-Savya Bhandaree, President, Entrepreneurs’ Club of Budhanilkantha School
In a spectacular display of entrepreneurship and innovation, Budhanilkantha School’ Entrepreneurs’ Club, in association with Forum of Young Economists- BNKS, successfully hosted its inaugural BNKS Shark Tank 2024 on 6th of September, 2024 at the Budhanilkantha School Assembly Hall. Modeled after the global television phenomenon Shark Tank, the event provided a platform for young, aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges and mentors, referred to as “Sharks”. The event saw a mix of creativity, business acumen, and passion for problem-solving among students eager to turn their ideas into reality.
The BNKS Shark Tank was an inter-school hypothetical business idea pitching competition exclusively for students of classes 9 to 12/A2 and there were a total of 20 participating teams from various schools and colleges across Kathmandu, including the likes of Rato Bangla School, St. Xavier’s, and more. The event saw an impressive variety of ideas, ranging from technology-driven solutions to sustainable products, reflecting the growing interest in both social and economic implications from the participants.
Since this was the first edition of the event, there were no registration fees or selection processes, allowing anyone who applied, the opportunity to pitch their ideas freely and without any barriers. The event was possible due to collection of sponsored funds from various organizations who saw the vision. The main objectives of organizing such an event were to promote entrepreneurship in the country among the youths by encouraging students to explore entrepreneurial ventures, gain practical experience in entrepreneurship from idea generation to pitching, and enhance knowledge about important business concepts. By doing so, they would receive guidance and feedback from mentors and industry professionals. Another key mission was to provide participants with opportunities to network with like-minded peers and professionals in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, a goal which the organizing clubs consider was highly successful. Also, the event would allow folks to earn recognition for their innovative ideas and stand a chance to win exciting prizes, allowing them to improve their CVs by including these achievements alongside.
Each team was given 12 minutes to present their idea, outlining the problem they aimed to solve, their business model, target audience, long-term scalability and many more bases which they were judged on. This included a Q&A session with the Sharks, who grilled the participants on various aspects of their pitches, including market viability, financial projections, and potential risks. The Sharks also provided valuable feedback, helping participants refine their ideas further. 
Among the standout ideas were Dhar, a unique initiative aimed at promoting sustainability with fashionable products. Their pitch to create eco-friendly bags using Jute, Hemp, and Alau impressed the judges with both its practicality and potential for large-scale impact. Another idea was Pentanostimo Pre-Planned meals. Having proper meals throughout the day ensures good health, hence enhancing working capabilities. So, the goal was to replace the unhealthy fast food trend with affordable, healthy, and delicious meals, using locally sourced produce to benefit farmers, consumers, and the nation. By offering convenient, nutritious meal boxes, they’ll be proving that warm, healthy food on busy days is possible. However, the idea that bagged the first prize was EV Powerbank. It is a portable powerbank for electric vehicles in order to charge them where charging stations are limited. While the concept was simple, the way of presenting their ideas in detail even in the limited time, and making the sharks believe in them earned them the gold. 
Each Shark brought their expertise to the table. They were Mr. Bijayendra Chapagain, Mr. Riwaj Subedi and Mr. Gaurav Adhikari. While only a few were crowned winners, the event proved to be an invaluable learning experience for all participants, offering them a taste of real-world business challenges and the opportunity to learn from established entrepreneurs. All in all, BNKS Shark Tank 2024 has demonstrated the potential of young minds when provided with the right guidance, platform and resources. The event has also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship in shaping Nepal’s future economy, especially in sectors like technology, healthcare, and sustainability.
As BNKS Shark Tank continues to grow in popularity, it aims to serve as a beacon of innovation for other schools across the nation. With more students now aiming to pursue entrepreneurship as a career path, the future looks bright for Nepal’s startup ecosystem.
