The U. S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology initiative (GIST) is pleased to announce the launch of GIST Innovates Bhutan, a 10-week program that will train and mentor Bhutanese STEM innovators on their journey to becoming entrepreneurs.

Bhutan has a long tradition of supporting its people through impactful programs to meet their populace’s emerging needs. GIST is privileged to be able to contribute to these efforts through this new program.

The goal of the GIST Innovates program is to provide innovators with the training, mentoring, and resources they need to bring their ideas out of the university lab and into the market.

GIST Innovates Bhutan is a version of the program produced specifically to empower early-stage Bhutanese science and technology startups to build their business skills as they take steps to commercialize their innovation and launch their product. The program was designed with the realities of the Bhutanese entrepreneurial ecosystem at the forefront.

This accelerated online training program is modeled after the Lean Startup methodology, an approach that has helped startups around the world develop and launch their businesses. GIST Innovates recently successfully completed a similar program in Ukraine. Startups in that cohort have already seen successes including initial sales following an impressive Demo Day where participants pitched their solutions to an audience of ecosystem partners, program contributors, program instructors, and corporate partners.

Participants of GIST Innovates Bhutan will be eligible to apply for a spot in the GIST Business Incubation program. Two Bhutanese teams will be selected to participate in this international entrepreneurship program that is scheduled to take place in Fall 2021.

If you are interested in applying for GIST Innovates Bhutan, please click here.

For additional questions about this program please contact [email protected].

GIST Innovates Bhutan is a national-level program; Bhutanese citizens nationwide are encouraged to apply.