Sunir: Autonomous Port Innovator – Magnificent Grant, Boost VC & Deep Tech Startup
28th March 2025, kathmandu
Meet Sunir – the teen who left Nepal with $700, survived on bananas, and won the prestigious Magnificent Grant. Discover how he’s now building autonomous port systems with support from Emergent Ventures, Boost VC, and 1517 Fund. An inspiring journey of grit and innovation.
Sunir Autonomous Port Innovator
What is Magnificent Grant?
The Magnificent Grant is a highly selective $30,000 grant and two-year fellowship awarded to extraordinary young pioneers under the age of 25 who are challenging the status quo. It supports outliers who reject traditional academic paths, credentialism, and elitist hierarchies to create real-world impact. Each year, only 10 individuals are selected from thousands of applicants worldwide. Previously, the grant was awarded exclusively to those who had dropped out of school, similar in spirit to the Thiel Fellowship.
To date, only 20 people in the world have received this honor.
Sunir is the first Nepalese citizen and one of the first recipients from Asia to win the Magnificent Grant. He was awarded the fellowship to work on bringing full automation to American shipping ports through the development of autonomous vehicles. If successful, his work could help ports save $300 billion annually, increase efficiency by 30%, and boost operational speed by 50%, reshaping the future of global logistics.
What is Emergent Ventures?
Emergent Ventures is a prestigious fellowship and grant program that supports visionary thinkers and entrepreneurs working on bold, “zero to one” ideas with the potential to meaningfully improve society. It is run by renowned economist Tyler Cowen at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University. The program backs ambitious, moonshot projects—ideas that, if successful, could radically reshape how the world operates. With an average acceptance rate of just 5%, it is considered one of the most selective innovation-focused grant programs globally.
Sunir received a $12,000 grant from Emergent Ventures to support both the development of a drone system for creating high-resolution 3D maps of shipping ports and his living expenses while working full-time on the project. These maps are the “brain” of the autonomous vehicles he is building to fully automate port operations.
Sunir is the second Nepalese citizen ever to receive this grant.
What is Boost VC?
Boost VC is the most active Deep Tech investor on the planet. Deep tech refers to technologies that are based on substantial scientific or engineering advances and require significant R&D. These are not just apps or Boost VC is the world’s most active investor in deep tech—technologies rooted in significant scientific or engineering breakthroughs. Unlike simple apps or consumer software, deep tech addresses substantial, real-world challenges in fields such as robotics, space tech, autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, advanced materials, and biotech.
Founded in 2012 by Adam Draper, Boost VC specializes in funding emerging and frontier technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Notably, Draper was one of the first investors in Coinbase, now a $43 billion cryptocurrency company.
Boost VC’s portfolio includes over 350 startups, with investments in major players like Coinbase, Filecoin, and Gemini. Their mission is to empower bold founders to build the future.
Sunir was referred to Boost VC by a friend, and his startup, Meridian, was accepted into the Boost VC Founder Start Program. As part of the program, Boost VC invested $50,000, led by principal investor Gus Domel, to support the early development of his deep tech company. This low-friction funding is designed to help exceptional founders take the first step in building transformative technologies.
Deep tech is already extremely difficult, requiring long R&D cycles and cutting-edge innovation. What makes Sunir’s journey extraordinary is that, at just 19 years old, he is not only building autonomous vehicles for shipping ports but also navigating complex U.S. regulations and union-heavy port systems—a daunting task even for seasoned founders.
And it’s important to remember: Sunir came to the United States just three years ago with only $700, surviving at times on bananas and water. From those beginnings to now building a deep tech company backed by one of the top investors in the world—his story is one of grit, vision, and relentless execution. 1517 Fund Medici Grant:
What is 1517 and the Medici Grant?
1517 Fund is a venture capital firm founded by the original creators of the Thiel Fellowship, designed to back young founders, dropouts, and renegade scientists solving hard, meaningful problems. They invest at the earliest stages, often before there’s a company—just an idea and a spark. Their portfolio includes some of the most iconic breakout projects like Ethereum, Figma, Luminar, and the Longevity Fund. The 1517 Medici Project is their belief capital program: a $1,000 no-strings-attached grant meant to support young builders and visionaries before the rest of the world sees their potential. It’s not about what you’ve already done—it’s a vote of confidence in where you’re headed. Past Medici Grant recipients have gone on to raise millions and build world-changing startups.
How Sunir met 1517
It was a complete coincidence that Sunir met the 1517 team. He stumbled upon a tweet by Danielle Strachman, Co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship and Founder of the 1517 Fund, about a defense-focused hackathon in Oakland. Despite being 50 hours sleep-deprived, Sunir showed up—and in a surreal twist, ended up reverse-engineering Danielle’s car key, unknowingly impressing the very person who would later become one of his strongest supporters.
