Seven Nepali startups have emerged with innovative digital solutions aimed at addressing a range of societal challenges, including healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, accessibility, and finance. These ventures were recognized during the recently held ‘Code for Impact’ hackathon, a national entrepreneurial competition organized by the United States Embassy in Nepal in partnership with Adhyanta Advisory. The event attracted participation from 190 companies across the country, each proposing technological interventions designed to tackle systemic obstacles affecting local communities.

After a rigorous evaluation process, seven teams stood out as national winners, securing cash prizes to expand their business models and demonstrating the capacity of Nepal’s young tech talent to create practical tools tailored to national needs. Among the top performers were Aashirbad Care, NepAI, Data Hiti, and Synaptic.

Aashirbad Care addresses gaps in Nepal’s healthcare system by providing comprehensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and caregiving services to elderly citizens at their homes. Cofounded by Dr. Rohit Rawat, who also practices at Patan Academy of Health Sciences, the platform was developed in response to the country’s growing elderly population and the lack of structured post-hospitalization care. The service employs a team of 50 trained caregivers across the Kathmandu Valley, offering a range of care options priced according to patient needs, from basic companionship to specialised medical attention. Recently, the company introduced a ‘Hospital Assistance Service’ to support families unable to stay overnight with hospitalized relatives, which has seen increasing demand in urban areas.

Another notable innovation, NepAI, developed by the ‘Access Code’ team from Pokhara, aims to convert Braille into Unicode text to enhance communication and accessibility for Nepal’s visually impaired population of over 145,000 individuals. Founded by a team that includes visually impaired member Chhabi Ale, the platform addresses challenges faced by blind students and professionals in education and employment by facilitating faster transcription and communication. The technology is expected to reduce barriers in sectors including banking and employment, with institutional adoption anticipated by organizations like the Nepal Association of the Blind.

In the financial technology sector, Data Hiti has developed the Elytra app to simplify and expedite cross-border transactions. Co-founder Kabish Pokharel explained that Elytra employs instant-settlement technology to address issues such as delays and pre-funding requirements inherent in traditional banking remittance processes. The service currently supports payments for American companies operating in Nepal and acts as a technology provider to licensed banks and financial institutions rather than as a direct remittance service.

The healthcare-focused startup Cad Coder, based in Jhapa, created Dose, a platform that integrates patients, doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies into one network. This service offers users detailed information on medicines, pricing, and appointment booking while including a prescription verification feature to combat misuse. The platform is expanding through partnerships with healthcare providers.

In the tourism sector, Neptu uses artificial intelligence to promote lesser-known destinations and local experiences for foreign visitors. Developed by a team including students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the app currently offers AI-generated itineraries and plans to include direct booking of local guides for cultural events and unique experiences.

Synaptic, developed by Kathmandu University students, has introduced ‘Card AI,’ an augmented reality (AR) tool aimed at children with autism, learning difficulties, or speech impairments. The app transforms physical learning cards into interactive 3D visuals and sounds in Nepali and English, supporting vocabulary learning. The team collaborates with academic and clinical centers to refine the technology, which is currently undergoing prototype testing.

Lastly, Mithila Coder from Janakpur has launched the AgriSense app to provide agricultural consultancy to farmers in local languages. Through AI-based diagnosis and data sourced from the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, the app guides farmers on crop selection, soil management, and pest or disease treatment. The startup’s founders, who are also farmers, developed the app to offer expertise to those in the Tarai region who often rely on traditional farming methods without scientific support.

These startups underscore the potential for technology-driven solutions tailored to Nepal’s distinct geographical and socio-economic context. Their emergence comes amid ongoing challenges for the country’s IT sector, including unclear policy frameworks, limited access to venture capital, and brain drain. Officials from the US Embassy lauded the ingenuity and resilience demonstrated by the participants, emphasizing the value of collaborations that blend local talent with advanced technological concepts to foster economic growth.