The path to success is not always easy – just ask aspiring entrepreneurs, and they will tell you the tiresome, persistent process that has kept them awake on many nights. As you continue to pursue your career dreams, reading up on some successful entrepreneur and startup stories can help boost morale, especially if you already have a business plan, have taken out a loan, and have found a space, and all you need is a boost of encouragement.
Starting a business from scratch is one of the scariest things. Instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong, think about the things that could go right and how one day, your name could fall into the list of best entrepreneurs’ stories.
Of course, if you read up on any entrepreneurship success story, you will find that the most successful one has gone through their fair share of struggles. Many of them failed but continued to pursue their goals relentlessly. Remember, perseverance is the key to success.
If you are just starting out your career, we understand that you may feel overwhelmed and may also want to quit. However, here are some successful entrepreneurs in the country and their stories to lift your spirits:
Tek Nath Adhikari – founder of Tek. Raw, Pure, and Healthy
There is no adulteration, no preservatives, no additives, no any sort of chemicals added whatsoever. It’s all raw, pure, and definitely healthy. Take Tek.’s Raw, Pure and Healthy products, and you’ll come to know.
Tek. Raw, Pure & Healthy is an agro-based manufacturing unit that processes and produces pure juice, frozen French fries, and Italian Culinary Herbs. These are made from local agro-products grown in the fresh Himalayan mountains, without using any chemical fertilizers.
The person behind this innovative idea is Tek Nath Adhikari, 27 from Gelephu but was brought up in Thimphu. His father brought him up for whom he has all his gratitude for his singlehanded upbringing. “I couldn’t study much,” said Tek but that didn’t deter him from pursuing his dreams.
Phuntsho Wangmo is the founder of Bhutan Ramen, also known as YaaTa Noodle
For many people, being an entrepreneur is not mainly about money or ambition, but about doing what makes them happy. And given that happiness is such an important theme in the country, perhaps we should consider an increase in entrepreneurship as a way to also increase national happiness.
Yes, entrepreneurs face struggles and risks galore but also have the freedom to be their own boss and drive their own destinies.
An Entrepreneur, Phuntsho Wangmo is the founder of Bhutan Ramen, also known as YaaTa Noodle. The company was founded in 2017 with the mission to produce high-quality and organic buckwheat noodles from Bhutan.
“Goal is to bring the best and healthy noodles from Bhutan to the world and promote local and organic products internationally,” she said, adding a commitment to sourcing ingredients from local farmers and using sustainable practices in production to support the local community and economy.
Phuntsho shared that they strive to make their noodles available to everyone and are working to expand their production unit and reach international markets. “Our team is driven by a social mandate to work with farmers and contribute to community development.”
YaaTa Noodle! – Jangbali is darker in color-crafted from buckwheat flour. They are thin noodles and have a nutty flavor and earthy taste, making them an awesome addition to salads.
Jigme Wangdi – The founder of Ama Kharang
Despite convincing and creating awareness among farmers about the benefits of growing locally and the importance of maize growers in his place, the founder of Ama Kharang, Jigme Wangdi from Wamrong – has every reason to smile. His ‘Ama Kharang’ -an agriculture-based business has a successful story, to say the least, inspirational.
He is one of the former teachers. He buys maize from Moshi and Wamrong, and even from gewogs in the neighbouring district of Pemagatshel.
“Ama kharang” has been in business for almost seven months now -is a small agribusiness firm that functions in affiliation with the farmers of various regions. “The committee of farmers supplies their maize produce seasonally to the firm for the production of Kharang (maize grit), Tengma (beaten maize), maize flour, and popcorn.”
Talking with MyBiz, Jigme Wangdi said, “I am running a business firm with the brand name ‘Ama Kharang’. We buy maize from our hardworking farmers, hire local village women, and school drop-out girls to process Kharang.
He shared “His Majesty’s vision to make our country an independent and food self-sufficient nation,” – which is the main inspiration behind Ama Kharang. And moreover, deep inside my heart, he said, “I have always dreamt to serve my nation in my own little way and benefit our people especially Youths, farmers, and financially challenged aged senior citizens.”
Karma Namgay- founder & CEO of Drukyul Production
Karma Namgay is from Sergithang, Tsirang, and is the founder & CEO of Drukyul Production, a manufacturing unit for biodegradable bags and packaging sacks -located at Pekharzhing, chhukha.
He completed his B. Com graduation from Royal Thimphu College in 2012 and completed PGDFM from RIM in 2013.
Over 7 years working in the privet sector in various lines of business I came across many people with different ideas, work ethics, and journeys they had, which is where I got inspired, motivated, gain knowledge and advice.
Through that process, I saw an opportunity in the untapped market for carry bags and packaging bags- founded Drukyul Production. The manufacturing units aim to improve environmental conservation by minimizing the usage of plastic bags in the country.
“From my perspective, while doing business everything is challenging. Every day is a learning process, every day it’s a trial process, and every day you just need to look forward to overcoming such a challenge by learning, observing, and getting advice from seniors.”
