The startup scene received a fresh boost with the unveiling of Jabchor 2.0, an equity-financing platform designed to bridge the gap between promising home-grown ventures and both domestic and overseas investors. The Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship (DEE) formally launched the programme’s website, marking the next chapter in a scheme first introduced by the Royal Monetary Authority in 2018 and later managed by the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Prospective participants now have two weeks to submit their business proposals. After this deadline, selected applicants will be invited to intensive boot camps where they will receive hands-on training, participate in interviews, and refine their pitches ahead of a final presentation. DEE officials have emphasized that entrants should bring forward concepts in agriculture, manufacturing, IT and IT-enabled services, or green technology—sectors identified as high-growth areas for the kingdom.
According to Tashi Tenzin, Assistant Programme Officer at DEE, facilitating access to investment is crucial for nurturing scalable enterprises. “Without collateral, it is almost impossible for innovators to secure bank loans,” she explained. “Even the most compelling business ideas can falter without financial backing. Jabchor 2.0 allows entrepreneurs to offer equity stakes in return for funding, opening doors that would otherwise remain closed.”
The culmination of the selection process will see the top ten startups matched with potential investors keen to support Bhutan’s next wave of job creators. “Our mandate is to foster productive and meaningful employment,” said Kunzang Lhamu, Director General of DEE. “By strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem, Jabchor 2.0 will play a pivotal role in generating new opportunities across our communities.”
Funded under Bhutan’s Economic Stimulus Programme, Jabchor 2.0 is now open for registration. Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating can sign up via the initiative’s newly launched website.
