January 15: Galli Maps won the NYEF Startup Awards during the grand finale held on January 12. The organisers said that the Galli Maps was awarded with a cash prize of Rs 400,000 for creating the most detailed map of Nepal with information of house numbers, alley and 360 degree view.

“Our maps help business enterprises deliver their products/services at their customers' doorstep easily and accurately,” said Raj Bikram Maharjan, proprietor of Galli Express Pvt Ltd which developed the map.

According to the organisers, there was a tie for the first runner-up position as Quickfox Consulting and PetMama Nepal shared the honours. They also shared the cash prize of Rs 200,000.

Quickfox Consulting was awarded for its advanced RPA solution that streamlines tedious, rule-based tasks for companies. According to the organisers, this solution enhances efficiency, elevates productivity, and sets higher customer service standards by eliminating manual errors and time-consuming processes.

Similarly, PetMama Nepal was awarded for its one-stop pet care solution offering grooming and retail services along with a pet hotel, a pet bakery, and a dog day care service.

The top three winners were selected from among the seven finalists who pitched their ideas in front of a panel of expert judges including Sewa Pathak, CEO of Vianet Communications, Niranjan Shrestha, executive director of Laxmi Group, and  Ajit Shah, CEO of Lotus Holdings.

The audience was also involved, as they got to vote for their favorites for the audience choice award.

PetMama Nepal also bagged the Audience Choice Award, a testament to the startup that resonated most with the audience. They received a Rs 50,000 in cash prize.

Similarly, the Social Enterprise Award with a cash prize of Rs 50,000, was presented to Dursikshya Education, spearheaded by Krishna Pandey. Dursikshya is an innovative educational organization committed to advancing STEM education.

The winners were selected on the basis of their resilience, creativity, and commitment to positive change for the entrepreneurial community in Nepal.

The startup award was sponsored by Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance, NMB Bank, FNCCI, Apex College, Adex and NPEA.