All this time, we have been hearing about aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to get financial support. But at this year’s Druk Tshongrig Gatoen, an entrepreneurship festival, it was just the opposite, “Reverse Pitch”. It was the investors who took the stage.
A Reverse Pitch is a session where investors and support agencies present their needs and interests to aspiring entrepreneurs, flipping the traditional pitch format.
Thinley Choden, the CEO of Loden Tewa Centre for Social Venture said,“We’re trying to help entrepreneurs understand us better, so they know how to approach us and can build partnerships and relationships that work for both sides.”
“So far, whenever we applied for funding, we felt that only a few were selected—perhaps because they were already established in the market. It often seemed there was some bias. But after attending this reverse pitch session, we now feel that entrepreneurs will be more aware and better prepared. They’ll understand what kind of funding to seek and what investors expect in return,” said Tashi Wangdi, the Founder of the Impact Hub Thimphu.
“This kind of event is very important because it helps young entrepreneurs. It also provides a space for young entrepreneurs and social innovators to connect, share ideas, and discuss ongoing challenges and possible solution,” said Jigme Tashi Namgyal, the CEO of JAGGLE.AI.
The festival continues to inspire a new generation of Bhutanese entrepreneurs.
“Everybody in the ecosystem comes to celebrate entrepreneurship, their journey, failure or success altogether. It provides them with a platform to showcase their innovation and creativity, and they meet a lot of like-minded people,” said Samten Choden, the Assistant Programme Officer with the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship.
Reverse pitch connects startups with investors, matching innovative ideas to real-world opportunities. The event aims to create funding, partnerships, and pilot projects while helping startups refine their solutions.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
