In a country where technology startups are still emerging, two college students have begun carving a place for artificial intelligence in Bhutan’s growing digital landscape. Ugyen Dendup and Jamphel Yigzin, both university students, founded the AI startup No Mind Bhutan in 2022, turning a simple hackathon project into a budding technology venture.
The idea for the company began during a college hackathon, where the pair experimented with building a basic chatbot. What started as a small technical challenge soon evolved into a larger vision. Their prototype impressed judges at a national-level hackathon, where the team secured the runner-up position. The prize money from that competition became the seed funding that helped them formally launch their startup.
Since then, No Mind Bhutan has focused on developing artificial intelligence tools designed to support businesses and public institutions. The startup builds AI-powered software such as chatbots and digital assistants that can handle routine tasks, respond to customer inquiries, and streamline services for organizations.
One of the key features of their technology is the use of conversational interfaces, allowing users to interact with digital systems through natural language. For example, the company has developed solutions that can automate processes such as booking flights through a chatbot-style conversation, simplifying tasks that would otherwise require manual input or multiple steps.
Despite the promise of their technology, the young entrepreneurs faced several obstacles in the early stages. Building trust in a new AI-driven service proved challenging, especially in a market where many organizations are still unfamiliar with such tools. Limited resources and the demands of balancing studies with entrepreneurship also tested the resilience of the founders.
Nevertheless, Dendup and Yigzin have continued to refine their products while gaining practical experience in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Their work reflects a broader ambition: not only to build a successful company but also to encourage innovation in Bhutan’s technology sector.
As they approach graduation, the founders plan to expand No Mind Bhutan further and develop more advanced AI solutions for local and regional markets. They also hope their journey will inspire other young innovators in Bhutan to explore emerging technologies and contribute to the country’s digital future.
