The Hult Prize at IOE 2024 Semi-Final was conducted on February 3rd at the Himalayan College of Engineering with great enthusiasm as sponsors and guests gathered for the inauguration. There were 24 semifinalists, each showcasing their outstanding achievements and dedication to creating a positive social impact through entrepreneurship. The distinguished judges for the Hult Prize at IOE Semi-Final were Mr. Utsav Goyal, the Co-Founder of VistaarTrade; Mr. Prasanta Raut, the Co-founder of Codavatar Tech Pvt Ltd; Mr. Nikhil Shakya, MD at Skill Square Pvt. Ltd; and Ms. Kripa Paudel, COO and Co-founder at Scalable Investments.
Mr. Aditya Pandey, the Campus Director, welcomed everyone with an inspiring speech. He explained the rules and criteria for judging, preparing everyone for the challenge ahead. With excitement in the air, participants geared up to tackle global problems with their innovative ideas. It’s clear that this year’s competition isn’t just about winning but also about making a real difference in the world.
Following a dynamic inauguration by the Campus Director of Hult Prize at IOE 2024, the event swiftly transitioned into a showcase of groundbreaking ideas from the semifinalists. Each presentation was a testament to ingenuity and a commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Notable among them were pitches for a venture aimed at revolutionizing plastic management by transforming 450 million tons of annual plastic waste into durable bricks, stronger than traditional ones, and an entry offering an integrated mobile application empowering farmers with enhanced decision-making capabilities through weather forecasting and crop knowledge.
Some of the ideas presented were innovative solutions to the limited charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, proposing a partnership model with house owners; a prototype aiming to assist blind individuals in reading; vocational services through an intuitive app interface; a proposed direct channel between farmers and consumers, emphasizing the importance of local produce; the introduction of a digi-agro device for soil status analysis and improvement suggestions; an eco-friendly solution by manufacturing tiles from air pollution, promising a cleaner future for construction materials; and an intelligent traffic signal system to alleviate congestion, acknowledging Nepal’s unique traffic infrastructure.
The event also witnessed ventures offering sustainable alternatives and innovative solutions in real estate brokerage, respectively. Additionally, some addressed urban parking issues by utilizing private spaces efficiently. The array of ideas showcased the immense potential and dedication of the participants to tackle global challenges head-on. As the event concluded, it became evident that the Hult Prize at IOE 2024 had ignited a spark of innovation that promises a brighter, more sustainable future.
With much excitement in the air, the Hult Prize at IOE 2024 reached a big moment: announcing its finalists! After careful review and inspiring presentations, 11 finalists were chosen because they have smart ideas to tackle big world problems. Now, all eyes are on them as they get ready for the final showdown, where one of them will be crowned the winner, set to change the world for the better.
