DHARAMSHALA: Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development (TED), an initiative of the Department of Finance, Central Tibetan Administration, awarded investment funds of 2.5 Lakhs each to two rising entrepreneurs at the official function to mark 56th Tibetan Democracy Day at Tsuglagkhang, 2 September 2016. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay presented the investment awards.
Two entrepreneurs were selected from nine finalist entrepreneurs (out of over eighty applications) who participated in a two-day entrepreneurship competition organised by TED from 30-31 August. The competition distinguished transformative entrepreneurs who are innovative, driving large-scale change, and are poised to make an even greater impact in the Tibetan community.
The juries of the competition include eminent market experts and individuals such as Mr Chandra Kant, Advisory Board Member and Strategy Consultant; Mr Sambuddha Bhattacharya, Vice President – Lenskart; Mr Lobsang Ngodup Lama, President of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce & Chairman of Gomang Carpet Manex; Mr Ngodup Dorjee, Secretary, SARD – DOF; Dr Kunchok Tsundue, Chief Planning Officer, DOF and Mr Tashi Wangdue, Former CEO of FTCI-Bangalore.
The two winning enterprises selected by the jury were KERAA, a clothing designer and manufacturer based in Dehradun/Delhi, and Delhi By Bike, a cycling tour business based in Delhi. Both the businesses received INR 2.5 lakhs each.
KERAA was started by Mr Jampa Tendar and his two partners in Dehradun. Keraa meaning belt in Tibetan also signifies unity. Keraa manufactures and designs clothes based on a fusion of Tibetan ethnic wear and contemporary fashion. The main idea of Keraa is to enter global fashion industry adapting Tibetan ethnic dresses to suit modern fashion wears. It operates from Dehradun and was inaugurated in October 2015 and have sold more than 3500 products till date. Keraa plans to utilise the winning amount to hire a technical person to maintain their website and promote their brand and venture.
Delhi by Bike, a cycling tour business based in Delhi, was founded by Mr Tenzin Gyalpo in 2014. One of their many tours around Delhi visits the Tibetan settlement in Delhi where Tenzin uses the opportunity to share information about Tibet, its origin, and its culture and tradition. The business currently employs four staff with plans for expansion as scale of operation increases. With the wining amount, Tenzin Gyalpo plans to purchase 10 bikes and a car to transport larger groups and meet the growing demand of his business.
TED is an initiative of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to mobilise and amplify Tibetan entrepreneurial spirit by fostering, nurturing, accelerating value-add connections and celebrating entrepreneurship. TED is affecting a profound transformation of the Tibetan community in-exile with its role as a mobilizer of the Tibetan entrepreneurial spirit to partake in global opportunities and contribute to the community’s economic well-being.