Sunir’s Medici Grant application wasn’t just a list of accomplishments—it was a raw story of resilience: arriving in the U.S. alone with just $700, surviving on bananas and water, and pursuing his dream after representing Nepal as a junior national swimmer. He even included the technical breakdown of Danielle’s car key frequency as part of the application.
Why was he awarded?
Sunir received the 1517 Medici Grant to build a more advanced autonomous vehicle testing platform.
At the time, he was exploring the application of self-driving technology in farming. With the support of the $1,000 grant, he designed and built a larger, more accurate vehicle to improve his experimentation with autonomous systems.
But for Sunir, the grant was far more than financial help—it was belief capital. He didn’t know anyone in America. Getting support from someone like Danielle meant everything. In fact, to this day, she is the first person he calls—right after his parents—when something big happens.
Having Danielle just a phone call away means the world to me. Her belief gave me the confidence to keep going, even in the most uncertain and confusing moments.
The Medici Grant didn’t just help Sunir build—it gave him recognition in Silicon Valley. His creative, hands-on approach earned him a nickname from Danielle herself: “MacGyver.” It was a small grant, but it created a big shift, opening doors and building belief in a young founder’s future.
What is the Bagel Fund?
The Bagel Fund is a micro-grant program that supports ambitious young people working on important problems using scrappy, creative solutions. With grants ranging from $100 to $500, the goal is to give just enough fuel to help builders take the first step toward something meaningful. For Sunir, this was the beginning.
The Bagel Fund was the first grant Sunir ever received, and it marked the start of his journey in building autonomous vehicles. With their support, he was able to purchase basic RC car parts to build a small-scale testing platform—his first hands-on experiment in autonomy.
It wasn’t a big check. But it was enough to turn an idea into action. That small, early belief played a critical role in setting Sunir on the path he walks today.
What is the On Deck Founder Fellowship (ODF)?
The On Deck Founder Fellowship (ODF) is a prestigious program designed to support exceptional founders in launching and scaling innovative companies. ODF brings together a diverse cohort of early-stage entrepreneurs, providing them with a robust community, resources, and guidance to navigate the complexities of startup development. The fellowship emphasizes collaboration, idea exploration, and building conviction, offering participants access to a vast network of mentors, peers, and potential investors.
Sunir’s Unconventional Entry into ODF
Sunir’s journey into the On Deck community is a testament to his boldness and determination. Demonstrating his proactive nature, he just showed up at the residence of an ODF founder and expressed his interest in joining the program. Moved by Sunir’s compelling story of starting anew in America and his audacious approach, the founder extended him an invitation to join the fellowship.
The Impact of ODF on Sunir’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Since joining ODF, Sunir has benefited immensely from the fellowship’s resources and community. The program has been a steadfast support system during the nascent stages of his entrepreneurial journey, offering guidance during challenging and uncertain times. Through ODF, Sunir has connected with like-minded founders, gained valuable insights into startup dynamics, and accessed a network that has been instrumental in his company’s growth.
What is Circuit Launch?
Circuit Launch is one of the most advanced co-working spaces in the world for robotics, hardware, and mechatronics innovation. Located in Oakland, California, it is home to startups and inventors working at the cutting edge of physical technology. The space provides members access to electronic labs, machine shops, 3D printers, CNC mills, laser cutters, and even VR/AR studios—all under one roof. It’s a hands-on playground built specifically for builders of hardware and robotics.
Sunir’s Journey with Circuit Launch
When the founder of Circuit Launch, Alex Dantas, heard Sunir’s story—arriving in the U.S. with only $700, living off bananas and water, and working alone to build autonomous vehicles—he was deeply moved. In a generous act of support, **Alex granted Sunir free office space and full access to Circuit Launch’s machine shop and labs.
This early backing gave Sunir a physical home for his ideas. It was a place where he could prototype, test, and build without the burden of cost. That free office access and community support became a launchpad for the early versions of his autonomous vehicle systems.
What is Next Chapter?
Next Chapter is an exclusive, invite-only community designed for the top 1% of ambitious young founders, investors, and creators worldwide. The platform brings together exceptional individuals under 30, fostering collaboration and innovation to shape the future. Members gain access to a vibrant network, including a private Slack platform, roundtable discussions, and accountability groups, all aimed at accelerating personal and professional growth. Additionally, Next Chapter offers support through its affiliated venture fund, Ultraviolet Ventures, providing fundraising advice and introductions to venture capitalists.
Sunir’s Unique Membership
After learning about Sunir’s inspiring journey—arriving in the U.S. with just $700, subsisting on bananas and water, and his relentless pursuit of innovation in autonomous vehicles—the leadership at Next Chapter extended a rare gesture. Recognizing his determination and potential, they offered Sunir a complimentary membership, making him the only member to receive free access to this elite community. This opportunity has connected him with like-minded peers, mentors, and resources, significantly contributing to his entrepreneurial endeavors.