From a Village Startup to a Trending Business: My Entrepreneurial Journey

From a Small Village to a Trending Startup: My Journey as an Entrepreneur

The Beginning: A Vision Sparked by Online Shopping

I am Sumit Jha, a Nepali author, software engineer, and entrepreneur from Balawa, Nepal. Back in 2017, while pursuing my studies at IIMT College, India, I was captivated by the rapid rise of e-commerce and instant delivery services. Companies like Flipkart, Amazon, and Swiggy were revolutionizing online shopping and food delivery in cities.

However, in my hometown, such services were nonexistent. People had to travel long distances to buy essential items, and local shops had limited stock. The gap in the market inspired me to take action—I wanted to bring convenience, accessibility, and digital transformation to my community.

And so, with a vision and a small room, I launched my first startup: Dealgarnu Shopping, the first online shopping platform in Terai, Nepal.

The Rise of Dealgarnu Shopping: Overcoming Initial Hurdles

Starting Dealgarnu Shopping was far from easy. Unlike big cities where e-commerce was thriving, the concept of online shopping was still new and unfamiliar in rural Nepal. People hesitated—

• Would they really receive their orders?

• Was online payment safe?

To build trust, I adopted a simple but effective strategy:

✅ Cash on Delivery (COD) – Since digital payments were not common, I allowed customers to pay only after receiving their products.
✅ Personalized Service – I personally ensured that every order was delivered on time, building reliability.
✅ Word-of-Mouth Marketing – Instead of spending on advertising, I relied on satisfied customers spreading the word.

Slowly, the idea gained massive traction. What started as a small operation in Balawa expanded to Padaul, Sarpallo, Gorigamma, and other nearby villages. As demand surged, I scaled up—

• Hired more delivery personnel

• Expanded services to Jaleswar and Janakpur

At its peak, Dealgarnu Shopping was handling hundreds of orders daily, proving that even rural areas were ready for digital transformation.

Introducing DFood: Taking the Next Big Step

After successfully running Dealgarnu Shopping, I noticed another major problem—there were no proper food delivery services in smaller towns. While major cities had platforms like Foodmandu, people in rural areas still had to visit restaurants physically.

This led me to launch DFood, an online food delivery service that expanded beyond just restaurants. I introduced:
✔ Groceries – Making daily essentials accessible.
✔ Gas Cylinders – Solving transportation difficulties for families.

From day one, the response was overwhelming. People loved the convenience, and orders started pouring in. To manage operations efficiently, I built a dedicated team:
✅ 20 delivery boys – Ensuring fast and efficient deliveries.
✅ 7 office workers – Handling logistics, customer support, and management.

The effort paid off! DFood quickly trended on the Play Store, receiving 500+ daily orders. At its peak, the company was valued at 2 million Nepali Rupees—a remarkable milestone for a business that started in a small room.

Scaling Up: Moving to a Bigger Space

As both Dealgarnu Shopping and DFood expanded, my one-room office was no longer enough. To accommodate my team and improve efficiency, I moved to a bigger space.

For me, Sumit Jha, a passionate entrepreneur from Balawa, Nepal, seeing my startup thrive was a proud moment—not just for me, but for my entire community. I had proven that digital businesses could succeed in Nepal, no matter where they started.

Challenges & The Hard Reality of Running a Startup

Despite our success, running a business in Nepal came with serious challenges:

❌ Lack of Funding – Unlike major tech startups, I had limited access to investors. Expansion required capital, but funding opportunities were scarce.

❌ Team Reliability Issues – A startup’s success depends on a genuine, committed team. Unfortunately, many employees weren’t dedicated long-term, creating operational inefficiencies.

❌ Logistics Problems – Delivering across different regions was difficult, with poor road conditions and unpredictable delays.

❌ Technological Limitations – Building and maintaining an app, payment gateway, and delivery system required continuous tech upgrades, which were expensive.

Despite giving my best, the challenges became overwhelming. By 2022, after five years of growth and success, I had to make the tough decision to shut down the company.

It was heartbreaking—but it was also a learning experience.

Lessons Learned: What This Journey Taught Me

Even though Dealgarnu Shopping and DFood had to shut down, I gained:

✔ A deep understanding of business, e-commerce, and customer behavior.
✔ Practical knowledge of logistics, team management, and digital marketing.
✔ The experience of building and scaling a startup from scratch.
✔ The confidence to build even better businesses in the future.

Most importantly, I realized that failure is not the end—it’s just a stepping stone to bigger things.

What’s Next? A New Beginning with Materide Pro

With all the lessons from my previous ventures, I am now working on my latest startup:
🚀 Materide Pro – A motorbike seat-sharing app for city-to-city travel in Nepal.

Materide Pro is designed to solve transportation issues by allowing people to share motorbike rides for affordable and convenient travel. The goal is to reduce travel costs and improve mobility across Nepal.

This time, I am more prepared than ever. I now understand the importance of funding, a reliable team, and scalable operations. Every challenge I faced with Dealgarnu Shopping and DFood has made me stronger and more experienced.

Final Thoughts: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation

As Sumit Jha, a Nepali author, software engineer, and entrepreneur, my journey started from a small village in Nepal, with nothing but a vision and determination.

In just a few years, I built a trending online business, handled 500+ daily orders, and created jobs for many.

Even though my first ventures didn’t last forever, they paved the way for future success. Entrepreneurship is about solving problems, learning from failures, and continuously innovating.

The best part? This is just the beginning.

I am now focused on Materide Pro and other future ventures, ensuring I bring more impactful digital solutions to Nepal.

Stay tuned—bigger things are coming!

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