Over the past decade, Nepal has steadily moved from political transition to a focus on economic development. But for that development to be sustainable and inclusive, it must be anchored in the realities of the 21st century – and that means investing in our digital economy.
This is precisely the vision behind the Nepal Impact Investment Community 2 – NIIC 2 Fund, a USD 100 million blended finance facility designed to scale tech and tech-enabled SMEs – or as we call them, Digital Economy Catalysts (DECs).
Over the past decade, Nepal has steadily moved from political transition to a focus on economic development. But for that development to be sustainable and inclusive, it must be anchored in the realities of the 21st century – and that means investing in our digital economy.
This is precisely the vision behind the Nepal Impact Investment Community 2 – NIIC 2, facility designed to scale tech and tech-enabled SMEs – or as we call them, Digital Economy Catalysts (DECs).
Nepal’s digital landscape is ready for rapid growth, supported by strong infrastructure and a pool of skilled, tech-savvy professionals. Today, over 91% of Nepal’s population has internet access, mobile penetration stands at 130%, and digital payment platforms are growing by nearly 100% year-on-year. Yet the tech ecosystem remains severely under-capitalized.
At the same time, SMEs in Nepal – particularly DECs – face structural barriers to accessing capital:
NIIC 2 is designed to address these gaps, while generating both commercial and development returns and at the same time, performing a market-building function.
We are taking a cascading investment approach:
NIIC 2 offers more than just capital – it delivers strategic capital, supported by insight, advisory, and systems-level thinking.
We’re bringing together DECs, banks, development partners, and DFIs to unlock Nepal’s digital potential. Through NIIC 2, we’ll fund bold tech entrepreneurs, equip banks to serve them, and deliver catalytic returns for DFIs and development partners.
Interested in joining the movement?
Reach out to us at info@onetowatch.nl
The objective of the pre-loan BDS is to make tech and tech-enabled SMEs loan-ready through tailored BDS. The Tailored Business Development Services Areas include
Post-loan BDS focuses on ensuring that SMEs effectively utilize their loans to sustain growth, positioning them to absorb equity funding in the future. Key areas of potential post-loan BDS include:
