The world of startups is fast-paced and highly competitive, and in Nepal, innovation is starting to take its rightful place among the nation’s young entrepreneurs. As the country’s startup ecosystem continues to grow, the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) has been at the forefront, recognizing and fostering the talents that could shape the future of Nepal’s economy.

This year’s NYEF Startup Awards 4.0 showcased three standout companies—DL Upload, Meltdown, and Khetipati Organics—which not only received recognition for their entrepreneurial excellence but also for their bold, creative contributions to the market.

The prestigious event, held on January 10, 2025, celebrated the winners and provided them with more than just a cash prize—it offered them a platform for networking, mentorship, and the opportunity to engage with potential investors. While DL Upload claimed the top prize, Meltdown and Khetipati Organics impressed with their innovative approaches to solving pressing societal and business challenges. These winners, alongside four other finalists, are helping to shape the future of Nepali entrepreneurship.

DL Upload provides cloud storage, monetization, and file hosting services, tailored to individuals, businesses, and creators seeking efficient digital content management and revenue opportunities. “Whether you’re an individual sharing personal files, a business requiring secure file storage, or a creator looking to monetize your work, dl.surf is built with your needs in mind,” says the company’s website. “As part of DL Platforms, we use advanced technology to ensure your files are secure, accessible, and easy to share.”

The platform supports file uploads of up to 2GB each and offers users 250GB of free storage. Earnings can be withdrawn directly to PayPal, eSewa, or Paytm wallets once the balance reaches a minimum of $1.

Arjun Ghimire, founder and CEO of DL Upload, shared with New Business Age that the platform began as a personal hobby six years ago and was officially launched three years ago. It is currently undergoing rebranding as dl.surf. The platform allows content creators to share and monetize their digital content through sales or ad revenue.

“You can upload anything—from videos and illustrations to educational materials,” Ghimire explained. “For example, a teacher can upload notes, a game developer can list their games for sale, and an artist can upload songs or tracks, set a price, and sell them—or enable ads to generate revenue.” To date, the platform has attracted over 390,000 registered users who buy and sell digital content.

Organized by the Kathmandu Chapter of the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF), the event awarded DL Upload a cash prize of Rs. 400,000. However, DL Upload was not the only startup recognized at the NYEF Startup Awards 4.0, which celebrate the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial excellence of Nepalese startups.

Meltdown, a platform offering employees flexible access to wellness and fitness services, secured the runner-up position, while Khetipati Organics, which markets organic agricultural produce within Nepal and abroad, received the People’s Choice Award. They were awarded cash prizes of Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 100,000, respectively

In addition to cash incentives, the awards provide a platform for broader recognition, mentorship opportunities, and, most importantly, connections to potential investors, said Santosh Pandey, Executive Member of the NYEF Kathmandu Chapter and head of the awards organizing committee.

This year’s edition received 178 applications following a nationwide call from the Youth Entrepreneurs Forum under the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). From these, 20 exceptional startups were shortlisted, and the top seven were selected as finalists.

The startups had the opportunity to present their ideas before an esteemed panel of judges, which include Pavitra Gautam, the CEO of Karkhana, Niraj Karmacharya, Founder and Managing Director of Jaguar Capital, and Bilasha Shrestha, an Executive Member of the NYEF National Governing Council.

The top seven finalists presented their pitches to a second panel of judges, which included Amod Rajbhandari, Chief Investment Officer at Mercantile Group; Sanjay Golchha, Director of NeoVentures; and Ritu Singh Vaidya, Managing Director at United Traders Syndicate.

While the judges deliberated to select the winner and the runner-up, the People’s Choice Award was determined through live audience voting conducted via a dedicated app, allowing attendees to actively participate in recognizing the most inspiring startup.

Meltdown, the runner-up in the competition, offers office employees flexible access to gyms, studios, and fitness classes—all bundled into a single, affordable subscription. The membership allows users to participate in a wide range of physical activities, including gym workouts, yoga, Zumba, sauna, swimming, bouldering, physiotherapy, and combat sports such as boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai.

Meltdown's development began in September 2022 and was officially launched for corporate clients in June 2024. "We conducted beta testing from November 2023 to June 2024," said Tenzing Gurung, one of the company's founders.

“At Meltdown, we create innovative solutions that empower people to lead an active lifestyle and connect through wellness,” Gurung told New Business Age. “One of our products is specifically designed for corporate clients. Our HR system includes an app that gives employees access to multiple wellness services through a single subsidized subscription, with gamification features to make the experience more engaging.”

In just eight months, Meltdown has onboarded 14 corporate clients, primarily from the IT sector, including Leapfrog, Security Pal, and Jagdamba. "We are on track to onboard 70 companies in 2025," Gurung shared. Meltdown also won NAS-IT awards in the health and wellness category last year.

Prakriti Gautam, founder of Khetipati Organics, shared additional challenges faced by startups in Nepal. Speaking with New Business Age, Gautam revealed that while the idea for her company was conceived in 2021, it took 18 months to begin operations. "Every bank refused to offer us loans for 18 months," Gautam shared. "We finally started operations in March 2023."

Khetipati Organics works closely with farmers, especially in eastern Nepal, sourcing agricultural products and supplying them both domestically and internationally. "Although in small quantities, we’ve been exporting to the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan. We’ve also started collaborating with importers in India," Gautam explained. "Additionally, we’ve received inquiries from countries in the Middle East and Europe."

Abhimanyu Golchha, President of the NYEF Kathmandu Chapter, shared with New Business Age that while young Nepali entrepreneurs, particularly in the IT sector, are coming up with innovative ideas, scalability remains a significant challenge, further complicated by policy hurdles. “Due to these challenges, many startups struggle with their roadmap and the support they can access,” Golchha explained.

In the past, startups had limited platforms for exposure, which is crucial for securing funding. While platforms like the NYEF Startup Awards now provide valuable opportunities, Golchha emphasized that it is equally important to help startups understand how to effectively utilize the funding they receive. “I’ve observed that many startups are uncertain about how to use the funding,” he added. “Beyond providing platforms, we need to focus on mentorship to guide startups on their journey.”

(This report was originally published in February 2025 issue of New Business Age Magazine.)