ASK Foundation

What ASK Foundation does

ASK Foundation is a not-for-profit organization registered under Nepal's Company Act 2063, headquartered in Kathmandu with a US fundraising office in Omaha, Nebraska. Originally founded in 2009 as HTP Telehealth Innovation Foundation and re-registered under its current name in 2016, the organization has spent more than a decade operating telemedicine services connecting patients in some of Nepal's most remote districts — including Solukhumbu, Gorkha, Bajura, Pyuthan, and Kalikot — with medical officers based in Kathmandu and other urban centers. Its core operating assets are seven active telemedicine centers providing free teleconsultations and basic lab diagnostics, a 24/7 medical hotline that handled 12,555 inquiries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Nepal's first institutional Poison Information Center at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, launched December 2023 in partnership with Brown University and TUTH's Department of Clinical Pharmacology.

The foundation has broadened its portfolio beyond telemedicine into adjacent verticals, including the Age Care Nepal resource platform launched in February 2024, a startup ecosystem incubation program, healthcare worker education and training, disaster-relief health camps, and research and policy advocacy on aged care in partnership with the Asia Pacific Aged Care Hub (APACH). Its technology is fundamentally human-mediated: weekly scheduled video/phone sessions between rural health workers and urban doctors, telephonic triage and home-isolation monitoring, and monthly international expert webinars. No proprietary software platform, AI, or data flywheel is documented.

The business model is donations- and grant-funded philanthropy with no commercial pricing. The Canada High Commission funded the COVID-19 hotline and home isolation program; individual donations flow through PayPal; institutional support comes from diaspora organizations (America Nepal Medical Foundation, Nepal Rising) and partners such as AFN, CAN, NAG, CAMS Clinic, Danphe Care, Flinders University, and Brown University. Customers/beneficiaries are free-of-charge end users — underprivileged rural patients, healthcare workers across Nepal's provinces, the elderly, and nascent entrepreneurs — with no paying commercial accounts.

Name

ASK Foundation

Legal name

ASK Foundation

Website

https://askfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASK Foundation is a Nepal-based not-for-profit operating free telemedicine across seven rural centers, a 24/7 medical hotline, and the country's first Poison Information Center, serving underprivileged populations, healthcare workers, the elderly, and startups through donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Healthcare Services (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Care Team Collaboration & Provider-to-Provider Teleconsult Platforms (eConsults) (HLALABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Symptom Checker & Self-Triage Platforms (HLALAJAB), Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Telemedicine services
• Medical hotline operations
• Poison information center
• Rural healthcare nonprofit
• Healthcare worker training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Funding: ASK Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that relies entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and international organizations. The foundation actively solicits donations through its PayPal portal and seeks funding to sustain telemedicine services and expand the medical hotline project. No revenue is generated from beneficiaries.
2. Grants from Governments and Institutions: The organization receives grant funding from governments and institutional partners. For example, the COVID-19 medical hotline and home isolation monitoring programs were funded by the Canada High Commission. Grants support specific programs such as telemedicine operations, training, and capacity building.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ASK Foundation provides free telemedicine services connecting rural patients across seven active remote telemedicine centers in Nepal (Solukhumbu, Gorkha, Bajura, Pyuthan) with Kathmandu-based medical officers, supported by a 24/7 medical hotline, basic lab diagnostics, and Nepal's first institutional Poison Information Center at TUTH. Supplementary services include startup incubation and mentorship, healthcare worker education and training, research and advocacy for elderly care policy, and community health camps and disaster relief activities.

Product overview

ASK Foundation is a not-for-profit organization offering a portfolio of healthcare and community development services in Nepal. Its core offerings include: Telemedicine Services (connecting rural patients with Kathmandu-based medical officers across 7 active centers), the Poison Information Center (PIC, Nepal's first institutional poison hotline operating 24/7), the Age Care Nepal Website (resource guide for aged care facilities), the Medical Hotline Project (24/7 medical consultation hotline), Startup Ecosystem Program (incubation and mentorship), Education and Training (healthcare worker capacity building), Research and Advocacy (elderly care policy), and Community Service (health camps and disaster relief). The organization also conducts monthly educational webinars through PIC and provides tele-ICU support to regional hospitals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Poison Information Center (PIC): Nepal's first institution-based telephonic consultation service for guiding healthcare workers in managing poisoning cases, operating 24/7 with expert support.
• Age Care Nepal

