TingTing NYEF Startup Awards 5.0: Backing Nepal’s Next Generation of Founders

Nepal’s startup culture is growing with real momentum.

Across industries, more innovators, builders, and problem-solvers are stepping forward with ideas that are not only creative, but also practical and deeply connected to real-world challenges. From technology and agriculture to pet care, sustainability, education, and automation, Nepali founders are proving that local problems can be solved through local innovation.

One of the key platforms supporting this movement is the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum, widely known as NYEF. Through initiatives like the NYEF Startup Awards, early-stage companies get the opportunity to pitch their ideas, learn from experienced leaders, gain visibility, and take meaningful steps toward scaling their businesses.

The recent NYEF Startup Awards 5.0 was a strong reminder of the talent Nepal already has. It was not just a competition. It was a showcase of ambition, courage, and the kind of problem-solving mindset that can shape the future of Nepal’s economy.

At TingTing, we are proud to stand with this movement.

For us, supporting NYEF is not just about placing our logo on a banner. It is about backing the founders who are building, experimenting, taking risks, and solving real problems. These are the people creating products, services, and solutions that can support communities, strengthen industries, and contribute to the country’s long-term growth.

NYEF Startup Awards 5.0 at a Glance

The scale of this year’s awards clearly reflected how fast Nepal’s startup ecosystem is growing.

30+ industries represented
170+ applicants
7 finalists
3 winners

These numbers show more than participation. They show momentum.

With applicants from a wide range of industries, NYEF Startup Awards 5.0 brought together founders working on different problems, different markets, and different solutions. The event highlighted how Nepal’s startup ecosystem is no longer limited to one category or one kind of business. It is becoming broader, more mature, and more ambitious.

For TingTing, this was exactly why supporting the event mattered. The platform was not only about recognizing winners. It was also about giving visibility to the growing number of founders who are building from Nepal, for Nepal, and potentially for the world.

Celebrating the Winners

This year’s winning ideas were practical, scalable, and highly creative. Each of them addressed a clear market need and showed strong potential for future growth.

Winner: Haapu Treats

Haapu Treats is contributing to the growing pet care and nutrition market in Nepal.

Their focus is on creating healthy and delicious treats designed especially for Nepalese breed dogs. In a market where pet ownership and pet care awareness are increasing, Haapu Treats is building a product that is both relevant and timely.

What makes their idea strong is its simplicity and market understanding. They are not only creating a product, but also supporting a shift toward better pet nutrition in Nepal. Their approach is thoughtful, practical, and well-positioned for a growing customer segment.

Haapu Treats is a truly deserving winner of NYEF Startup Awards 5.0.

First Runner-up: GarudX Multipurpose

GarudX Multipurpose is working in one of the most exciting and challenging areas of technology: drones and aerial hardware.

The team is focused on developing Nepal’s first commercial-grade drones and tech-driven aerial hardware systems. In a market where advanced hardware is often imported, GarudX is taking an important step toward building local capability in high-value technology.

Their work has the potential to support multiple sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, disaster response, mapping, inspection, and logistics. By developing physical technology from Nepal, GarudX is contributing to the future of the country’s technology infrastructure.

Their vision reflects the kind of bold thinking Nepal needs more of.

Second Runner-up: Vermicow Organics

Vermicow Organics is working at the intersection of sustainability, agriculture, and circular economy.

By turning cow dung into premium vermicompost, they are creating value from natural resources while supporting organic farming practices. Their work directly contributes to sustainable agriculture, which remains one of the most important foundations of Nepal’s economy.

Vermicow Organics represents a practical and impact-driven startup model. Their solution is locally rooted, environmentally conscious, and directly connected to the needs of farmers and communities.

Their work shows how innovation does not always have to look complicated. Sometimes, the most powerful ideas are the ones that solve everyday problems in a smarter and more sustainable way.

Recognizing the Top 7 Finalists

Beyond the top three winners, the remaining finalists also brought strong and meaningful ideas to the platform.

Teams like KRON Technologies, IELTS Pulse, NHU AI, and Bots Industries showcased the diversity of innovation happening across Nepal. From artificial intelligence and education technology to automation and agriculture-focused solutions, the finalists reflected the depth and range of Nepal’s growing startup ecosystem.

Each team had a different idea, a different market, and a different approach. But they all shared one thing in common: the courage to build.

That is what makes platforms like NYEF Startup Awards so important. They do not only celebrate finished success stories. They create space for early-stage founders to be seen, heard, supported, and connected with the right opportunities.

Why This Matters to TingTing

TingTing was built with the belief that local innovation can solve local problems at scale.

As a Nepali technology company, we understand the challenges of building from the ground up. We understand what it means to test ideas, improve products, build trust, and grow in a competitive market. We also understand how important the right support system can be for startups that are still shaping their product, finding their market, and building their confidence.

That is why supporting initiatives like NYEF Startup Awards matters to us.

We believe Nepal’s startup ecosystem has entered an important phase. Founders are becoming more ambitious. Ideas are becoming more practical. Technology adoption is increasing. More businesses are solving problems that are specific to our market, but also scalable beyond it.

For TingTing, being part of this journey means more than sponsorship. It means standing beside the people who are building the next chapter of Nepal’s economy.

Looking Ahead

The future of Nepali startups looks promising.

With stronger ecosystem support, more platforms for visibility, and growing interest from both public and private sectors, founders today have more opportunities than ever before. But the real work still belongs to the builders.

The ones testing their ideas.
The ones showing up with prototypes.
The ones solving problems others have ignored.
The ones choosing to build from Nepal.

TingTing is proud to stand alongside NYEF and all the ambitious founders who were part of NYEF Startup Awards 5.0.

Congratulations to Haapu Treats, GarudX Multipurpose, Vermicow Organics, and all the finalists for inspiring the ecosystem with their ideas, effort, and determination.

Nepal’s startup future is being built now, and TingTing will continue to support the community every step of the way.