Acharya, who co-founded her own business at just 19, stands as a strong example of youth innovation. She began her entrepreneurial journey while most people her age were still exploring career paths.
Urban Girl, her e-commerce venture, started with a simple idea and has now evolved into a multi-brand digital platform. She strongly believes that success is driven not by age, but by dedication and teamwork. According to her, building a strong team is the most critical factor behind any successful enterprise.
Born in Biratnagar in July 1993 and raised in Kathmandu, Nikita followed a science background in high school, as did her family. However, her interest later shifted toward management, which she pursued in her undergraduate studies.
Naturally outgoing and energetic as a child, she never initially imagined entering the business world. During the final years of her bachelor’s degree, she worked at an IT company started by her friends. Around the same time, she observed the rapid growth of global e-commerce platforms, which inspired her to introduce a similar model in Nepal.
In December 2012, she and her partner Kiran Timsina launched Urban Girl, initially selling women’s jewelry and
accessories. Today, the company has expanded into Urban Cakes, offering customized cakes, and operates through its own platform, UG Bazaar.
In the beginning, most products were imported, but today nearly 80% of items are locally produced in Nepal, including jewelry and handmade goods. She emphasizes, “We are utilizing the skilled manpower of the country.”
Like many entrepreneurs, she faced skepticism early on. At just 19, people often doubted her capability. Vendors and business partners would assume she was merely assisting her co-founder rather than being the actual founder.
However, over time, consistent performance changed perceptions. She believes that persistence is key people eventually respect results, not assumptions.
During its early days, e-commerce was still new in Nepal. Trust was a major challenge, as customers preferred physical stores where they could verify product quality. Gradually, with consistent service and quality, customer trust increased.
Starting from a small room, the company has now grown into an office in Mid-Baneshwor with around 55 employees, along with a branch in Pokhara.
She considers job creation and expansion across cities one of her biggest achievements.
Beyond business, Acharya also focuses on social impact. The company trains deaf individuals in Pokhara, helping them gain skills such as baking and production work, enabling them to become financially independent.
She believes entrepreneurship in Nepal is gradually growing, but challenges still remain. One major issue is the lack of strong participation of young people and women in the technology sector. She also highlights the trend of youth migration abroad, with thousands leaving Nepal daily for opportunities overseas.
She points out that traditional societal expectations such as completing education, getting a job, and settling down still dominate thinking patterns. According to her, shifting this mindset will take time and awareness.
Acharya also emphasizes the importance of family support in women’s entrepreneurship. She believes encouragement from parents and spouses significantly boosts confidence and growth.
She shares that she often works late hours and sometimes misses family events. Without understanding and support from her parents, sustaining her business would have been difficult.
For aspiring women entrepreneurs, she encourages action over hesitation. She highlights that Nepal now offers increasing support through government subsidies, bank loans, and media coverage for women-led businesses.
However, she identifies the lack of a formal e-commerce policy as a key challenge for long-term industry growth.
Personally, she follows a disciplined lifestyle starting her day with gym workouts, maintaining a schedule, and enjoying reading, cycling, badminton, and travel during leisure time.
She believes consistency and clear vision are essential for success, while also recognizing that every individual has unique strengths.
Conclusion
Looking ahead, Nikita Acharya aims to continue growing her business and serve as an inspiration to others. She strongly believes that young people have the ability to take risks, innovate, and shape the future of Nepal.
“We faced many hardships and ups and downs, but consistency helped us sustain and grow,” she concludes.