On December 21, 2024, Nepal’s tech community witnessed a groundbreaking event—the Microsoft Imagine Cup Ideathon 2025 hosted at The British College. This year, the Ideathon aimed to do more than just spark innovation; it aimed to create a lasting support system for Imagine Cup aspirants throughout their journey.
Unlike previous years, this time, we introduced a Discord community to help participants connect with their teams, mentors, and peers. This platform allows participants to continue engaging, even after the event, ensuring that they have access to guidance and collaboration throughout their preparation. Mentors with expertise in various tech stacks are available on this Discord server to help participants refine their projects, resolve technical challenges, and foster creative problem-solving. Even those who missed the Ideathon are invited to join the Discord community and take advantage of the mentorship and networking opportunities.
You can join the Discord server here:https://discord.gg/s95XgVcz
This initiative is designed to strengthen the ecosystem for tech innovators in Nepal by offering continuous support, building collaboration, and fostering a culture of mentorship and innovation.
The day began with an inspiring keynote by Mr. Yousup Faruqu, Managing Director of Microsoft for Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Urging participants to think beyond boundaries, his address highlighted the transformative power of ideas.
Mr. Pradeep Kandel, Founder of NCP and Microsoft MVP, followed with an engaging session on leveraging Azure for impactful solutions. His insights provided participants with a practical framework to turn their ideas into reality.
Adding to the lineup Mr. Sandeep Kumar Jha, Team Coordinator of Nepal Cloud Professionals (NCP) and Mr. Jeewan Bhatta,team lead for the event introduced the Imagine Cup Ideathon, motivating attendees to embrace the spirit of innovation whereas Mr. Jha explains about Nepal Cloud Professionals.
Mr. Laviz Pandey shared his expertise on team building, stressing the importance of collaboration in driving success.
Mr. Awan Shrestha, World Finalist of Imagine Cup 2021, inspired participants by sharing his journey in the Imagine Cup. His experiences encouraged attendees to participate and highlighted the value of perseverance and creativity.
Finally, Ms. Nadika Poudel, an Imagine Cup World Finalist, captivated the audience by sharing her journey of using AI to address global challenges. Her story served as a beacon of inspiration, emphasizing the real-world impact of innovation.
The heart of the Ideathon was its dynamic ideation session, where participants collaborated to tackle pressing issues using cutting-edge tools like Azure and AI. Guided by expert mentors, teams immersed themselves in brainstorming.
The success of the event was a testament to the dedication of multiple stakeholders. Special thanks to the mentors who offered guidance throughout the ideation process, and to the volunteers from NCP, Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors, and CSITAN, whose tireless efforts ensured seamless execution.
As the event concluded, participants left with not just memories but a renewed sense of purpose and determination. The Microsoft Imagine Cup Ideathon 2025 reaffirmed Nepal’s potential as a hub for innovation, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and impactful problem-solving. This event marks the beginning of an exciting journey for Nepal’s tech enthusiasts.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this extraordinary event. Stay tuned for more initiatives as we continue to build a brighter future for Nepal’s technology ecosystem!