Final workshop of PAILA held for nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs

GANGTOK, : The eighth and final workshop of Project PAILA (Program for Aspiring Innovators and LocalAchievers) was successfully conducted on Sunday at District Administrative Centre (DAC), Sichey, Gangtok, as part of the ongoing efforts to promoteentrepreneurship and innovation in the district.

Project PAILA is a joint initiative of the DistrictAdministrative Centre (DAC), Gangtok, under the banner of Sikkim INSPIRES, in collaboration withthe CSR Department of Sun Pharma, and is being implemented by Stars of Hope, a press release informs.

Project PAILA continues to nurture entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance by providingaspiring entrepreneurs with a structured platform to transform their ideas into sustainable andimpactful ventures through mentorship, interactive workshops, and hands-on learning experiences.

The eighth workshop was conducted on the theme “Team Building, Leadership, Growth & Scaling.”The session aimed to equip participants with strategic leadership capabilities and the practical toolsrequired to present investor-ready business proposals. Additionally, a special session on DPR(Detailed Project Report) preparation was held to help participants understand how to effectivelydesign and present project proposals.

Pravesh Chettri, founder of Travel Gangtok Tourism, shared his entrepreneurial journey andinsights into building and scaling a successful tourism enterprise. He highlighted the importance ofstrong team dynamics, visionary leadership, resilience, and customer-centric growth strategies insustaining long-term business success. His interaction encouraged participants to think beyondsurvival and focus on scalable and impactful ventures.

The technical session on leadership, financial structuring, and sustainable growth strategies wasdelivered by Anupam Upadhaya, Chartered Accountant (CA). He provided practical guidance onfinancial discipline, strategic scaling, compliance frameworks, and structured expansion modelssuitable for startups and emerging enterprises.

The special DPR preparedness focused technical session was conducted by Bikash Thapa,founder, Stars of HOPE on the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and crafting aneffective presentation for the upcoming pitching session. He walked participants through theessential components of a strong DPR.

The workshop was graced by the presence of Abhijeet Patil, SDM Gangtok (HQ), whoaddressed the participants and elaborated on the broader vision of this initiative by the DistrictAdministration. He also highlighted the proactive role of the District Administrative Centre in bridgingdepartments with entrepreneurs and the public, facilitating convergence of schemes, and ensuringthat aspiring innovators receive institutional guidance and support.

He further explained the purpose behind conducting the eight structured workshops under ProjectPAILA to systematically build the capacities of participants from ideation and market validation tofinancial planning, compliance, operations, marketing, leadership, and final pitching readiness. Heencouraged all participants to confidently present their ideas during the upcoming pitching sessionand wished them the very best for their entrepreneurial journey, the release mentions.

With the successful completion of the eighth and final workshop, participants are now fully preparedto present their business ideas before the designated panel during the upcoming pitching session.

Adverts, banners, and a promotional video announcing a pitching session under SIkkim INSPIRESwill soon be displayed across Gangtok District and its Blocks, inviting applications from aspiringentrepreneurs. The dates for the pitching session have been set from 16th-20th March, 2026.

Multiple winners will be selected and will receive very limited seed funding, subject to theavailability of funds under Sikkim INSPIRES, for their startups. The judging panel will comprise localentrepreneurs who have been part of the project as mentors and speakers associated with theworkshops under Project PAILA.

The pitching session will be open to all, with preference given to regular workshop attendees.

Participants will be required to prepare a brief presentation of their business idea and registerthrough the links and information provided in the official adverts.

Participants who may not meet the specified criteria during the pitching session are encouraged notto feel discouraged, as the DAC team will continue to guide and connect them with other suitableschemes and opportunities aligned with their aspirations in the future. The initiative reflects abroader commitment to building for the future, with a long-term vision of fostering sustainableentrepreneurship and economic self-reliance in the district, the release mentions.