Pakistan

Pakistani-American students win $1 million award for Roshni Rides

The four Rutgers University students ran a pilot project running solar-powered rickshaws in Orangi Town this summer

News Desk September 17, 2017

The team competed against five other groups from across the world and won the coveted $1 million Hult Prize on Saturday. PHOTO: Roshi Rides Facebook

Four Pakistani-American students have won the prestigious Hult Prize in the US for their social entrepreneurship business, which envisions a transport network for refugees connecting them to critical services.

Rutgers University students Gia Farooqi, Moneeb Mian and Hasan Usmani and alumna Hanaa Lakhani teamed up earlier this year to launch Roshni Rides, a solar-powered rickshaw transport system which will run on a systematic route with stops along venue of employment, hospitals, schools and markets, according to a post on the Rutgers Business School webpage.

The team competed against five other groups from across the world and won the coveted $1 million Hult Prize on Saturday. The Hult Prize is considered the top student competition in the world and provides a platform for university students to create and launch of social welfare for-profit start-ups.

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The student team made around $30,000 in a crowd funding campaign in May and then in the summer ran a pilot project in Karachi’s Orangi Town.

They documented their progress on Facebook.

[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/roshnirides/photos/a.269497360128449.1073741828.239504366461082/302354330176085/?type=3&theater"]

[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/roshnirides/posts/304948716583313"]

On Saturday, they won $1 million in seed money for their initiative from the Hult Foundation.

President @BillClinton congratulates @RoshniRides for their idea, their model and winning the #HP17 Global Finals! @UN @RutgersU pic.twitter.com/GmtX14s8ax
— Hult Prize (@hultprize) September 17, 2017

#Selfie ! Winners of #HP17 @RoshniRides w/ President @BillClinton and our incredible judges! @UN @RutgersBSchool pic.twitter.com/e7YeDYcIbe
— Hult Prize (@hultprize) September 17, 2017

Huge congrats to Hult Prize 2017 winners @RoshniRides - a transportation network that connect refugees to critical services #HP17 https://t.co/RF198vSaRn
— Ogunte (@ogunte) September 17, 2017

COMMENTS (2)

Jalbani Baloch | 7 years ago | Reply Bravo! You have won hearts and hats for your great initiative, which will motivate more Pakistani students to engage in productive social activities.

Hasan | 7 years ago | Reply Great initiative! Way to go Pakistan.

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