Hult Prize at Shanker Dev Campus concludes

The Hult Prize at Shanker Dev Campus reached its culmination during an event hosted at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) venue. This collaborative effort with NTB underscored the symbiotic relationship between academia and the tourism sector in nurturing sustainable ventures.

The finale commenced with a welcoming address by Pooja Sharma, the Campus Director of the Hult Prize, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful discussions and groundbreaking ideas. The Chief Guest, Leela Mani Paudyal, Former Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, graced the audience with his perspectives on innovation and sustainable development.

A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Karna Shakya, a prominent figure in tourism entrepreneurship in Nepal. Addressing the young minds present, he emphasized the significance of perseverance and vision in the entrepreneurial journey.

The panel discussion, titled “Sustainable Venture: Pioneering Change for a Better Tomorrow,” featured Bhawani Rana, Chairperson of Sneha Group and Former President of FNCCI; Mani Raj Lamichhane, Director of NTB; and Rajeev Thapa, Partner/Country Manager, Nepal-CDM Smith Inc. Their dialogue centered around the challenges and opportunities in creating sustainable ventures for a better future.

The core of the event was the pitching session, where the top five finalists, chosen from a competitive pool of 40 teams, presented their innovative ideas to a distinguished panel of judges. This panel comprised Vidushi Rana, Executive Director of Goldstar; Anal Raj Bhattarai, Director of Rastriya Banijya Bank; and Anand Bagaria, Managing Director of NIMBUS. The presentations showcased the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of the students.

The competition concluded with Team Digo emerging as the victors, securing a prize of over Rs 600,000. Following closely, Team Triaikyam claimed the first runner-up position, earning nearly Rs 500,000, and Team SuperSquad secured the second runner-up position, winning more than Rs 400,000 in prizes. The total prize pool exceeded Rs 1.5m, encompassing both cash and in-kind contributions, highlighting the event’s commitment to supporting innovative ventures.