The 2nd Cohort of the North East Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2019 began in the month of July and after multiple conclaves along with exposures and networking initiatives throughout the year, the 2nd Cohort of the North East Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2019 graduated on 31st of October 2019 at New Delhi leading up to the 7th Edition of the Young Leaders Connect, where the Fellows were facilitated along with certificates by Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ind. & Ms. Mary Kom, World Boxing Champion.
Here is the Second Graduating Batch of North East Entrepreneurship Fellowship, class of 2018-19.
Vivito Yepthomi
Founder; Nagaland Coffee
Nagaland Coffee Pvt.Ltd is a business venture started by two friends, Vivito from Nagaland and Dr.Pieter Vermeulen from Cape Town, South Africa. Vivito has a Degree in International Marketing from London School of Commerce, London, UK. A certified Barista from Himalayan Java, a Member of Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), Certified Roaster from Probat Kaapi, Bangalore. He is also certified in Hospitality Management System (HMS), Kathmandu, Nepal.
Karishma Kakoti
Interior designer & Founder KA Design, Assam
Karishma Kakoti is the founder and the lead designer of KA Design. The leading interior design firm deals with the high-end luxury projects from residential, commercial and hospitality sectors all over India. She is an alumnus of Amity University, Noida and has secured a gold medal in Bachelor of Interior Design in 2013. Recently, she was awarded in the international platform as best emerging interior design professional of the year in London by WBR CORP IN GLOBAL INDIAN BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2019. Also she was hitted thrice on a national platform—KA Design most innovative firm in National Icon Award 2018 felicitated by Sunil Shetty, Top 100 Designers in India by Deco Wood and, Leading Interior Designer Firm 2018 by India’s Most Prominent Architect and Design Awards 2018. More recently, she was a recipient of the Young Icon award and was felicitated by Padmashree Pankaj Udhas Ji. Also received the Indian Leadership Award 2018, felicitation done by Mrs. Soha Ali Khan. KA DESIGN projects range from residence to offices and commercial space to hospitality and product art as well.
Traditional Indian art, techniques are incorporated into the design with a modern design aesthetic to create one of the signature custom designs for the luxury market that they cater to. She was recently listed in FORBES INDIA MAGAZINE -INDIAN BRANDS AND LEADERS Meanwhile northeast and her hometown have always encouraged her too with recognitions as SAFALYA - best entrepreneur 2019 from ASSAM TALKS. Also outstanding service in the interior field by SUBANSIRI FEST IN LAKHIMPUR.
Kushan Zulca
CEO and Co-Founder, Mitho Delivery, Sikkim
Mitho Delivery, a food delivery start-up, was launched last October by two young enterprising Sikkimese youths Kushan Zulca and Fredrick Rai. It has partnered with over 100 entrepreneurs, restaurants, bakeries & kitchens to deliver varied and delicious cuisine at the comfort of the doorsteps of the customers whether at office or home. The service is currently active in Gangtok, Ranipool, Singtam, Majitar & Rangpo and will be available in Namchi soon.
Kushan and Fredrick, both 22-year-olds, came up with the idea of food delivery, from their own experience. “We loved having meals and snacks from the restaurants in town and we always thought how wonderful it would be to order food from our favourite eateries right at home. This is how the idea of Mitho Delivery came to be.”
Nengneithem Hengna
Founder and Creative Director, Runway Nagaland
Nengneithem Henga is a young entrepreneur with a vision for her community. She established Runway Nagaland in 2013 with a vision to promote handloom and handmade products. Her brand innovates-makes-sells clothing, jewelery, and accessories using eclectic and inspiring designs. She is also focused on creating sustainable livelihoods through her business with the aim to enhance the wellbeing of people from low-income communities, and also with the hope to revive and sustain the dying practice of craftsmanship and traditional techniques of weaving and handmade accessories. Her dream is to establish a full-fledged company to work together with local artisans. Her business has stayed small because of the challenges faced like lack of basic services, inadequate infrastructure, financial credit, marketing problems and several other factors.
Robin Basnet
Founder, Green Escape Vacations, Sikkim
A graduate in Tourism & Hospitality from South Bank University, London, Robin Basnet is theCo-founder of “Handpicked Hotels – Sikkim & Darjeeling” & the CEO of Hotel Helia Gangtok & Green Escape Vacations. He has also worked in multinational hospitality companies in London such as American Express Vacations, Hilton Hotels & Holiday Inn to name a few. Mr. Basnet has previously been the representative of Sikkim Tourism in National & International Arena.
Lanuakum Imchen
Founder, Cold Mountain Organic Products, Nagaland
Cold Mountain is a tea brand developed in Nagaland, one of the north-East state of India by Imchen Tea Products. The tea company launched its first product in the early 2016 with only one variety, “White Tea with Lemongrass” under its kitty and over a span of 14 months the product line has reached to 14 different varieties, selling in over 40 shops locally and on 5 online shopping portals. The company is fast growing as a leading tea brand in the market where local consumers are enjoying it’s finest taste. Lanuakum Imchen, was born and raised in Dimapur, adopted the tea business after his education and went on creating Cold Mountain as a brand in the early 2016. The products focuses on the countless health benefits it can provide by combining organically grown natural herbs. Tea lovers have been commenting about the products and have become regular consumers.
