Hima Aus Offshore presented the Hult Prize Finals at IOE, Pulchowk Campus, which concluded in grand fashion at Hotel A-One Party Palace, bringing to a close months of rigorous preparation, mentorship, and entrepreneurial development undertaken by student innovators from the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus. Presented under the banner of Hima Aus Offshore, the event brought together nine finalist teams competing for the title of Hult Prize Campus Champion before a distinguished gathering of judges, industry leaders, sponsors, students, and media representatives. Hosted by Saaya and Sangam, the day unfolded as a celebration of youth entrepreneurship, social innovation, and the remarkable potential of Nepal's next generation of changemakers.
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The programme commenced at 11:15 AM with a formal opening address in which the hosts extended a heartfelt welcome to all guests, judges, and participants assembled for the finals. The National Anthem was performed and observed with due respect by all present, after which distinguished guests and judges were welcomed to the stage with traditional khadas and bouquets in a ceremonial felicitation led by Mr. Raunak Mishra, Campus Director of Hult Prize at IOE, Pulchowk Campus. The judges honoured at this occasion were Mr. Sujit Pathak, CEO and Co-founder of Veda and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree; Ms. Kripa Shrestha, a Licensed Advocate of the Nepal Bar Council and Gold Medalist from Nepal Law Campus specializing in Intellectual Property Law; Mr. Ajay Yadav, Co-founder of Youthive Nepal and former President of the Rotaract Club of Kathmandu; and Mr. Nikhil Agrawal, Co-founder of Masta Kala and a trained architect turned entrepreneur recognized on Nepal's Shark Tank. Distinguished guests in attendance included Mr. Anup Acharya, Marketing Manager of Hima Aus Educational Consultancy and a representative of the Title Sponsor; Mr. Cabinet Sah, a representative of the Gold Sponsor, Tech Axis; and Miss. Riyaj Nepal, National Coordinator of Hult Prize Nationals. An inaugural plant watering ceremony followed, participated in by all guests and judges alongside the Campus Director, symbolizing growth, nurturing, and the blossoming of innovative ideas.
Before the proceedings advanced further, the event took a moment to acknowledge the generous support of its sponsors and partners, whose contributions made the Hult Prize Finals possible. The Title Sponsor was Hima Aus Education Consultancy. Gold Sponsors included Tech Axis and Glow N Sign. General Sponsors comprised Clamphook, Himalayan Bank Ltd., Nepal Telecom, and Chilime Hydropower Company Ltd. The event was further supported by Refreshment Partner Nimbu Pani and an extensive network of gifting partners, outreach partners, media partners including Hamro Patro, ICT Side, ICT Samachar, Abroad Khabar, Good Nepal, ICT Byte, ICT Frame, Artha Sarkar, Artha Nepal, Taskar Khabar, and Nepali Times, as well as Broadcasting Partner AP1 Television.
Following the sponsorship recognition, the judging panel was formally introduced to the audience. Their combined expertise spanning technology entrepreneurship, intellectual property law, social enterprise, and design thinking ensured a holistic and rigorous evaluation framework for the day's competition. At 11:20 AM, Campus Director Mr. Raunak Mishra delivered an address offering words of inspiration on entrepreneurship, leadership, and the role of innovation in solving real-world challenges, setting a motivational tone for the competitive session that was to follow.
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The pitching session began at about 11:45 AM, with each of the nine finalist teams allotted four minutes to present their venture, followed by a four-minute question-and-answer session with the judging panel. The nine teams who took the stage were AgroCool, Akshara, Aqualife, Matritwa, Mediwo, Pragatisheel Power Optimizers, Re-Leaf Plastic, SecondEye, and Ti:Ki. Each team delivered their pitch with confidence and clarity, and the question-and-answer sessions were robust and incisive, with judges probing the teams on topics ranging from revenue models and market strategy to social impact metrics and long-term scalability. The competitive quality of presentations was notably high across all nine teams, making for a compelling and intellectually stimulating session throughout.
Upon the conclusion of all nine pitching rounds, Miss. Riyaj Nepal, National Coordinator of Hult Prize Nationals, was invited to the stage to address the gathering. Mr. Nepal spoke about the broader vision of the Hult Prize movement, acknowledged the quality of innovation on display, and encouraged the finalists to continue pursuing their entrepreneurial journeys beyond the competition. His address reflected the programme's national spirit and resonated deeply with both participants and the audience.
