Paper Flame Studios Wins 2026 Hult Prize at The British College

KATHMANDU, Nepal |The British College Nepal successfully hosted the 2026 Finals of the globally recognised Hult Prize, bringing together emerging student entrepreneurs for a day of innovation and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

The event featured seven competing student startups, a distinguished four-member judging panel, and five supporting partners, reinforcing The British College, Kathmandu commitment to nurturing socially conscious and globally competitive business leaders.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s premier platforms for student entrepreneurship, the Hult Prize challenges university students to develop scalable business solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition provided a high-impact environment where student ventures were rigorously evaluated for real-world relevance, sustainability, and scalability.

A Day of High-Impact Pitching

Seven student ventures – Endora, Farm to Table, Innovo, Moki Tech, Paper Flame Studios, Trail Mapper, and AskMe, took to the stage to present their business models and defend their ideas before the judging panel. The competition showcased diverse solutions addressing real-world challenges across technology, sustainability, and community impact.

Each startup was evaluated based on four key criteria: team capability and leadership, innovation and feasibility, measurable social impact, and business model scalability.

Following structured pitch presentations and intensive Q&A sessions, Paper Flame Studios emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with its strong innovation, execution strategy, and compelling impact potential. The team will now advance to the next stages of the global Hult Prize competition.

The event reflects the growing role of The British College, Kathmandu, as a leading platform for student innovation and entrepreneurship in Nepal.

The British College assembled a judging panel with expertise across technology, entrepreneurship, corporate strategy, and purpose-driven leadership.

Ankur Chhipi Mourya, CEO of Rewa Soft Pvt. Ltd., contributed insights on technology and scalable business development.

Santosh Tulachan, author, speaker, and former monk, shared perspectives on purpose-driven leadership and social impact.

Pramosh Adhikari, corporate strategist and entrepreneur, evaluated ventures on market viability and execution.

Punit Jajodia, CEO of Programiz, assessed technical strength and product potential.

The British College brought together its combined expertise, ensuring a rigorous and balanced evaluation process.

Strategic Partners and Sponsors

The event was supported by its partners and sponsors. MeroHosting served as the supporting partner, while Mahalaxmi Bank joined as the banking partner. Gifting partners Aeskey Gifting, Bookverse, and Ultima Lifestyle contributed to recognising participating teams.

Leadership and Organisation

The event was organised under the leadership of Campus Director Jeny Manandhar student at The British College with support from Deputy Campus Directors Prapti Risal and Suprav Lal Karmacharya. Mentorship sessions covering design thinking, sustainability, finance, storytelling, and venture defence helped prepare students for real-world challenges.