Learning from Failure: Why Your First Business Didn’t Work (And What’s Next)
Real lessons from founders who pivoted, closed, or restarted—and what that taught them.
What if the most profitable businesses were also the most humane?
What if economic growth and founder wellbeing went hand in hand?
DTG 2026 brings Bhutan’s entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders together to prove that a different kind of business is possible.
16-17, October 2026
Druk Tshongrig Gatoen (DTG) is Bhutan’s only entrepreneurship festival dedicated to celebrating small businesses and bringing together all key stakeholders to advance entrepreneurship across the country.
Organized by the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship (DoEE) and Loden Foundation, DTG unites entrepreneurs, investors, Entrepreneur Support Organizations, and government leaders to reshape how we think about business. At its core is a powerful insight: founders’ wellness and financial stability are the foundation for thriving businesses.
Healthy entrepreneurs create strong businesses. Strong businesses generate employment, drive innovation, and build community resilience. Together, these create lasting national prosperity aligned with Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness values.
Gain skills and insights through masterclasses, workshops, and keynotes from industry leaders and government innovators.
Build relationships with fellow entrepreneurs, ESOs, investors, and government bodies shaping Bhutan’s business ecosystem.
Celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit with nature walks, mindfulness, and events that ground us in Bhutan’s values.
Objective: Help founders understand how to start and fund their business without relying on banks or formal programs.
Objective: Celebrate women entrepreneurs who built businesses on their own terms and show the diverse pathways to independence.
Objective: Celebrate women entrepreneurs who built businesses on their own terms and show the diverse pathways to independence.
Objective:
Equip founders with practical knowledge of digital financial tools, peer-to-peer transactions, and fraud safeguards to make informed decisions about alternative finance options.
Objective: Show founders that emerging sectors (AI, esports, digital content) are real opportunities in Bhutan right now—not distant futures.
A Journey Within Through Mind, Body & Speech
UNCONTAINED is an immersive theatre and movement experience that invites participants to move beyond the roles, expectations and limitations they carry in everyday life.
At its heart is the exploration of Mind, Body and Speech — a core approach within Snow Leopard Theater’s practice, inspired by Bhutanese and Himalayan ways of understanding the relationship between our inner and outer worlds.
The workshop asks:
Participants explore:
The approach is therapeutic in nature, drawing from theatre and movement-based practices while remaining accessible, gentle and secular.
The Bhutanese perspective of being present, observing without judgement and creating harmony between the inner and outer self forms an important foundation of the experience.
The workshop does not aim to teach participants how to perform.
It invites them to experience themselves.
Duration: 3 hours
Objective: Introduce founders to a tangible, high-profile business opportunity within Bhutan and explain the practical process to start a business in GMC.
Objective: Demystify angel investment by showing a real investor-founder relationship and how it actually works in Bhutan.
Objective: Demystify angel investment by showing a real investor-founder relationship and how it actually works in Bhutan.
Real lessons from founders who pivoted, closed, or restarted—and what that taught them.
Exploring emerging sectors and how new technologies are opening unexpected business opportunities.
How creators and content entrepreneurs are turning passion into sustainable income in Bhutan.
Why culture matters early, and practical steps to create workplaces where people actually want to stay.
DTG 2026 is a two-day festival taking place on October 16-17 at the Startup Center in Thimphu.
Registration is free and open online. Head to www.entrepreneurship.bt to register. Secure your spot early—spaces may be limited.
You can register for both days or a single day, depending on your availability.
DTG 2026 is completely free to attend. There are no registration fees or hidden costs. We’re committed to making entrepreneurship accessible to everyone in Bhutan.
Not at all. DTG welcomes founders at every stage: those with established businesses, early-stage startups, and aspiring entrepreneurs just exploring ideas. We also welcome investors, Entrepreneur Support Organizations, government leaders, and anyone interested in Bhutan’s business ecosystem.
Absolutely. Many attendees come with team members, co-founders, or colleagues interested in entrepreneurship. Group registrations may qualify for additional discounts—reach out to us for details.
Yes! We welcome international participants, investors, and supporters of Bhutan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. This is a great opportunity to connect with Bhutan’s founders and explore business opportunities in the country.
