The AI4Tarayana Challenge 2026 concluded yesterday on a high note, with Her Majesty the Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck gracing the closing ceremony at Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology in Thimphu.

Centered on the theme “Empowering Rural Communities with AI,” the hackathon brought together 24 teams to develop innovative, real-world solutions for rural Bhutan. After an intensive two-day development and mentorship phase, the top 10 teams advanced to the finals.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟑 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬:

 Aplos Lab- A multilingual AI model with text and voice capabilities to bridge digital exclusion and preserve Bhutanese languages.

Strata- Developed Stella and Hourglass, AI tools for land, housing risk assessment, and satellite-based environmental insights.

 Mebar Labs- Created Lhakgay, an AI-powered reading app promoting equitable access to learning resources for rural students.

In her address, Her Majesty commended the winning teams for their impactful innovations in communication, safety, and education, and encouraged all participants to serve the King and Country with dedication.

The event was supported by Bhutan Insurance Ltd and Bond Capital Singapore, and is part of the Tech Tarayana collaboration between GCIT and the Tarayana Foundation, a partnership aimed at fostering innovation and meaningful impact across communities.

Click the link to read more: https://r.listwr.me/vgLsQB

Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology - GCIT GCIT Tarayana Club @followers