Products and services

• Telemedicine Services Free telemedicine consultations connecting rural patients in remote Nepal with medical officers in Kathmandu via weekly telemedicine sessions. Currently operating 7 active telemedicine centers across Solukhumbu, Gorkha, Bajura, Pyuthan, and NAG districts, providing teleconsultations and basic lab diagnostics to underserved rural populations.
• Poison Information Center (PIC) Nepal's first institution-based telephonic consultation service guiding healthcare workers in managing poisoning cases, envenomation, and chemical exposures across all provinces. Operates 24/7 at TUTH, Maharajgunj with expert support from 12 national and 14 international toxicology experts, and conducts monthly open-access educational webinars.
• Medical Hotline Project 24/7 medical hotline service answering approximately 160 calls daily, providing tele-triage, home isolation monitoring, and referral coordination. During the COVID-19 pandemic the hotline handled 12,555 inquiries and provided Tele-ICU consultations to 20 critical patients across four regional hospitals.
• Age Care Nepal Website A comprehensive online resource guide providing information on aged care facilities in Kathmandu, educational content, research publications, and policy advocacy for elderly care improvements in Nepal.
• Startup Ecosystem Program Incubation programs, mentorship initiatives, entrepreneurial capacity-building, and seed funding support connecting Nepal's entrepreneurs with global networks for knowledge exchange, partnerships, and innovation.
• Education and Training Healthcare worker training including capacity-building programs, webinars on social prescription, COVID-19 rehabilitation, infection control workshops, and the annual ASK CME and Training (AACMET) program for rural physicians.
• Research and Advocacy Policy advocacy for elderly care in Nepal, research articles on aged care policy and practice, and participation in international forums such as the Asia Pacific Aged Care Hub (APACH).
• Community Service Health camps, disaster relief operations, medical supply donations, and earthquake/flood response activities across Nepal, providing direct healthcare services and free medicine distribution to underserved communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,555 COVID-19 hotline inquiries answered; 1,085+ COVID-19 cases monitored in home isolation with zero reported deaths; 20 Tele-ICU consultations provided to regional hospitals.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Brown UniversitycoreTechnology or Integration · 7 December 2023Key international academic partner for Nepal's first institutional Poison Information Center at TUTH. Brown University experts (Dr. Ramu Kharel, Dr. Joshua Bloom) participate in PIC operations, monthly webinars, and training. PIC inaugurated December 7, 2023, by the honorable health minister.
• Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2023Implementing partner for Nepal's first institutional Poison Information Center at TUTH, Maharajgunj. Hosts the PIC hotline and serves as the operational base for the center, which was inaugurated on December 7, 2023.
• America Nepal Medical Foundation (ANMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partner providing clinical expertise and support. ANMF experts led COVID-19 nurse training webinars, Tele-ICU consultations, and disaster relief efforts including flood relief in Rangeli, Morang (2017) with 1,050 households reached. ANMF continues as a key partner in medical hotline and Tele-ICU programs.
• Action For Nepal (AFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational partner adding three additional telemedicine centers (Taksindu, Chheskam, Waku Health Posts) to ASK Foundation's network. Jointly conducted capacity-building training for AFN healthcare workers in Solukhumbu. ASK Foundation provides medical coordinator support and telemedicine infrastructure.
• CAN (Coordinating Assembly of Nepal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for healthcare worker training and community health initiatives. ASK Foundation conducted capacity-building training for CAN's healthcare workers in rural Gorkha (Chum Valley and Nubri Valley) in Baishak 2081, with four doctors providing on-site training.
• NAG (National Association of Grantmakers / Nepal-related diaspora network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in telemedicine operations (Tokha telemedicine center) and disaster relief efforts. NAG collaborated in the Jajarkot earthquake relief and health camp response alongside Nepal Rising, HAP, and 100s Group.
• DANPH E (Danphe)coreTechnology or IntegrationDanphe Care (led by Dr. Yagya Prasad Timalsina as COO) is a key operational partner. DANPH E logo appears in the telemedicine demonstration with the Prime Minister, indicating close operational collaboration in telehealth service delivery.
• CAMS CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMS Clinic, New Baneshwor served as the host venue for the APACH Forum Satellite Hub in Nepal (May 2024), connecting Nepal's aged care stakeholders with the international APACH policy forum at Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore.
• Flinders University (Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting aged care research and advocacy. Dr. Jyoti Khadka, Associate Professor from Flinders University, joined ASK Foundation in advocating for elderly care policy improvements to Nepal's Parliament member Dr. Toshima Karki. Also involved in APACH program participation.
• COVID Alliance for NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of more than 10 volunteer organizations coordinated by ASK Foundation to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jointly operated the medical hotline answering 12,555 inquiries, home isolation monitoring for 500+ patients, and Tele-ICU consultations. ASK Foundation received the 2021 Business 360 Impact Award as a member of this alliance.
• Direct ReliefsupportingOthersInternational humanitarian organization listed as a partner and collaborator, likely providing medical supplies and humanitarian aid support to ASK Foundation's programs.
• iMark Private LimitedsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNepal-based company (co-founded by Ram P. Dhungana, also an ASK Foundation advisor) supporting technology and digital infrastructure initiatives. Listed as a collaborator and partner in ASK Foundation's ecosystem.
• Sano PailasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing free telemedicine support to Nepalese communities in Province 2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. ASK Foundation pool of consultants supported Sano Paila's telemedicine service with higher-level medical consultation.
• Nepal RisingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiaspora organization collaborating with ASK Foundation in the Jajarkot earthquake relief and health camp response, distributing supplies and providing healthcare to over 500 patients.
• Novala BiotechsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBiotechnology company (with Kabin Maleku as Director of Operations, also BOD/Executive Director at ASK Foundation) supporting biotech and pharmaceutical initiatives within the foundation's programs.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN migration agency listed as a partner, suggesting collaboration on migration health, disaster response, or displaced population healthcare support.
• HAP (Humanitarian Academy for Development / Himal Association of Physicians)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Jajarkot earthquake relief and health camp response alongside ASK Foundation, Nepal Rising, NAG, and 100s Group.
• SahayetasupportingOthersListed as a collaborator in ASK Foundation's partner ecosystem, suggesting involvement in social/humanitarian initiatives.
• TMSONsupportingOthersListed as a collaborator in ASK Foundation's partner network.
• Nepal MedicssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical organization listed as a partner and collaborator in ASK Foundation's network, likely contributing medical expertise and volunteer support.
• Grande HospitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 1st Annual ASK CME and Training (AACMET) on October 1, 2016, hosting the conference at its conference hall. Also venue for Infection Control Workshop (January 2017) in collaboration with NCCDF.
• NADEM (National Academy of Development and Emergency Medicine)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in the 1st Annual ASK CME and Training (AACMET) program targeting rural and primary care physicians in remote areas of Nepal.
• NCCDF (National Community and Child Health Development Forum)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Infection Control Presentation and Workshop at Grande Hospital (January 2017), covering antiseptic preparation, isolation types, N-95 mask use, hospital waste management, and antibiotic stewardship.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Dimagi: Social enterprise building the CommCare platform used by frontline health workers in low-resource settings globally. Comparable as a technology enabler of community health worker programs, and a potential technology partner for ASK Foundation's telemedicine stack.

