Agri Direct Global has been declared the most innovative, scalable and impactful startup in the final of Climate Champion Competition organised by Startup Discovery Asia (SDA). The startup has developed a technology to convert organic waste into protein-rich animal feed using Black Soldier Fly larvae.
Seven finalists, selected among 122 applicants, pitched their innovative climate solutions to a panel of three judges at EDEN amphitheatre in Sanepa, Lalitpur on Wednesday, November 13.
The competition is a unique platform aimed at empowering Nepali startups to pioneer climate action.
Similarly, Sakal Bio Enzyme Nepal and RVM Nepal were announced as the most impactful and most scalable startups, respectively.
While Sakal Bio Enzyme Nepal has developed an eco-friendly cleaner made from fermented organic waste, promoting sustainability while effectively breaking down stains, RVM Nepal’s new method integrates thermal energy storage with AI-driven monitoring to optimise energy use in cold storage facilities.
While Agri Direct Global bagged the cash prize of Rs 100,000, Sakal Bio Enzyme Nepal and RVM Nepal each received Rs 50,000 in the competition.
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With a prize pool of up to Rs 200,000, the competition aims to empower individuals and organisations working in the key focus areas–including food systems, electric mobility, water and sanitation, disaster preparedness and response, digitisation for climate change, clean and circular energy, and manufacturing–critical to combating climate change.
Besides the recognition, the winners also gain access to investor networks, global exposure, and mentorship opportunities, according to the organisers.
The finalists–RVM Nepal, Climetrace, Sakal, Indra Barah Pipe Udhyog, VayuDrishti, Grevolution, and Agri Direct Global–have been selected through rigorous screening and interviews.
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Padmakshi Rana, PhD, the Executive Director and Co-founder of Impact Hub Kathmandu; Dipesh Pote Shrestha, Senior Investment Analyst, Team Ventures; and Neelima Vallangi, a prominent voice to the critical field of climate change journalism judged the finalists.
Nepal, despite having a negligible contribution to global carbon emission, is among the most vulnerable countries to the risks of climate change.
While the Climate Risk Index has ranked Nepal 10th among the most affected countries by climate change from 2000 to 2019, the country’s share in global carbon emission in 2022 was only 0.04 percent.
To mitigate the risks of climate change, Nepal has set some ambitious goals. The country aims to achieve net zero emission by 2045, much earlier than its neighbours China and India – who have pledged to reach climate neutrality by 2060 and 2070, respectively.
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With increasing vulnerability of local communities to climate change, the need for sustainable, innovative solutions has never been more urgent, said SDA. It had earlier called innovators, startups, and individuals to pitch their groundbreaking solutions that address the pressing climate challenges of the world. The deadline for the application was Tuesday, October 15.
Among the other finalists, Climetrace has developed a SaaS platform that enables companies to assess, manage, and lower their carbon emissions, Indra Barah Pipe Udhyog focuses on recycling plastic waste into durable pipes for agriculture and irrigation, VayuDrishti has enhanced the environmental data availability and climate literacy in Nepal to enable informed decision-making and proactive climate action, while Grevolution seeks to combat the Urban Heat Island effect by incorporating vegetation into urban architecture.
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The final event also featured a fireside chat with Sharad Tuladhar, Chief of Policy and Environment & Social Department at NMB Bank.
Rupa Devi Dhami, a farmer recognised for her exemplary contributions to climate-smart agriculture from Karnali, shared the story of her life in a captivating keynote, which started and ended with a Deuda song.
Ashraya Dawadi, an innovator in vertical farming and sustainable agriculture, shared how he founded Towerganics.
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SDA, which believes in the power of innovative solutions that prioritise profit, planet, and people, has said that the competition is a call to climate action. The organisation also announced the launch of Alpha Angels, a platform to collect funding for startups, during the event.
