When the global attention will be glued to Baku from Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 22 for latest updates from 29th Conference of the Parties, seven startups will be the centre of attention in the Kathmandu Valley this Wednesday.
As the capital of Azerbaijan gears up to host the COP, an annual event that brings together the governments who are a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or the international environmental treaties like the Kyoto Protocol, the Startup Discovery Asia (SDA) is all set to host the final of Climate Champion Competition, which is a unique platform aimed at empowering Nepali startups to pioneer climate action.
Seven finalists, selected among 122 applicants, will present their innovative climate solutions to a panel of judges on November 13. The event will be held at the EDEN amphitheatre in Sanepa, Lalitpur from 2 to 6 PM.
Padmakshi Rana, PhD, the Executive Director and Co-founder of Impact Hub Kathmandu; Tenzin Gonsar, Founder and CEO of Team Ventures; and Neelima Vallangi, a prominent voice to the critical field of climate change journalism will judge the finalists.
Read: Startup Discovery Asia Paves the Way to Find Nepal’s Climate Champions
RVM Nepal, Climetrace, Sakal Bio Enzyme Nepal, Indra Barah Pipe Udhyog, VayuDrishti, Grevolution, and Agri Direct Global–have been selected through rigorous screening and interviews.
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.
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 .
Read: Startup Discovery Asia Announces Finalists for Climate Champion Competition
Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, said the World Bank , adding that the country faces losing 2.2 percent of annual GDP due to climate change by 2050, citing recent studies by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
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.
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.
While RVM Nepal’s new method integrates thermal energy storage with AI-driven monitoring to optimise energy use in cold storage facilities, Climetrace has developed a SaaS platform that enables companies to assess, manage, and lower their carbon emissions, particularly focusing on Scope 3 emissions, according to SDA.
Similarly, Sakal Bio Enzyme Nepal presents an eco-friendly cleaner made from fermented organic waste, promoting sustainability while effectively breaking down stains, and Indra Barah Pipe Udhyog focuses on recycling plastic waste into durable pipes for agriculture and irrigation.
VayuDrishti, another finalist, 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.
Likewise, Agri Direct Global focuses on converting organic waste into protein-rich animal feed using Black Soldier Fly larvae.
Read: Climate Finance, Mountain Agenda Nepal’s Top Priorities at COP29: Officials
Among the 122 applicants, 53 were interviewed in the selection process. “The final selection was based on their potential impact, innovation, scalability and sustainability,” said SDA, adding that the finalists were later involved in intensive workshop and mentorship sessions designed to refine their ideas and pitch decks.
The judges for the competition come from a diverse background.
(Photos: Courtesy of Startup Discovery Asia)
Padmakshi Rana has been helping startups thrive in the field of sustainable business innovation. With a rich background in business models for impact, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and value-driven innovation, she’s spent her career bridging business and sustainability. “She co-founded The Inceptery, a consultancy focused on sustainability-led innovation, during her time in Singapore,” SDA said.
Similarly, Tenzin Gonsar leads one of Nepal’s pioneering alternative investment firms. Currently, he serves on the boards of several Team Ventures’ investee companies across sectors like renewable energy, food tech, health tech, agriculture, and electric vehicles. “A dedicated advocate for entrepreneurship in Nepal, Tenzin is also a founding board member of the Nepal Private Equity Association, the FNCCI Startup & Innovation Committee, and the CNI Startup Committee,” according to SDA.
Last but not the least, Neelima Vallangi is an independent writer, photographer, and filmmaker from India. Her work, featured in The Guardian, BBC, National Geographic and Al Jazeera among many major media publications, has made her a powerful storyteller of the Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent.
“Through diverse channels— documentary films, science journalism, talks, workshops, social media explainers, and her newsletter Climate Matters—she works to make climate science accessible and engaging for all,” SDA said.
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(Photos: Courtesy of Startup Discovery Asia)
The November 13th event will also feature a fireside chat with Sharad Tuladhar, Chief of Policy and Environment & Social Department at NMB Bank.
While Rupa Devi Dhami, a farmer recognised for her exemplary contributions to climate-smart agriculture from Karnali, will be the keynote speaker, Ashraya Dawadi, an engineer and innovator working in the field of sustainable agriculture, will be the guest speaker in the event.
The final event will see the presence of experts and guests from the fields of climate science, entrepreneurship, investment, and social impact, all bringing their unique expertise to assess and guide the finalists.
The audience group in the event will comprise local and international stakeholders, journalists, climate advocates, and community members.
The open outdoor space at EDEN Sanepa reflects the event’s green mission, with eco-friendly decor and a focus on sustainability.
Besides the recognition, winners gain access to investor networks, global exposure, and mentorship opportunities.
SDA, which believes in the power of innovative solutions that prioritise profit, planet, and people, said that the competition is a call to climate action.
“The competition isn’t just about recognizing great ideas, but about empowering entrepreneurs to solve some of the world’s most urgent climate challenges,” added SDA. “ With startups like these leading the way, Nepal has the potential to become a global hub for climate innovation.”
