Bikalpa- an Alternative with the  support of Sahaj, organized an entrepreneurship talk show program called “Udhyami ka Kura” on 2 March 2023 at Hotel Shree Krishna Biratnagar. The program was organized to inspire and motivate aspiring entrepreneurs’ young generation with the real stories of entrepreneurs. The program also provides a platform to do networking and idea sharing.

For this Udhyami ka kura session, Mrs. Kiran Byas was invited as the guest speaker. Mrs. Byas is the Proprietor of Kiran cake parlor. Kiran cake parlor is a well-known brand in Biratnagar. Close to two decades after its inception, it is one of Biratnagar’s most-known confectionery retail chains in Biratnagar. The program started at 3:30 pm with a welcoming speech by Mr. Basanta Adhikari, director of Bikalpa an Alternative. He welcomed the participants and introduced the guest speaker, Mrs. Kiran Byas, to the audience.

Program Details:

Mrs. Byas started her speech by sharing her journey of becoming an entrepreneur. Mrs. byas said she was born and raised in Biratnagar and is the youngest child of her family. She said she completed her schooling at Siddhartha sisu sadan school and enrolled for her high school and bachelor’s degree in Mahendra Morang college Biratnagar. Due to her family circumstances at that time, she dropped out from Bsc degree but she was engaged in her business.

Looking back, she shares that at the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey, she said when the kiran cake parlor was initiated, there was miserable condition in the cake industry in Biratnagar. So, she and her family did a lot of research for making process cake. After that, she explained how she started her business with a small shop at traffic chowk and gradually expanded it into a chain of confectionery retail stores in Biratnagar. She recalls it’s been 21 years while working in the kiran cake parlor. Continuing her speech, she also shared her challenges and how she overcame them. She said, being a woman. It is not easy to handle both household and business.

She did come across gender-based biases, but her husband and family were so supportive that it helped her to establish herself in her business. However, she believes that times are changing now. “People are open to new ideas and concepts,” she says. Drawing on her experiences, she said during her second pregnancy time. She was almost about to die but Dr. Renuka Rathi saved her life, which she is thankful to her . She got a new life, and a turning point came in her life. she expressed if you are educated person, whatever you suffer shouldn’t repeat to other person that’s what she believe and till now she working with that motto in her life.

Further adding about entrepreneurship, she said while doing business, we think you need equipment and skills, but now google has set a provision for everything you need to search for a business plan. Also, she questioned why new businesses don’t move forward and fade away in the market. She shared that our motto should be clear while doing business. We should know why we are doing business. For that, find the reason for doing business.

While talking about the existence of the Kiran cake parlor for ten years, she was not actively involved in her family business. After her father’s death, she got sincerely involved in continuing her family legacy business. From the very beginning, they always maintained quality, and now they have been able to create their brand in Biratnagar and other nearby cities. Over time, Kiran cake parlor retail chains became some of the most popular spots in Biratnagar. She added that people from all over the city would come to enjoy his sweets and treats, and many of them became loyal customers.

Byas advises youth not to give up. “Don’t let anyone shut you down. If somebody is not taking you seriously, it is their problem. You keep pushing forward,” she says. She emphasized the importance of having a clear vision, passion, and hard work to become a successful entrepreneur. she also highlighted the importance of customer satisfaction, quality products, and effective marketing strategies for running a successful business.

She also said that before beginning anything, we should set a goal. We should first determine our strengths and our areas of expertise. Young people today tend to take the safer option. They do not wish to look for employment chances locally and want to work abroad.

Mrs. Byas also shared her experience dealing with market competition and the need for innovation and continuous improvement to stay ahead in the business. She encouraged the participants to identify their strengths and weaknesses, find a niche market, and focus on delivering value to the customers.

After her speech, there was a question and answer session where the participants asked various questions about entrepreneurship and starting a business.  Mrs. Byas patiently answered all the questions and provided valuable insights.

Conclusion:

The Entrepreneurship Talk program was a great success, with around 126 participants attending the event. The speech by Mrs. kiran byas was inspiring and motivating, and the participants learned a lot from his experience and insights. The program was helpful for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start their own businesses and provided them with valuable information and guidance. Overall, the program was an excellent platform for promoting entrepreneurship and encouraging young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams.