Sunanyna Tamrakar started working at One to Watch in May 2016. The 34-year-old accountant switched over from the Chaudhary Group (Binod Chaudhary’s company, the only billionaire in Nepal).

“One to Watch is at the heart of the Nepalese start-up scene” she said, explaining why she made the switch. “It also leads the field in attracting foreign investors to Nepal. This combination makes my job very interesting and challenging.”

Tamrakar who obtained her Chartered Accountant’s degree from Chennai University in southern India, got to know One to Watch during a project involving the social investment branch of the Chaudhary Group. She previously worked for the Indian energy company, Essar, and the construction giant GNR Group from Bangalore. “At Chaudhary, my job was to make financial analyses and forecasts for our daughter companies and at GMR, I was involved in the investment of an enormous hydroelectric plant in Nepal. Working with foreign investors is not new for me.”

But working with start-ups and SMEs is new. Every month Tamrakar and the investment team visit all the companies in the One to Watch portfolio and go over the accounts to check how things are going, what progress is being made and whether there are any problems.

“Figures tell you a lot. For example, not long ago we found that stock management at one company wasn’t accurate. And that can lead to problems in the long run. We were able to advise them. I always say it’s better to solve a small problem straightaway then wait until it becomes a big problem.”

Usually the entrepreneurs readily take on board advice from the investment team of One to Watch. “Most of them don’t have a financial background and really need our expertise. My professional background and know-how help to convince them. It also helps that I’m Nepalese and speak the language; it makes it easier to build up trust. Only yesterday I heard that a new stock management system had been installed and improvement was immediate. Good to hear.”

In her position at One to Watch Tamrakar hopes to contribute to the professionalization and expansion of the companies in its portfolio. “We are soon going to make a number of new investments in sectors where One to Watch is not yet involved. We are gradually increasing our know-how and our presence; making an impact. The future is looking good.”