Direct peers

• Medic (formerly Medic Mobile): Global nonprofit building digital health tools for community health workers in low-resource settings. Closely comparable to ASK Foundation's telemedicine platform connecting rural health workers with urban clinicians, with overlap on open-source health-worker tooling and frontline-worker workflows.
• Last Mile Health: Global nonprofit training community health workers to deliver primary care in last-mile settings across Africa and Liberia. Comparable in mission and rural health-worker model, though geographically focused on West Africa rather than South Asia.
• Swasth Foundation: India-based nonprofit operating a network of health centers and telemedicine services for low-income urban populations. Comparable in nonprofit health-services delivery and digital health tooling, with overlap on the medical-hotline function ASK Foundation provides.
• World Health Partners: Social enterprise delivering telemedicine and health services to underserved rural communities in South Asia. Comparable to ASK Foundation in its rural-telemedicine model and South Asian footprint, with longer-running programs in India.
• Possible (formerly Nyaya Health): Nepal-based nonprofit delivering healthcare to rural populations through a hub-and-spoke model anchored at a community hospital. Highly comparable to ASK Foundation in mission, geography, and rural-care delivery, though with a stronger hospital-anchored model rather than a pure telemedicine model.

Broad incumbents

• eSanjeevani (Government of India): Government of India's national telemedicine platform serving hundreds of millions of consultations. A massive incumbent showing the direction telemedicine is heading in South Asia; relevant as a benchmark and potential policy/technology model for Nepal-scale telemedicine.
• Piramal Swasthya: Large Indian nonprofit running telemedicine helplines (104 health helpline) and rural health programs across multiple states. Broader and better-funded than ASK Foundation, but operates analogous telephone triage and rural telemedicine models.

Emerging players

• Noora Health: Nonprofit operating in South Asia that equips families with health skills during hospital stays. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but comparable in South Asia nonprofit health focus and partnership-driven scaling model.

Regional players

• ARMMAN: India-based nonprofit using mobile health interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Comparable as a South Asia health nonprofit leveraging technology and partnerships, though focused on maternal/child health rather than general telemedicine.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pic_nepal
• Facebookfacebook.com/askfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/askfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ASK Foundation