US Embassy Nepal’s Code for Impact helps young innovators launch tech ventures in Kathmandu

Four teams win Code for Impact finale in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: Seven teams of young innovators presented their technology ventures in Kathmandu on Friday at the showcase finale of Code for Impact. The nationwide entrepreneurship initiative aims to help domestic innovators build businesses within Nepal.

Four teams — Aashirbad Care, DataHiti, Neptou and Synaptic — were announced as national winners.

Each winning team received a $1,000 seed grant, $5,000 in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud credits and Rs 250,000 growth grant from Ncell. Winners also secured access to artificial intelligence and technology tools, ongoing mentorship, and branding, technical and ecosystem support. The three remaining finalists will each receive $1,000 in AWS credits together with continued mentorship and partnership access.

The six-month venture-building programme is supported by the US Embassy in Nepal and implemented by Aadyanta Advisory in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Nepal, SecurityPal AI, Fusemachines, Genese Solutions and other ecosystem partners. The evaluation panel included Anand Bagaria, Managing Director of Nimbus Holdings; Ritu Singh Vaidya, Managing Director of VOITH; Cabinet Shrestha, Chairman of Agni Group; Amir Raj Thapa, Executive Director at AmCham Nepal; and Mike Harker, Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Nepal.

Mike Harker said, “Code for Impact reflects the US Embassy’s commitment to supporting Nepal’s next generation of innovators. Beyond today’s awards, this initiative has helped young entrepreneurs strengthen practical skills, connect with industry mentors, and engage with technologies and innovation practices that can open new opportunities for collaboration between Nepal and the United States.”

Aadyanta Advisory Co-founder and Managing Director Stuti Basnyet said the programme was intended to bridge the gap between ideas and viable ventures. “Too many great ideas disappear after demo day because founders lack time, mentorship and market connections. Over six months, we watched teams challenge assumptions, talk to customers, refine their products and, in several cases, begin generating real traction. That’s the success we’re most proud of,” she said.

The initiative launched in January 2026, drawing an initial pool of 190 applicant teams from across the country. From those, 35 teams were selected to participate in virtual bootcamps, AI labs and provincial hackathons held across all seven provinces. Fourteen semifinalist teams subsequently advanced into four months of targeted mentorship, customer validation, product refinement and business-model development.

By the time the final seven teams reached the Kathmandu showcase, several had already secured early customers, generated revenue, launched pilots or entered the beta-testing phase. The ventures address a range of issues, including cross-border payment processing, agricultural support, healthcare access, tourism growth and specialised learning utilities.

The national winners offered the following solutions. Aashirbad Care operates a GPS-verified elder-care platform developed by doctors to give diaspora families real-time updates on their parents’ care. DataHiti built Elytra, a non-custodial orchestration API that settles cross-border payments in real time without holding capital. Neptou created an AI-powered discovery app to uncover local experiences outside mainstream tourist routes. Synaptic developed cARd AI, a platform that converts physical learning cards into interactive augmented reality experiences with bilingual English and Nepali audio to assist children with diverse learning needs.

Bishakha Lakshmi Khadka, Head of Corporate Communications, Marketing & Sustainability at Ncell, welcomed the partnership. “At Ncell, we believe our role extends beyond connectivity; we are committed to enabling innovation that creates lasting impact. We are delighted to partner with the US Embassy, Aadyanta Advisory and others to empower young innovators with the support they need to transform bold ideas into meaningful solutions,” she said.

Kailash Bijayananda, Chairperson of AmCham Nepal, said the programme brought together entrepreneurs, businesses, mentors, investors and technology leaders to help promising founders develop stronger ventures and reach markets. “AmCham Nepal is proud to support the commercial relationships and private sector connections that make that possible,” he said.

The presentations concluded with the July edition of the Silicon Peaks Mixer, where founders met prospective clients, investors and mentors. All seven finalist teams will enter an ongoing phase of ecosystem support, gaining continued access to commercial networks and introductions to potential investors.