KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 26 The Startup Network Nepal has partnered with Oorja World, a clean-energy company accelerated by Amazon Web Services (AWS), to organise an AI Hackathon in March followed by Nepal's first National AI Summit in Kathmandu. According to the organisers, the two-day AI Hackathon will be held on March 15–16, bringing together students, developers, researchers and early-stage founders from across the country to develop practical artificial intelligence solutions. The hackathon will focus on sectors including energy, sustainability, healthcare, fintech, climate resilience and public services. Participants will receive mentorship from industry experts, access to cloud-based AI tools and an opportunity to present their projects to investors and ecosystem stakeholders. The event will be followed by the National AI Summit on March 31, which organisers describe as the country's first national-level platform dedicated to artificial intelligence. The summit aims to convene policymakers, technology leaders, startup founders, investors, academicians and corporate representatives to discuss Nepal's AI roadmap and promote responsible and inclusive adoption of emerging technologies. A representative of The Startup Network Nepal said the collaboration reflects a shared objective to expand access to AI tools, support young innovators and integrate advanced technologies into Nepal's startup ecosystem. Oorja World, which has been accelerated by Amazon Web Services under its Top Energy Startups programme, stated that the initiative aligns with its mission to apply AI and digital solutions to sustainable development and scalable innovation in emerging markets. Organisers said the two initiatives are designed to foster collaboration between industry and academia while creating a national platform where policy, innovation and technology intersect to advance Nepal's AI-driven growth.