Startup weekend Kathmandu 2014
Overview :
Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 700 past events in 100 countries around the world and Nepal Entrepreneurs’ Hub has been a pioneer institute in introducing and organizing Startup Weekends in Nepal.
Every Startup Weekend events follow the basic model, anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.
Schedule for the event was
The Top 2 ideas of Startup Weekend 2014 were;
- Organic Fertilizer & Raw Materials Management
- Lishn
Judges
Niraj is a Director in one to watch, a company, which brings foreign investment in Nepal, where he is responsible for the operations, which include sourcing local entrepreneurs and facilitate them to get Foreign Investment. He has also been providing coaching and trainings for established and aspiring entrepreneurs. He is familiar with networking and personal relation capacity. He is also the Local Representative for PUM senior experts.
Niraj is a Director in one to watch, a company, which brings foreign investment in Nepal, where he is responsible for the operations, which include sourcing local entrepreneurs and facilitate them to get Foreign Investment. He has also been providing coaching and trainings for established and aspiring entrepreneurs. He is familiar with networking and personal relation capacity. He is also the Local Representative for PUM senior experts.
Resta is an Executive Chairman of KFA and has MBA in Finance from TU and B. Com (Hons) from Delhi University. He has 19 Years of Professional Experience in multiple financial institution like Standard Chartered (Grindlays Bank)/Bank of Kathmandu/Laxmi Bank/PrimeLife.
He is a professional Contributor in MBA Program for Principles of Management & Strategic Management Subjects. He has teaching experience in KFA, KU, Apex, Whitehouse Colleges.
Resta is an Executive Chairman of KFA and has MBA in Finance from TU and B. Com (Hons) from Delhi University. He has 19 Years of Professional Experience in multiple financial institution like Standard Chartered (Grindlays Bank)/Bank of Kathmandu/Laxmi Bank/PrimeLife.
He is a professional Contributor in MBA Program for Principles of Management & Strategic Management Subjects. He has teaching experience in KFA, KU, Apex, Whitehouse Colleges.
Mentors
Sakar Pudasaini is a technologist and an educator. He is the founder of Karkhana, a makerspace and education company, based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Sakar was also part of the founding team of GalliGalli, a not-for-profit focused on making it easier for citizens to access public services, by collecting and distributing process information about govt. services. After earning an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University, he has actively pursued ‘higher education’ in the University of Youtube + Wikipedia + Library Genesis, where he enjoys studying disparate subjects in an absolutely aimless fashion.
Sakar Pudasaini is a technologist and an educator. He is the founder of Karkhana, a makerspace and education company, based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Sakar was also part of the founding team of GalliGalli, a not-for-profit focused on making it easier for citizens to access public services, by collecting and distributing process information about govt. services. After earning an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the Johns Hopkins University, he has actively pursued ‘higher education’ in the University of Youtube + Wikipedia + Library Genesis, where he enjoys studying disparate subjects in an absolutely aimless fashion.
Mahesh is Assistant General Manager at Kantipur Publication. He has more than a decade experience in all verticals in media. He is also an entrepreneur and has invested or has been an adviser on multiple companies such as BOD of Hello Paisa and Citizen College along with being chairman at Vargaw Saving and Credit Co. He is also a visiting faculty at Media Management and Entrepreneurship, KU and Lecturer of Marketing Entrepreneurship at Kings College and also teaches entrepreneurship to MBS at St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar.
Mahesh is Assistant General Manager at Kantipur Publication. He has more than a decade experience in all verticals in media. He is also an entrepreneur and has invested or has been an adviser on multiple companies such as BOD of Hello Paisa and Citizen College along with being chairman at Vargaw Saving and Credit Co. He is also a visiting faculty at Media Management and Entrepreneurship, KU and Lecturer of Marketing Entrepreneurship at Kings College and also teaches entrepreneurship to MBS at St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar.
Bibhusan has had local, regional and international experience in the areas of entrepreneurship, software development, information and communication technologies for development, research and innovation for more than a decade. He is the coordinator for Mobile Social Networking in Nepal, a community of practice for mobile entrepreneurship in Nepal that was initiated in 2011 with support from infoDev, The World Bank. At present, he is also involved in Open Data movement to promote transparency and accountability together with different national and international stakeholders. He has worked with Bellanet/IDRC in the areas of Technical Innovation and was also associated with SAP International to strengthen technical capacity of the network, leading research and innovation wing of Bellanet Asia for more than five years. He was a key member of research team that carried out national level research on Public Access to Information communication venues in Nepal for University of Washington, Seattle in 2009.
He is also a part time lecturer at Kathmandu College of Management.
Bibhusan has had local, regional and international experience in the areas of entrepreneurship, software development, information and communication technologies for development, research and innovation for more than a decade. He is the coordinator for Mobile Social Networking in Nepal, a community of practice for mobile entrepreneurship in Nepal that was initiated in 2011 with support from infoDev, The World Bank. At present, he is also involved in Open Data movement to promote transparency and accountability together with different national and international stakeholders. He has worked with Bellanet/IDRC in the areas of Technical Innovation and was also associated with SAP International to strengthen technical capacity of the network, leading research and innovation wing of Bellanet Asia for more than five years. He was a key member of research team that carried out national level research on Public Access to Information communication venues in Nepal for University of Washington, Seattle in 2009.
