On Sunday, four Pakistani-American students from Rutgers University in New Jersey won the prestigious Hult Prize, securing $1 million in startup capital for their business, Roshni Rides.
Gia Farooqi, Hanaa Lakhani, Hasan Usmani, and Moneeb Mian were presented the award by former US President Bill Clinton, after they triumphed in the world’s largest competition for students.
The Hult Prize Foundation focuses on innovative ideas aimed at tackling global social challenges, and students from around the world compete for this prestigious recognition.
Roshni Rides is an e-rickshaw service designed to provide transportation solutions for refugees living in informal settlements worldwide.
The startup uses solar energy to remain cost-efficient and promises to be more affordable and safer than other transportation options.
On Roshni Rides’ Facebook page, the winning team expressed their gratitude and thanked their friends and family for their support.
“Eleven months of hard work, sacrifices, and endless support from our family, friends, advisors, and wonderful community led to one of the most incredible opportunities we’ve had the privilege of experiencing,” the group wrote.
“There are no words to express how happy, excited, and blessed we feel right now after being presented with the $1M award to restore the dignity of refugees,” the group added.
“Four Pakistani Americans. Each one of those identities has shaped who we are as a team, wanting to give back to Pakistan and the greater community,” the group concluded in their post.
