Our Journey
Meet the team of 6 high schools and mentors that are behind bureaucrazy.co and time travel to the where it all began!
Week 1
Where it all began!
Through Incubate Nepal, six high school students came together with a mentor and a peer mentor, united by the goal of creating something meaningful within a short time frame. From the very beginning, our mission was clear: to simplify bureaucratic processes for all Nepalis.
With limited time and resources, we focused on two areas that matter most to students: the No Objection Certificate (NOC) and the Letter of Equivalence (LOE).
Defining our path
Our journey began with virtual meetings that kicked off the Bureaucrazy initiative. In that first week, we defined our values of accountability, respect, curiosity, and open communication, and mapped out the responsibilities each of us would carry.
By the end of Week 1, we had a name, a survey in circulation, and the foundations of a movement just beginning to take shape.
Week 2
Understanding laws
In Week 2, our evenings were spent in daily meetings, reading laws, and reflecting on how policies shape the NOC process. We learned to navigate legal texts with limited prior experience, drafting FAQs to make the system clearer for students.
Our mentor guided us through the structure of laws and their hierarchy, while we dug deeper into overlooked cases such as vocational courses and course changes.
Shaping our Design
Alongside the research, we finalized our logo, brainstormed creative directions, and began improving the website: making it mobile responsive, adding a chat interface, and designing the chatbot UI.
This week closed with a stronger sense of direction.
Week 3
Consolidating work
Week 3 built on our momentum with continued virtual meetings to track progress and share feedback. We finalized a team-wide submission of NOC-related FAQs and divided responsibilities to begin deeper research into LOE legal documents.
At the same time, we enhanced our website, making it fully responsive across devices, refining design elements, and improving the chatbot’s usability.
Laying groundwork
We also initiated the annotation of the Nirdeshika to support a future Law Library feature, brainstormed monetization ideas, and began shaping a pitch deck for schools, consultancies, and investors.
By the end of the week, we were not only refining our product but also laying the groundwork for its future launch and growth.
Week 4
Setting the stage
Week 4 marked an exciting turn as we prepared for our Launch Party. We planned its structure, brainstormed interactive activities, and designed invites to share widely. Alongside event prep, we officially launched our social media presence to begin building early engagement.
On the product side, we continued refining LOE FAQs, updated our branding with a new color palette, and enhanced the website for better design and navigation.
Optimizing chatbot
Major progress was made on the chatbot, which gained improved login features, smarter memory, and a more responsive interface powered by a new model.
With these upgrades and the Law Library feature taking shape, the week closed with both anticipation for the launch and pride in how far the product had come.
Week 5
Advancing our work
In Week 5, we took time to review our progress and set sharper goals for the chatbot, design, and content. With NOC FAQs complete, we prepared to expand LOE FAQs in the same format while also planning a dedicated sheet to capture alternate phrasings, abbreviations, and variations for AI training.
To strengthen responses, we focused on refining data and adding fallback answers.
User focus
On the design side, we moved forward with the website redesign, outlined new pages like “Our Journey” and “Our Services,” and finalized a feedback form for chatbot users.
Insights from user paths and a participant’s firsthand experience at the NOC office highlighted gaps and inconsistencies, giving us valuable direction for future improvements.
Week 6
Strategic focus
Week 6 centered on clarifying our vision and aligning priorities for the chatbot and website. We began collecting user-generated content, planning a Nepali video to gather NOC experiences, and prepared a 10-minute deck for students explaining how to use Bureaucrazy.
A call with former NOC officer Basu Dev Osti offered insider insights to improve our FAQs and chatbot.
Expanding our reach
We launched an open call for contributions, planned field visits with QR codes, and delegated updates for LOE and NOC FAQs. The website gained new features like account deletion, while the Law Library and Privacy Policy drafts progressed.
Throughout, reflection and accountability remained central to the team’s growth.
Week 7
Platform & content
In Week 7, we finalized the remaining FAQs and refined the pitch deck.
The website received updates to the landing page, and we shared the platform through our first Instagram carousel.
Policies & insights
We also completed drafts of the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Key takeaways included the importance of clear task division, keeping design consistent with the live site, and the value of even a single user’s feedback.
Week 8
Final wrap-up
In Week 8, our focus shifted to wrapping up the product and preparing for the final presentation.
We spent countless hours refining every detail of the pitch deck and gathering feedback.
Delivering the Product
Alongside final tweaks to the website and chatbot, we ensured all FAQs, guides, and features were polished and fully functional.
By the end of the week, the team was ready to present a cohesive, user-friendly platform that reflects both months of effort and thoughtful feedback from our early users.
After Week 8
Team Expansion & Recognition
After the initial 8-week journey, our team has grown significantly. We've welcomed new members and established partnerships with experienced mentors who bring valuable expertise to our mission.
Our hard work and dedication have been recognized as we've been selected as finalists of the prestigious Kevin Xu Innovation Challenge, opening new doors for growth and impact.
Looking Forward
With our expanded team and mentor support, we're now better equipped to tackle complex bureaucratic challenges and scale our impact across Nepal.
The journey continues as we work towards making government processes more accessible and transparent for all citizens, building on the strong foundation we've established.