He is also a part time lecturer at Kathmandu College of Management.
Mr Vidhan finished his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics in 2008 from Hope College in Michigan, USA. After graduation he worked at Whittaker Associates, Inc., a market research firm. At Whittaker, Vidhan worked with several state and local economic development agencies. He has provided guidance and support to small businesses and medium size enterprises on issues of employment generation. Vidhan established a research division for Whittaker Associates in Nepal in October 2010, and Biruwa Ventures in July 2011 to support aspiring entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams of starting their own ventures.
Mr Vidhan finished his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics in 2008 from Hope College in Michigan, USA. After graduation he worked at Whittaker Associates, Inc., a market research firm. At Whittaker, Vidhan worked with several state and local economic development agencies. He has provided guidance and support to small businesses and medium size enterprises on issues of employment generation. Vidhan established a research division for Whittaker Associates in Nepal in October 2010, and Biruwa Ventures in July 2011 to support aspiring entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams of starting their own ventures.
Bal K. Joshi is the co-founder and Managing Director of Thamel.com, Kathmandu, Nepal.
With over 13 years of entrepreneurial experience, Bal has been operating trading businesses in Nepal and North America with deep expertise in business development, marketing & operations and systems development. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon USA.
He is the recipient of the 2003 Tony Zeitoun Award in the category of “ICT and Poverty Reduction” for the story of thamel.com
Bal K. Joshi is the co-founder and Managing Director of Thamel.com, Kathmandu, Nepal.
With over 13 years of entrepreneurial experience, Bal has been operating trading businesses in Nepal and North America with deep expertise in business development, marketing & operations and systems development. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon USA.
He is the recipient of the 2003 Tony Zeitoun Award in the category of “ICT and Poverty Reduction” for the story of thamel.com
Mr Anil has spent the past two decades working as a conservationist, environmental leader, and senior Ashoka fellow in Nepal. An engineer by training, Anil pursued graduate work in energy planning at the University of Pennsylvania and then joined the Kathmandu municipality. His projects and organizations have received numerous awards and grants, and he is presently working to scale his work on a solar lighting system for rural villages in Nepal. He was also part of the team that implemented the National Conservation Strategy for Nepal, preserving its globally unique natural endowment. He is recipient of the prestigieus Ashoka Fellowship, the Rolex award and the Silicon Valley Tech Award. In 1993 he was recognized as one amongst 100 “Global Leaders for Tomorrow” at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Mr Anil has spent the past two decades working as a conservationist, environmental leader, and senior Ashoka fellow in Nepal. An engineer by training, Anil pursued graduate work in energy planning at the University of Pennsylvania and then joined the Kathmandu municipality. His projects and organizations have received numerous awards and grants, and he is presently working to scale his work on a solar lighting system for rural villages in Nepal. He was also part of the team that implemented the National Conservation Strategy for Nepal, preserving its globally unique natural endowment. He is recipient of the prestigieus Ashoka Fellowship, the Rolex award and the Silicon Valley Tech Award. In 1993 he was recognized as one amongst 100 “Global Leaders for Tomorrow” at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Mr Sanam Chitrakar holds seventeen years of multidisciplinary entrepreneurship development, coaching, training and consulting experiences. Since quitting his full time development jobs in 2008, Sanam has been serving Nepalese entrepreneurial ecosystem as market researcher, connector and concept developer. Since February 2014, he is leading Biruwa Advisors the consulting division of Biruwa Ventures after merging with Aadhar Development, the company he established in 2008. Besides he is also continuing his training, organizational strategy, life and executive coaching consultations.
Mr Sanam Chitrakar holds seventeen years of multidisciplinary entrepreneurship development, coaching, training and consulting experiences. Since quitting his full time development jobs in 2008, Sanam has been serving Nepalese entrepreneurial ecosystem as market researcher, connector and concept developer. Since February 2014, he is leading Biruwa Advisors the consulting division of Biruwa Ventures after merging with Aadhar Development, the company he established in 2008. Besides he is also continuing his training, organizational strategy, life and executive coaching consultations.
- Executive Director at King’s College, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Innovative, visionary and passionate young leader who has multiple skills in the field of Management and Entrepreneurship Development.
- Executive Director at King’s College, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Innovative, visionary and passionate young leader who has multiple skills in the field of Management and Entrepreneurship Development.
- Asst. Professor of Entrepreneurship and Marketing at Kathmandu University School of Management .
- Co-Founder at Idea Studio Nepal
- Marketing Management, Consumer Behavior and Marketing Communication specialist.
- Asst. Professor of Entrepreneurship and Marketing at Kathmandu University School of Management .
- Co-Founder at Idea Studio Nepal
- Marketing Management, Consumer Behavior and Marketing Communication specialist.