesses, Emerce in 2001 and Bright in 2008.

“Rockstart was started with a vision to help the communities which believe in the power of entrepreneurship to change the scenario by giving a platform to them to share their experience with other struggling entrepreneurs, connecting them with experienced entrepreneur and mentors and investors,” he shared.

After five years, the accelerator has built an international fraternity in various parts of the world who share the vision of Rockstart and work to help the entrepreneurs to grow their business.

“Though Rockstart was established in the Netherlands, around 70 per cent entrepreneurs are not Europeans. Through these years, we have been innovatively driven and impact oriented and will continue more effectively in the days to come,” he shared.

In the programme which saw the participation of many mentors, investors, alumni of Rockstart and entrepreneurs, Kneppers expressed that “working with entrepreneurs is not just helping them out for the growth but working with them is a learning experience for us as well”.

Peter Tropper, emerging market investment expert and an international investor, Victorya Ous, programme director of Rockstart Impact, Niraj Khanal, director at One to Watch and Ashish Adhikari, founder of RedMud Coffee and alumni of Rockstart also spoke about the impacts of Rockstart Impact in building the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nepal.

During the programme, the accelerator also announced that they have been getting applications for the 100 days accelerator programme to be held in November. The deadline for the application is October 5.