AIDA Hackathon: Nepal’s First AI For Disability Event Opens Applications
26th August 2025, Kathmandu
The AIDA Hackathon (AI for People with Disability), Nepal’s first-ever national-level hackathon dedicated to developing AI-powered solutions for people with disabilities, has officially opened its applications.
AIDA Hackathon Nepal
The event, organized by Prateek Innovations, is set to bring together students, developers, researchers, and innovators from across the country to co-create cutting-edge assistive technologies that can transform lives and enhance accessibility.
The hackathon is designed as more than just a competition. It is a platform for innovation, collaboration, and social entrepreneurship, aiming to shift the perception of assistive technology in Nepal and South Asia from a charity-driven initiative to a viable field of innovation and business.
Through this event, the organizers hope to showcase Nepal’s potential as a hub for inclusive technology while creating opportunities for participants to contribute meaningfully to society.
This year’s hackathon will focus on four core themes: Smart Mobility and Communication Tech, Cognitive Health and Emotion-Aware AI, Digital Caregivers and AI Companions, and AI-Powered Education for the Deaf and Speech-Impaired. These tracks are designed to address real-world challenges faced by differently-abled individuals, while encouraging participants to think creatively about how artificial intelligence can improve mobility, communication, cognition, and care.
Applications for the hackathon are open from 24th August 2025 and will close on 26th September 2025. Following the selection process, participants will go through an orientation on 9th October, a series of workshops and training sessions from 10th to 16th October, and a semi-final on 6th and 7th November.
Finalists will be announced on 8th November, before moving into a 48-hour residential hackathon from 10th to 12th November. The program will conclude with the AIDA Conference on 14th and 15th November and a Grand Finale and Closing Ceremony on 16th November.
To motivate innovation, the hackathon offers a cash prize pool of NPR 1,20,000. The winner will receive NPR 50,000, the first runner-up NPR 30,000, the second runner-up NPR 20,000, and a special Best Innovation Track award worth NPR 20,000.
Beyond cash rewards, winners and finalists will gain access to incubation support, mentorship opportunities, and potential partnerships with organizations and investors to scale their solutions.
With more than 500,000 expected digital impressions, participation from over 50 institutions, and the involvement of leading AI experts, product designers, healthcare professionals, and disability rights advocates, the AIDA Hackathon is poised to become a landmark event in Nepal’s technology and social innovation ecosystem.
Organizers envision this initiative as the first step toward establishing the International Conference on AI for People with Disability in 2028, positioning Nepal as a leader in inclusive innovation.
Interested participants can apply through the official page: AIDA Hackathon Nepal
