KATHMANDU, MAY 14

The Nepal Startup Innovation Hackathon 2026 concluded on May 12, with "Team Nova" winning the top prize of Rs 50,000 for its project "Leapnode".

The three-day event, organised by Glocal Pvt. Ltd., brought together 85 participants selected from 218 applicants to develop solutions addressing national challenges.

Held under the theme "Innovating for Nepal: Local Solutions for National Challenges", the hackathon featured 17 teams, with participants from both school and college levels.

Participants represented various regions, including Kathmandu Valley and cities such as Biratnagar, Birgunj, Janakpur and Dhangadhi.

During the 72-hour event, teams received mentorship from industry experts to refine their ideas into functional prototypes.

The competition focused on seven sectors: digital inclusion, climate change, education, agriculture, tourism, entrepreneurship and health.

The winning project, Leapnode, aims to improve engagement in online learning by introducing a system that demonstrates "proof of work" for learners.

The event was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, with support from the Asian Development Bank and Embark College.

Organisers said the hackathon serves as a platform to transform academic ideas into practical solutions and foster youth-driven innovation in Nepal.