Sonika Manandhar
Born (1990-01-17) 17 January 1990
Kathmandu, Nepal
NationalityNepalese
EducationTribhuvan University, Singularity University, Korea Aerospace Research Institute
Occupation(s)Computer Engineer, Entrepreneur
TitleCo-founder and CTO of Aeloi
Parent(s)Shankha Narayana Manandhar, Joog Laxmi Shrestha
AwardsUnited Nations Young Champion of the Earth, One Young World Lead 2030, National Geographic Society Emerging Explorer, Rastriya Nari Sewa Samman 2073

Sonika Manandhar (born 17 January 1990) is a Nepali computer engineer and a social entrepreneur. She co-founded a fintech company named Aeloi Technologies,[1][2] an organization that helps fund women micro-entrepreneurs using digital tokens.[3][4] She received the award "Young Champions of the Earth" from the United Nations Environment Programme's in 2019[5][6][7] and the National Geographic Society 2020 Emerging Explorer.[8]

Early life and education

Manandhar was born in Kathmandu, Nepal. She graduated as a computer engineer from Kathmandu Engineering College, Tribhuvan University, and started working at Microsoft Innovation Center Nepal as a software engineer in 2011. Manandhar is a Singularity University Alumni and Korea Aerospace Research Institute Alumni. In 2017, she was the first Nepali who was offered a scholarship to go to the Silicon Valley-based program called Global Solutions Program[9] at NASA in California. During her time at Singularity University, she studied exponential technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, etc. Her company was selected among 3 companies to pitch at Singularity University Global Summit in Silicon Valley.[10][11] Manandhar was also offered a scholarship to attend the International Space Training at Korea Aerospace Research Institute in 2018.

Manandhar has also been an advocate for blind students and has worked to empower blind children with computer education.[12] She established a computer lab in 2013 and was involved in finding new ways of teaching a computer to blind students.

Awards and recognitions

In 2019, Manandhar was named as Young Champions of Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).[13][14][15][16]

The UN Environment Programme listed her as one of the six examples of climate leadership on Women's Day alongside Christiana Figueres, Greta Thunberg, Anne Hidalgo, Carolina Schmidt, and Kibarisho Leintoi.[17] She also was the winner of the SDG 9: Infrastructure, industry, and innovation category award of the Lead 2030 Challenge by One Young World sponsored by Standard Chartered with seed funding of $50,000.[18]

In 2020, Sonika Manandhar was named National Geographic Society’s Emerging Explorer 2020.[19][20][21] National Geographic Society chooses eight global changemakers conducting groundbreaking work as the class of Emerging Explorers who will transform their fields and further our understanding of our world and all that's in it.

References

  1. ↑ "Most Inspiring Digital Innovation (MIDI)". Aeloi Technologies. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Canada Grant Supports UN ESCAP's Project To Help Women Entrepreneurs In Nepal". New Spotlight Online. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Aeloi". Aeloi. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Aeloi Tech: Digitised Traditional Loan System". Udhyami Nepali. Sesemi Limbu. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Young environmental prize winner for Asia and the Pacific is driving an electric revolution to use big data for efficient transport". United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Seven entrepreneurs win top United Nations Young Champions of the Earth prize for outstanding work to protect our world". United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Driving an electric future in Nepal". United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Announcing the National Geographic Society's 2020 Class of Emerging Explorers". National Geographic. National Geographic. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "GSP Participants Feature". Singularity University Twitter. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  10. ↑ Sonika Manandhar, Tiffany Tong (5 Oct 2017). Global Solutions Program: Farmspace. Singularity University Summits. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "SU Ventures News Bulletin: Recognizing Achievements". Singularity University. Singularity University. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Women to watch-2016". WOW Mag Nepal. WOW Mag Nepal. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Global environmental movers and shakers receive UNEP Champions of the Earth Awards". UN environment. United Nations Environment. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Nepali youth bags prestigious UN award". The Himalayan Times. The Himalayan Times. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "UN Environment Program Honors Nepal Youth for Green Energy Mobility Initiative". The Himalayan Times. Samir Mishra. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Sonika Manandhar Wins Young Champions Award From The UN Environment Programme". Lex Limbu. Lex Limbul. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Climate leadership for inspiration on Women's Day and every day". United Nations Environment. United Nations Environment. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Lead 2030 Challenge Winner: Sonika Manandhar". One young world. One young world. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  19. ↑ "2020 Emerging Explorers". National Geographic. National Geographic. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "नेसनल जिओग्राफिक सोसाइटीको 'इमर्जिङ एक्स्प्लोरर' छानिइन् सोनिका मानन्धर". Nepal khabar. Nepal khabar. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  21. ↑ "नेसनल जिओग्राफिक सोसाइटीया इमर्जिङ एक्स्प्लोरर सोनिका मानन्धर". Nepal Mandal Television. Nepal Mandal Television. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
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