Nepal’s Young Innovators Inspired: Hult Prize Pulchowk Panel Discusses Entrepreneurship and Social Impact
11th December 2025, Kathmandu
The Hult Prize at IOE, Pulchowk Campus, successfully kicked off its 2025 season on December 11, 2025, with a comprehensive Orientation Programme and a highly engaging Panel Discussion.
Nepal’s Young Innovators Inspired
The event, held at the IOE Pulchowk Campus, energized a considerable number of students and guests, setting the stage for a competition focused on creating limitless, sustainable social ventures.
Orientation Session Highlights: The “UNLIMITED” Challenge
The morning began at 11:15 AM with the national anthem, fostering a unifying atmosphere. Key figures, including Dr. Puskar Raj Pokharel, Assistant Campus Chief, and Ms. Riyaj Nepal, National Coordinator of Hult Prize Nationals, graced the event.
Symbolic Inauguration: The program was inaugurated by distinguished guests watering a plant on stage, an eco-friendly ritual emphasizing the Hult Prize’s agenda of environmental stewardship and social progress.
Cultural Performance: The audience was captivated by a heartfelt rendition of the Nepali folk song “Gauri Khet Ko Sirai Hanyo,” performed by student Shirshak Subedi.
2025 Theme Reveal: Campus Director Mr. Raunak Mishra unveiled the 2025 Hult Prize theme: “UNLIMITED.” This theme encourages participants to “think beyond constraints and innovate fearlessly” by pitching any idea for a social enterprise that addresses at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Global Overview: Ms. Riyaj Nepal, drawing on her experience as a former Campus Director, provided a detailed breakdown of the Hult Prize’s global structure, from the on-campus round to the Regional Summits and the Grand Finals in Boston.
She highlighted the immense value for students, including gaining real-world skills, funding, and mentorship.
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The session concluded around 1:00 PM with a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony.
Expert Panel Discussion: Entrepreneurship & Social Impact
The afternoon session, moderated by Mr. Sagar Regmi, transitioned into an insightful discussion on “Entrepreneurship & Social Impact,” featuring five high-caliber entrepreneurs:
| Panelist | Key Affiliation(s) | Primary Insight/Advice |
| Preeti Adhikary | General Partner, Momo VC; Founder, The Great Nepalese Diaspora | Focused on community building, tapping into the vast Nepalese diaspora network, and debunking misconceptions about investing in diverse founders. |
| Samir Phuyal | CEO & Founder, Karobar App (ICT Award 2022 Winner) | Discussed scaling the Karobar App to 300,000+ users and expanding to Bangladesh, emphasizing the need to prioritize real user needs over “cool tech” for MSMEs. |
| Nischal Sharma | CEO, Upaya Technologies; MD, Brainiverse Academy | Shared insights on juggling multiple ventures, effective time management, and the complex decision-making process for pursuing or exiting business opportunities in Nepal’s ecosystem. |
| Pramosh Adhikari | Founder, Homify LLC; COO, Slashplus | Stressed the importance of viability testing for ideas, avoiding burnout, and the continuous process of pivoting and learning from business failures. |
| Shova Gyawali | Director, Nepal Republic Media; President, FWEAN | Highlighted the barriers for women entrepreneurs and the critical role of media strategies for visibility, advocating for policy changes to accelerate women’s participation. |
The panelists provided practical, high-level insights into resilience, user-centric design, diversity, and sustainable scaling, all perfectly aligned with the Hult Prize mission. A lively Q&A session followed, allowing the audience to engage directly on topics like funding, market entry, and overcoming failures.
Sponsors and Conclusion
The successful execution of the event was made possible by generous support from:
Title Sponsor: Hima Aus Offshore Pvt. Ltd.
General Partner: Himalayan Bank
In-Kind Supporters: The Plantroom, HESSE Creations, Dabur Nepal, and Ralycos Nepal.
The program concluded around 3:30 PM, leaving participants inspired and ready to embark on their Hult Prize journey. As Ms. Nepal affirmed, “The Hult Prize isn’t just a competition, it’s a launchpad for change-makers,” underscoring the promising future for young Nepalese innovators.
For more: Nepal’s Young Innovators Inspired
