Why we’re pivoting (again)
After going through ~100 applications for inner circle, one thing became very clear… it wouldn’t work the way we intended.
Before diving into that, here’s how these weekly updates will look:
What’s coming up next this month, and
A behind-the-scenes look at what we’re building and why
Upcoming Events
1. Professionals Mixer - Boston
🗓 Date: Thursday, April 23
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET
📍 Location: 345 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA
👔 Dress Code: Business Casual (no hoodies, sweatpants, or flip-flops)
Looking to meet other Nepali students & professionals in Boston?
Our quarterly mixers are designed to help you connect, collaborate, and build real relationships within the community. Whether you’re new to the area or already part of the network, this is your space to find your people and grow together.
👉 Learn more & RSVP → ($15 to secure your spot)
2. Professionals Mixer - New York City
🗓 Date: Thursday, April 30
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Consulate General of Nepal, NYC; 228 E 45th St 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017
👔 Dress Code: Business Casual (no hoodies, sweatpants, or flip-flops)
Looking to meet other Nepali students & professionals in New York City?
Our quarterly mixers are designed to help you connect, collaborate, and build real relationships within the community. Whether you’re new to the area or already part of the network, this is your space to find your people and grow together.
👉 Learn more & RSVP → ($15 to secure your spot)
Apply to the NLN Founders Circle
Behind The Scenes
Last week, we introduced NLN Inner Circle with plans to run a 4-week beta in May.
Since then, ~100 people applied.
That was honestly humbling. Seeing people believe this quickly in something we’re building means a lot.
But after reviewing the applications, one thing became clear.
It would not work as intended.
People were at different stages, solving different problems, and aiming for different outcomes.
Put that in one room and you get surface-level conversations.
Which is exactly what we are trying to avoid.
The shift
We are narrowing down.
Starting with one group first.
Founders
This came directly from the hackathon.
A lot of you asked what comes next. What happens to your projects.
At the same time, we saw founders already building, some even generating revenue on the side.
The gap was not more community.
It was better rooms.
What we’re building
NLN Founders Circle (Beta)
A 4-week, curated mastermind-style program.
Not an incubator. Not an accelerator.
No curriculum. No lectures.
Just small, high-quality groups solving real problems together.
Why it’s limited
We are selecting 48 founders max.
Small by design so we can:
Match groups properly
Stay close to what is happening
Iterate fast based on real feedback
How founders are grouped
By stage:
Stage 1: $0 to $1k per month
Stage 2: $1k to $5k per month
Stage 3: $5k to $15k per month
Stage 4: $15k to $50k per month
Stage 5: $50k to $150k per month
Stage 6: $150k to $300k per month
Stage 7: $300k+ per month
And more importantly, by exact bottlenecks and next goal.
So you are in a room with people at the same level, solving the same problem.
Format
6 to 8 founders per group
Weekly 2-hour sessions
Structured, but discussion-driven
Each session:
Quick updates
Deep dives
Group discussion and pressure testing
Clear next steps
Timeline
Apply by: April 30
Runs: May 10 to May 31
When: Sunday evenings
Time zones:
Americas: 8 to 10 PM ET
Europe, UK, Africa: 8 to 10 PM local
South Asia, Middle East: 8 to 10 PM NPT
Australia: 8 to 10 PM local
Apply
If you are building and want better thinking, not more noise:
Apply by April 30
https://airtable.com/appmV522GW32pd0mC/shr2vPLWJprBhj0cF
Quick updates
Boston mixer tomorrow: ~30 attending
NYC mixer April 30: ~60 attending, almost sold out
We will not be opening more spots for NYC due to venue limits.
— Shreyas
Founder, Nepali Leaders Network
P.S. If you made it this far, you’re a real one. These newsletters might be my favorite way to stay connected to 2,400+ of you. See you back in a week!