Shyamanga Protim Kashyap
Managing Director, Trig Technology Solutions, Delhi & Founder, Trig Empowering Institute, Guwahati
With an experience of over 15+ years in BPO and Corporate Sector in Delhi. He started Trig Technology Solutions Private Limited in the year 2012 in Delhi with over 30+ employees with majority being from North East India, serving U.S and Canadian Customers in software support.
He founded Trig Empowering Institute as a pioneer training institute with the mission to empower and develop the North Eastern Region and to give opportunity to the youth from this region. Established in Guwahati in the year 2017 with courses like Aviation, Hospitality, Skill Training. While keeping the fee structure affordable, quality has been the motto in designing the courses with best in class experienced trainers from the industry.
Within less than two years, the institute has made a name in the industry and shook hands with reputed channel partners like YouthNet in Nagaland, Assam Skill Development Mission in Assam and many more.
Deba Pratim
Owner; The Tea Story, Assam
Deba Pratim Das, owner of a tea bistro called The Tea Story in Guwahati. He completed his graduation in Hospitality Management from Edinburgh Napier University and then joined the Marriott Groups of Hotels and Resorts in USA as a F&B Supervisor and worked with them for two years.
Coming from the land of tea estates, he always wanted to learn more and explore the field of tea growing, but never really got around to carve a path to follow. After returning to India to pursue an MBA degree in Hospitality had an epiphany and decided to stay back in his hometown to open a tea bistro on his own. That’s how the idea and the journey of The Tea Story began. He also worked with a Japanese travel company called JTB a few years ago. He traveled extensively throughout South East Asia during that time and it exposed him to other cultures that appreciated tea as a beverage.
Pibarel Moirangthem
Founder and Managing Director, Medilane Foundation, Manipur
Medilane, the most trusted Home Healthcare and Ambulance service provider in the state, with an aim towards making affordable and accessible healthcare to the public. Medilane, healthcare was founded in 17th October 2016 and now becomes a full-fledged Private Limited Company under the name of Medilane HealthTech and Consultancy Services Private Limited. Medilane has more than 22,000 Medilane Healthcare Benefit cardholders in different parts of Manipur. More than 10,000 cardholders got the benefits from different healthcare service providers namely Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Optical stores, Dental clinics, Physiotherapy clinics, Pharmacies, Salon and spas. The company is planning to distribute more than 50,000 cards in this coming year 2019-20 and in the next 5 years, and planning to create 1000 plus jobs for home healthcare sectors.
Birbal Chingangbam
Director, Taret Foods Pvt. Ltd., Manipur
A food processing unit looking to elevate the Aromatic Black Rice that is indigenous to Manipur through innovation and quality.
Chimi Ongmu Bhutia
Founder, Lagstal, Sikkim
Chimi Ongmu Bhutia, a social and natureconomics inclined entrepreneur is one of the two Sikkimese women entrepreneur named in the list of 17 recipients of the Vasundhara NE women entrepreneur of the year for 2015-16 and 2016-17. Chimi believes in environment-friendly and pro-nature entrepreneurship. Her work mostly uses raw materials that are locally sourced, and she also works with the locals of Sikkim for manpower. She encourages local artisans to use traditional knowledge which later gets a contemporary touch for marketing purposes. Chimi hopes that through her effort she can uplift the living standards of local artisans specializing in Sikkimese handicrafts.
Angshuman Dutta
Fitness and Lifestyle coach, Transformers Fitness Academy, Assam
Transformers Fitness Academy is the premier personal training academy in India with a wide range of courses designed to equip trainers with the latest scientific tools to become world-class training professionals. With numerous tie-ups with leading Universities of India and abroad, Transformers Fitness Academy has emerged as the best personal and fitness training academy in Guwahati (Assam). Catering to students from across the seven North-Eastern states and beyond, Transformers Fitness Academy students are now working in leading gyms and fitness centres in many metro cities of India, Asia and Europe.
Transformers Fitness Academy also has a dedicated online training system where clients are offered personal training and diet consultation over email and skype. Online training has enabled Transformers Fitness Academy to reach clients across the globe and many athletes are taking the opportunity to train in Kettlebells, Functional Training, Transformation Programs and diets including fat loss, weight gain, etc. We also offer specialised diets like Keto, Low-Carb High-Protein and Vegan.
The gym section caters to clients of diverse requirements including lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes and CHD. They also offer special programs for athletes and have strength and conditioning programs designed to cater to the particular needs of different sports. Their Functional Training, Kettlebell and Cross-Functional Training Programs help clients reach their desired fitness goals rapidly while minimising chances of injury. The personal trainers are certified and all programs are conducted under the supervision of Master Trainer and Fitness Guru, Mr Angshuman Dutta.