In the picturesque kingdom of Bhutan, known for its commitment to Gross National Happiness, a groundbreaking startup is making waves in the tech industry. NoMindBhutan, the country’s first AI startup, was founded by seven college students working out of their dormitory.
NoMindBhutan began with a focus on developing customer-facing AI chatbots for clients. Unlike the widely known ChatGPT, which pulls data from the entire internet, NoMindBhutan’s chatbots are tailored to the specific information provided by clients via their websites and other resources. This bespoke approach quickly gained traction in the local market.
In the initial stages, founders Dendup and Samdrup took the initiative to pitch their AI chatbot services to major institutions in Bhutan, including the Bhutan National Bank, Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, and Bank of Bhutan. Their efforts paid off in August 2023 when Bhutan National Bank became their first client. This endorsement significantly boosted NoMindBhutan’s credibility and visibility in the market.
Encouraged by this success, their college supported them in submitting more proposals, leading to the acquisition of three additional clients. The team’s dedication and willingness to learn quickly became apparent. Pallavi Sharma, NDI’s marketing and communications lead, praised NoMindBhutan for their motivation and adaptability. NDI began working with NoMindBhutan in November, securing an annual contract at 5,000 ngultrum ($60) per month. Currently, companies seeking NoMindBhutan’s chatbot services are charged a minimum of 8,000 ngultrum ($96) monthly.
The seven-member team operates from their dormitory, utilizing a makeshift workstation formed by pushing four wooden tables together. When the college is closed during vacations, they rent a small space to continue their work. Despite the challenges of balancing their academic commitments with startup responsibilities, each member is required to work nine hours a day as per their employment agreement.
The startup credits much of its success to the support from Gyalpozhing College. The college, which has rebranded itself to provide industry-relevant education, plays a crucial role in nurturing startups. Pema Wangmo, head of the AI Development and Data Science program, emphasized the pressure and importance of focusing on AI and data science. The college’s international faculty brings extensive tech experience and assists in areas like marketing and finance.
They also face several challenges, including the inability to access international payment platforms like Stripe and PayPal, and cloud servers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. These services are crucial for reducing costs and improving the quality of their AI models but are currently unavailable in Bhutan.
Despite these obstacles, NoMindBhutan is already planning bigger projects. In June, the company launched Sherig.ai, a personalized AI tutor that allows students to tailor curriculums with video lessons and quizzes based on Bhutanese textbooks. They are also developing an advanced version of their chatbot, which will give clients full control to train and manage it.
NoMindBhutan’s journey from a dormitory startup to a pioneer in Bhutan’s AI landscape is inspiring. Their story highlights the potential of young entrepreneurs and the importance of support systems in fostering innovation. As they continue to grow and overcome challenges, NoMindBhutan is poised to make significant contributions to the tech industry in Bhutan and beyond.