For those who are new and want to start your business, Karma Namgay said that we need to be 110% prepared, do a lot of research and findings on our business, and then plan our steps. “Always make sure that you have long-term business modules and plans.”
Phuntsho Wangdi – the founder of Nettle herbal tea
An entrepreneur, Phuntsho Wangdi, 28 years old altered his grandmother’s story into a business idea by transferring the dried leaves into the grinder and making its powder. Then the powder is mixed in the ratio with other herbal ingredients – giving a stunning grassy and earthy flavor.
“Stinging nettles have been used by native peoples for a variety of uses throughout history. The plant has a long history of use as a source for traditional medicine,” he said, adding that nettle is a fantastic natural herb that had been neglected for nearly a century in Bhutanese history. Steeping dried leaves and drinking tea dates back thousands of years. It’s thought to originate in China, where it was used medicinally.
“Today, people drink tea for many reasons, including its taste, stimulating or calming properties, and health benefits. One popular herbal tea is nettle tea,” Phuntsho said, adding that nettle teaches us that outer looks and quick judgment is mistaken. Nettle reveals to us the process of transformation, in which unpleasant experiences became something treasured and valuable.
Phuntsho shared that the stinging nettle market could focus on expanding its reach in the markets beyond Bhutan to enhance its business of stinging nettle over the forecast period. Consumers these days are looking for a handy packaging solution for any product they buy, hence manufacturers across the globe could focus on offering stinging nettle in convenient packaging formats to enhance a large consumer base.
“The limited knowledge and awareness of medical practitioners along with low penetration of stinging nettle supplements across wider non-urban clusters is limiting the stinging nettle supplement industry to unfold its potential,” he said, adding that consumer purchasing power and per capita healthcare expenditure in these countries is also increasing year on year, thereby creating a pool of potential targets for stinging nettle manufacturers and suppliers.
Talking about his product he shared that so far, he had been receiving positive feedback on his work, with some even claiming that it had helped them recover from body aches, and coughs and even improved their blood pressure.
Kuenga Dhendup and Pema Choden Gyaltshen – the founders of Kingdom Essences
Upon returning to the village after college, Kuenga intended to establish an organic farming cooperative to assist local farmers in growing and selling organic produce in the capital city of Thimphu.
“We discovered that many of the villagers were already growing high-quality Schezwan Pepper (Thingye). A government facility was also available, a distillery, for extracting essential oils from the pepper, but it was not being utilized due to a lack of management,” Kuenga said.
Kuenga Dhendup and Pema Choden Gyaltshen started exploring the equipment, and it was much later that they recognized that it can be a viable business idea for the community.
They shared, “One winter day in 2016, we got the opportunity to meet His Majesty the King after the National Day held in Trongsa. We have been immensely lucky to have been recognized by His Majesty on that National Day and been asked what are the things that we may need help with and we took the opportunity to request His Majesty on availing training to learn more about Essential Oils and to make valued added products using essential oils and since then, we haven’t looked back,”
At the time, aromatherapy was a relatively new concept in the market and there was not a lot of information available about it, Kuenga said, adding that despite this, we saw potential in the field and decided to pursue it, learning as much as we could and experimenting with different essential oils and techniques to see what worked best.
“The aromatherapy market in our local area was still relatively new, making it difficult to sell our products within the country. However, there is a high demand for pure and therapeutic essential oils in the international market.”
One of the major challenges they face is the need to meet specific certification requirements for each country, which can be difficult due to our country’s lack of testing facilities, standards, and regulations. “We often have to send our products to other countries for testing, which can be costly as we have to get separate certifications for each plant oil.”
Thinley Wangdi – the founder of KNC
“In the heads of many people, scary pictures arise when they hear the words “plan” or “planning”. And I understand that, because we, as human beings, truly insist on making things difficult and complex,” the founder of Khengrig Namsum Cooperatives said, adding that it’s part of our nature because when we understand and achieve something that for many others seems extremely hard, we feel proud of ourselves. It’s a deep psychological thing.
Speaking to MyBiz Magazine, he said we have probably heard the saying “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there and you have to know your master goal in mind.”
In 2014, Thinley Wangdi, 45, gathered 16 youths from Zhemgang around him in Thimphu and went back to Zhemgang to start a farming cooperative as required by the cooperative regulations.
Later, he said that the parents of some of them were infuriated that he hoodwinked their children into leaving urban areas like- Thimphu to take up farming in remote Zhemgang. “Some of the parents pursued him, knives in hands,” he said.
Thinley Wangdi said that he had many challenges in the initial period of his business. “It didn’t work as per my plan. People didn’t believe my idea. I have faced challenges like no proper landscape, road connectivity, water, and human-wildlife conflict because it is an Agro-based.”
Eight years on, KNC is thriving, Thinley Wangdi thanks to support from various quarters, including the government, Helvetas Bhutan, European Union, and CSOs.
“Now, we have four different parts of the business which include vegetable production, value addition, import supply, and nursery production,” he shared.
At this time of the year, the cooperative floods Thimphu town with supersized organic vegetables, winter chilies, and fruits.
