Aji's Story & Mission
Lorina & Irina at Aji’s first maker faire in 2018.
Aji’s mission is to empower the elderly to live healthy and happy lives by providing a platform to showcase their skills and knowledge.
Aji’s enables home-based elders to make and sell products through our online store and retail partners, share their stories and experiences on the Aji’s Podcast and blog, and connect with the younger generation via campaigns such as #AskAnAji. We want to create a world where the elderly live happy and healthy lives as active members of their community.
Learn more about our mission and vision. Check out Aji’s coverage in the media.
The sister duo, Lorina and Irina Sthapit, were inspired to start Aji's by their own adorable grandmother Champa Devi Tuladhar who is passionate about knitting.
AJI’S TEAM
LORINA STHAPIT, Cofounder
Lorina is the cofounder of Aji’s and the host of Aji’s Podcast. She has a decade of experience working as a development professional for organizations such as Oxfam, IFAD, CARE and others in Nepal, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Italy. She completed the Social Entrepreneurship Programme from INSEAD Business School in Singapore. She is also a team member 80 Over 80 SF and volunteer for the Friendship Line - Institute on Aging, of She is also a yoga teacher and a Kathak dancer.
IRINA STHAPIT, Cofounder
Irina holds a Master’s degree from Stanford University’s Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) program. She was also an International Visitors Leadership Program participant at U.S. Department of State. Irina is an Electronics and Communication Engineer and has worked at Microsoft, Stanford University in United States and Karkhana in Nepal as an STEM Educator and UX Researcher. She is currently the Business Development Manager for Innovation Centre in Advanced College of Engineering in Kathmandu and and Asia Foundation Fellow for Emerging Leaders for Asia's Future Program for 2022.
PURSARTH TULADHAR, Cofounder
Pursarth has 10 years of experience working in marketing, product, and operations for large enterprises and startups such as TaskRabbit, Cleanify, Zillow, and LexisNexis. He also serves as Head of Growth at Dreambound, a venture-backed startup in San Francisco that has raised funding from Union Square Ventures, Collaborative Fund & RocNation. He has lived and worked in Bangalore, New York, San Francisco, and Kathmandu.
Aji's Interns
SALINA BEGAM, Aji’s Health Forum & Blog Intern
Salina Begam is pursuing her bachelors degree in Public Health at Central Institute of Science and Technology (CiST) College, Kathmandu. She has special interest in elderly health, mental health and sexual and reproductive health.
SHASHWAT RIJAL, US Operations Intern
Shashwat has five plus years of property and business valuation experience. Professionally he works as an appraiser. Personally, he is trying to keep his inner kid alive. He is "just a kid trying to figure it out in life".
LIRISHA TULADHAR, Intern
Lirisha is pursuing her bachelors degree in public health at Central Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) College in Kathmandu. She strongly believes that the world can be filled with positivity when change start from self. She is a voracious reader and loves traveling and meeting new people.
SUMEGHA SHRESTHA, Intern
Sumegha completed her +2 from Gems Institute of Higher Education in Kathmandu. She is always ready to help people in need and is passionate about social work. Though an introvert, she likes to experience and explore new things and places.
SHRABADA GURUNG, Intern
Shrabada loves colorful socks, the smell of old books, and owl earrings. She hopes of contributing back to the community and is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in environmental science at Kathmandu University. She adores sudden hugs but dislikes people who don’t smile back.