The eighth and final workshop of Project PAILA (Program for Aspiring Innovators and Local Achievers) was held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the District Administrative Centre (DAC), Sichey, Gangtok, as part of a district-wide push to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. The programme, run under Sikkim INSPIRES by DAC Gangtok in collaboration with the CSR department of Sun Pharma and implemented by Stars of Hope, aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs convert ideas into viable ventures through mentorship and practical training.
The workshop’s theme—“Team Building, Leadership, Growth & Scaling”—focused on equipping participants with leadership skills and the tools needed to prepare investor-ready proposals. A dedicated session on preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) guided entrepreneurs on how to design and present structured project proposals for funding and implementation.
Local entrepreneur Pravesh Chettri, founder of Travel Gangtok Tourism, shared his experience in building and scaling a tourism business, stressing strong team dynamics, visionary leadership, resilience and customer-centric growth. Chartered Accountant Anupam Upadhaya delivered a technical session on leadership, financial structuring and sustainable scaling, offering practical advice on financial discipline, compliance and expansion models suited to startups.
Bikash Thapa, founder of Stars of Hope, led the DPR preparedness session, walking participants through the essential components of a strong DPR and effective pitch presentation. The workshop was attended by Abhijeet Patil, SDM Gangtok (HQ), who set out the district administration’s broader vision for the initiative and highlighted DAC’s role in linking departments, entrepreneurs and public schemes to provide institutional support.
With the workshop series complete, participants will now prepare to pitch their business ideas before a designated panel during a pitching session scheduled from March 16–20, 2026. Promotional materials and a video announcing the event will be displayed across Gangtok district and its blocks; applicants must register using details provided in those official adverts.
Multiple winners will be selected and may receive limited seed funding, subject to availability under Sikkim INSPIRES. The judging panel will include local entrepreneurs who acted as mentors in the PAILA workshops. While preference will be given to regular attendees, the pitching session is open to all; those who do not meet selection criteria will continue to receive guidance from the DAC and referrals to other suitable schemes and opportunities.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/final-workshop-of-paila-held-for-nurturing-aspiring-entrepreneurs
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