Wotarvo

Making air breathable.

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Inspiration It all started when Acchividhu came to us with a wild idea from her aerodynamics class—if jet engines can generate massive suction to move aircraft, why not use the same principle to pull pollutants from Kathmandu’s toxic air? At first, it sounded overly ambitious. But then we looked around—at the smog-filled streets, our burning eyes every morning, and the broken air quality monitoring systems—and realized she was onto something real.

What it does WOTARVO is a portable, filter-free air purification system designed to vacuum and trap harmful air pollutants (PM2.5–PM10) using a turbojet-inspired mechanical system. It integrates IoT sensors to provide real-time air quality data, making it not just a purifier, but a full monitoring and response system.

How we built it We’re currently in the prototype development phase, but here’s what we’ve done so far:

Created CAD designs (CATIA, SolidWorks) based on aerospace filtration principles

Ran promising ANSYS simulations to test airflow and energy efficiency

Designed an IoT-based monitoring system using sensors for PM, gas, humidity, and more

Built a dashboard for real-time air quality visualization Our work has been supported by The Startup Network Nepal and IOE, providing mentorship and technical backing as we move from concept to prototype.

Challenges we ran into Engineering: Designing a completely filter-free system that still outperforms traditional methods

Financial: Building on a student budget, making the most of partnerships and resources

Skepticism: Convincing stakeholders that students can challenge billion-dollar tech gaps

Environmental: Adapting to unpredictable weather conditions and ensuring stable performance

Accomplishments that we’re proud of Winners of the Hult Prize On-Campus competition at IOE Pulchowk Campus

Top 8 finalists in the Hult Prize Nepal Nationals, standing out among hundreds of teams nationwide

Designed a system that's 70% cheaper and 40% more efficient (based on simulations) than traditional purifiers

Developed a data-driven, real-time air purification concept tailored for developing nations

Attracted early interest from government bodies and environmental organizations for future deployment

What we learned In Nepal, clean air has become a luxury, with traditional purifiers being unaffordable and unsustainable

Aerospace principles can be re-engineered for public health applications

There’s a massive $550B global market gap for affordable air purification in regions that need it most

Innovation can come from anywhere—even a classroom

What’s next for WOTARVO Complete our working prototype and begin real-world testing in Kathmandu

Launch pilot deployments in targeted pollution hotspots

Secure partnerships with government agencies and NGOs for scaled rollout

Transition to a subscription-based model offering ongoing air monitoring and maintenance

Continue pushing for clean air as a right, not a luxury

WOTARVO started with a bold classroom idea, gained momentum with national recognition through the Hult Prize, and is now on a mission to democratize clean air—starting right here in Nepal.

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