Last Updated on by ICT Byte
The Grand Finals of the Hult Prize at IOE, Pulchowk Campus, concluded with a spectacular showcase of innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Held at Yellow Pagoda, Kanti Path, the event brought together Nepal’s brightest student entrepreneurs, competing for the prestigious title.
Dubbed the “Nobel Prize for Students,” the Hult Prize is a globally recognized competition that challenges young innovators to develop sustainable business solutions addressing pressing social issues. This year’s theme, “UNLIMITED,” saw an impressive display of groundbreaking ideas aimed at driving positive change.
A Grand Beginning
The event commenced at 11:00 a.m., hosted by Saisha Shrestha, the Outreach Manager, and Nipurna Shrestha, the PR and Media Manager. The program began with a national anthem, followed by the traditional lighting of the panas by esteemed guests. Sponsors were also acknowledged, including Naammche as the title sponsor and UBA Solutions as the Platinum Sponsor.
To mark the official start of the event, Campus Director Riyaj Nepal delivered an inspiring speech, setting the stage for the highly anticipated pitches. The event was further enlivened by a Newari welcome dance performed by the Pulchowk Dance Club.
Distinguished Judges and Fierce Competition
A panel of esteemed judges evaluated the pitches:
- Surya Karki – Director & Co-Founder, United World Schools Nepal
- Sujit Pathak – Managing Director, Veda
- Rita Pokharel – Business Development Lead, inDrive South Asia
- Ramesh Pathak – Co-Founder & CEO, Naamche
The competition featured 11 dynamic teams, each presenting their innovative solutions within a four-minute pitch, followed by a rigorous Q&A session:
- Pragatisheel Power Optimizers
- Wheytogo
- Creovative
- Indriya
- LipSync
- Invasive Engineers
- Swasthya AI
- Ankur
- CloseAI
- FarmEasy
- Nirwatshodak
The teams showcased ideas spanning renewable energy, health tech, AI-driven solutions, and sustainable agriculture. Judges assessed each team based on key performance indicators, business model viability, and market potential.
Winners Announced
Following an intense competition, the results were revealed:
- Second Runner-Up: Invasive Engineers – Awarded a cash prize of NPR 5,000, along with medals, certificates, gift hampers, and other prizes.
- First Runner-Up: Ankur – Received NPR 10,000, medals, certificates, and premium gift packages.
- Champion: Nirwatshodak – The wildcard entry emerged victorious, winning NPR 20,000, an award, medals, and exclusive gift hampers.
The grand finale concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony sponsored by CakeMart, followed by a group photo capturing the spirit of innovation and collaboration.
A Bright Future Ahead
The event highlighted Nepal’s growing presence in the global startup ecosystem, reaffirming the power of youth-driven innovation. As the finalists continue their entrepreneurial journeys, their ideas have the potential to drive real-world change and position Nepal as a hub for impactful startups.
Congratulations to all the participating teams for their remarkable efforts!