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The judging panel subsequently retired to deliberate and calculate final scores, and the event proceeded with the recognition and appreciation of all who had contributed to its success. Certificates of participation were distributed to all nine finalist teams by Mr. Sagar Regmi, Technical Manager of the event. Certificates of appreciation and gifts were also awarded to the volunteers and members of the organizing committee in recognition of their tireless efforts and dedication behind the scenes.
The result announcement, conducted by Mr. Saksham Dhakal, Startup Coordinator, was the most anticipated moment of the day. After a thorough and challenging deliberation, the judges presented their final rankings based on innovation, impact potential, feasibility, scalability, and presentation quality.
The second runner-up position was awarded to Team Ti:Ki, whose venture addressed the critical and growing problem of decreasing agricultural land and rapid urbanization across Nepal. Their solution, a portable and compact product designed to enable individuals to grow organic vegetables within their own homes, presented a practical, scalable, and sustainable approach to urban food security. The judges commended the team for their innovative thinking and the product's potential for wide adoption in urban households. The second runner-up prize package, worth a total of NRs. 82,200, including gifts and scholarships from Tech Axis, Hima Aus, Unibags, Mudita, Merchandise Grid, Glide City, HESSE, EcoKanduk, and Mudita Store.
The runner-up position was claimed by Team Re-Leaf Plastic, who presented a compelling environmental venture focused on producing plastic using invasive plant species. This dual-impact solution simultaneously addresses the proliferation of ecologically harmful invasive flora and the global demand for alternative plastic materials. The judges praised the team's scientific grounding and the venture's potential for meaningful environmental impact at scale. The runner-up prize package, worth a total of NRs. 107,700, including gifts and scholarships from Tech Axis, Hima Aus, Unibags, Kunyo Gears, Mudita, Merchandise Grid, Glide City, HESSE, EcoKanduk, and Mudita Store.
The winner of the Hult Prize Finals at IOE, Pulchowk Campus, was Team SecondEye. Their venture tackled the urgent challenge of inadequate healthcare access and the critical shortage of radiologists in underdeveloped and remote regions. Through their innovative product, Team SecondEye demonstrated how technology can be harnessed to bridge the healthcare gap in underserved communities, enabling timely and accurate medical diagnostics where qualified professionals are scarce. The judges were unanimous in their appreciation for the venture's clear social impact, well-defined problem statement, and scalable solution across similar geographies and healthcare ecosystems. Team SecondEye emerged as the standout team of the day, earning the title of Hult Prize Campus Champion. Their winner's prize package is worth a total of NRs. 177,300, including a cash prize of NRs. 5,000 along with gifts and scholarships from Tech Axis, Hima Aus, GAG Nepal, X-Age, Unibags, Kunyo Gears, Mudita, Merchandise Grid, Glide City, HESSE, EcoKanduk, and Mudita Store.
Prior to the result announcement, all guests, judges, finalist teams, volunteers, and organizing committee members assembled on stage for a group photograph, capturing this milestone occasion in a spirit of collective celebration and shared achievement. Following the results, Mr. Anup Acharya, Marketing Manager of Hima Aus Educational Consultancy, delivered an address on behalf of the Title Sponsor, expressing admiration for the entrepreneurial spirit on display and reaffirming Hima Aus's commitment to investing in Nepal's youth.
The formal closing of the event included a networking and refreshments session, providing attendees an opportunity to connect with judges, guests, and fellow participants in a celebratory atmosphere. Campus Director Mr. Raunak Mishra presented tokens of appreciation to each of the four judges, and heartfelt acknowledgements were extended to all sponsors, the nine finalist teams, volunteers, the organizing committee, and every individual whose efforts contributed to the success of the day.
The Hult Prize Finals at IOE, Pulchowk Campus, stood as a powerful testament to the growing entrepreneurial culture within the Institute of Engineering. The event provided a world-class platform for student innovators to present solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time, and in doing so, reaffirmed the Campus Chapter's commitment to nurturing the next generation of purpose-driven entrepreneurs from Nepal.
