AIDEA Hackathon 2026: Empowering Nepalese Innovators to Build AI Startups
AIDEA Hackathon 2026
2nd April 2026, Kathmandu
AIDEA, Nepal’s AI Hackathon for Ideas That Count, successfully concluded at Draper Startup House Nepal, bringing together students, developers, and innovators from across Nepal to build AI-driven solutions for real-world challenges.
AIDEA Hackathon 2026
The hackathon followed a structured multi-stage startup-building process. Initially, 12 teams were shortlisted from hundreds of applications received.
These teams participated in AI bootcamps focused on understanding AI fundamentals, problem framing, and Nepal’s AI landscape.
This was followed by a 3-day physical hackathon where participants built prototypes, received mentorship, and presented initial demos. On the final day of the physical hackathon, an initial demo round was conducted, and 6 teams graduated to the next phase.
Selected teams then moved forward into post-hackathon startup development sessions, including business development sessions and mentorship aimed at refining their ideas into viable startups.
The program concluded with the final pitch session, where shortlisted teams presented their solutions, and the top teams were selected as the Winner and Runner-up.
The overall objective was not just to conduct a hackathon, but to guide teams through a startup-building journey from idea to product and toward real-world implementation.
The event was co-organized by Clock b Business Innovations and Draper Startup House Nepal and was led by Binay Devkota, Founder and CEO of Clock b Business Innovations, and Nirdesh Dwa, Co-Founder of VEDA App and an Angel Investor. The program was strategically supported by the U.S. Embassy in Nepal.
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Leapfrog Technology joined as the Technology Partner, alongside ecosystem supporters including VEDA App, with additional support from partners such as QFX Cinemas and Beach House Nepal.
Team “TriYantra Techies” from Kathmandu University emerged as the Winner and received NPR 1,00,000. Team members included Samir Wagle, Reewaj Khanal, Batsal Bhandari, and Abiral Adhikari.
Team “untitled.jpg”, representing IOE Pulchowk Campus, Khwopa College of Engineering, and Samriddhi College, secured the Runner-up position and received NPR 50,000. Team members included Suparna Neupane, Rishav Upadhaya, Yurisha Bajracharya, and Adarsha Shrestha.
The final round conducted on 27th January was evaluated by a distinguished judging panel including Narottam Aryal, John B. Park, and Ayusma Aryal. The program concluded with prize distribution, certificate handover, and recognition of innovative AI-driven solutions.
AIDEA was designed to accelerate AI innovation by enabling students and builders to transform ideas into practical products through mentorship, collaboration, and rapid prototyping.
The initiative aims to strengthen Nepal’s AI landscape by fostering early-stage AI startups, encouraging cross-institution collaboration, and building a pipeline of investable technology ventures.
Through ecosystem partnerships and hands-on development, AIDEA contributes toward positioning Nepal as an emerging hub for AI-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.
Institutions, colleges, and organizations interested in collaborating for future editions of AIDEA or launching AI-focused innovation programs are invited to partner in building meaningful initiatives that advance Nepal’s AI and startup ecosystem.
For more: AIDEA Hackathon 2026
