Access to finance continues to remain a challenge for Bhutanese entrepreneurs. But are bank loans the only way forward? At the Druk Tshongrig Gatoen 2026, officials and business leaders said more entrepreneurs need to explore other financing options such as equity financing to grow their businesses.
For many entrepreneurs, starting a business is just the beginning. Expanding it requires more capital for equipment, technology, staff and reaching new markets. But securing the money to grow is a challenge.
At Druk Tshongrig Gatoen 2026, the discussion returned to a familiar concern: how can entrepreneurs access the capital they need to expand? While the challenge is not new, officials and business leaders said entrepreneurs also need to understand the financing options available beyond conventional bank loans.
One such option is equity financing. Business leaders added that while banks focus on a business’s ability to repay its loans, equity investors look at its growth potential and prospects for long-term returns.
Officials from the Department of Entrepreneurship and Employment also said that investors share the risks and support the business to grow.
Gyem Lhamo, Assistant Programme Officer at the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, MoICE, said, “In equity financing platforms, the responsibility and risk are shared by the investors also. For instance, if an investor sees a potential business and invests 500,000 ngultrum in it, and if the business does not do well, the investor will be there to support and guide, taking the risk and responsibility for the business.”
Not all Bhutanese entrepreneurs are unaware of alternative financing options. For Jigme Tashi Namgyal, a business owner at Jaggle AI, equity investment offered an alternative to borrowing.
“We did not opt for bank loan as our business is a small startup; there has to be collateral. In Bhutan, equity financing is still growing, but we were lucky enough to get one investor. Having an investor is also having a strategic partner and an adviser,” Jigme Tashi Namgyal said.
His experience shows how equity investment can offer more than capital, bringing a strategic partner who can guide a business as it grows.
As the financing debate continues, the question is not only how entrepreneurs can secure money to grow, but also whether they know and can access the alternatives available to them.
Sangay Chozom
Edited by Sangay Chezom
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