Nepal’s IT industry is undergoing a quiet revolution. Once seen as a niche field, it now contributes over 1.5% to Nepal’s GDP, with projections suggesting the sector could grow to a $2 billion industry by 2025. As tech firms rise across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and emerging hubs like Pokhara and Butwal, there’s a powerful yet underrepresented force shaping this momentum—women in Nepal’s IT.

Diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a key driver of innovation. Women bring fresh perspectives, collaborative strengths, and empathetic solutions—qualities vital for a thriving tech ecosystem. However, despite these strengths, women still face significant barriers when stepping into this domain.

This blog celebrates the inspiring journey of women in Nepal’s tech industry. We’ll explore their contributions, challenges they face, and the movements reshaping the future. If you’re a student, tech enthusiast, or aspiring professional, this is your invitation to join a growing wave of change.

The Current Landscape: Women Making Strides in Nepal’s Tech Scene

Although women make up just around 20% of Nepal’s IT workforce, this number is slowly but surely climbing. Today, we see more women entering roles in software engineering, UI/UX design, quality assurance, data science, and project management.

Companies like Leapfrog, Fusemachines, and CloudFactory are championing inclusivity. Leapfrog, for instance, runs internal mentorship programs aimed at elevating female tech talent. CloudFactory, with its global crowd-sourcing model, provides flexible remote opportunities that support women juggling family and career.

This change is also a reflection of Nepal’s shifting socio-cultural dynamics. Increased access to STEM education, especially in urban areas, has led to more girls choosing IT as a career. The narrative is shifting—from “Can women code?” to “How far can we go?”

Success Stories: Leading the Charge, One Line of Code at a Time

Karvika Thapa – CEO, Kimbu Tech

Karvika is not just a tech entrepreneur—she’s a visionary. Her company, Kimbu Tech, creates local employment through outsourcing and offers training programs specifically for women in rural districts. She once shared how she had to convince her family that tech was more than “a man’s job.” Now, she’s convincing the entire country.

Shreeya Singh Dhakal – Founder, Nepali Women+ in Computing

Shreeya’s initiative mentors young women in AI, robotics, and software engineering. She frequently speaks at conferences and organizes tech bootcamps in underrepresented schools, proving that you don’t need to leave Nepal to make an international impact.

Astha Sharma – Co-Founder, Code Rush

Astha leads Girls in Tech Nepal, a chapter under the global Girls in Tech network. She hosts regular hackathons, workshops, and public speaking engagements, demystifying tech for younger girls. Her mission? To ensure no girl feels out of place in a coding classroom.

Rashmi Joshi – Wireless Engineer, Subisu Cablenet

Rashmi’s journey as one of the few women working in network infrastructure highlights grit. From climbing rooftops to troubleshoot internet lines to presenting at national tech expos, she’s proving that women can (and do) thrive in hardware-heavy IT roles.

Additional Successful Women in Nepal’s IT Industry

Sunaina Pandey Ghimire – IT Consultant and Software Developer

Sunaina started her career as a computer teacher in 1998 and played a pivotal role in localizing Microsoft products for Nepal. She contributed to developing the Nepali version of Windows XP, standardized English-to-Nepali date formats, and helped create a Nepali dictionary app with Pragya Patisthan. While at Unlimited New Media, she led the development of spell-check tools and Nepali rupee symbols for digital platforms. Later, at Tekwan Global, she built banking automation software that streamlined loan processing and customer management for major Nepali banks. She also served on the High-Level Information Technology Commission (HLCIT) until 2009 and currently chairs Women in Information Technology, working to promote gender inclusion in tech policies.

Jayanti Mala Chapagain – Lead Software Engineer and Entrepreneur

Jayanti began as a web developer and later founded Spiker Solutions, an IT firm focused on inclusive technology. She led the design of the Nepali Speech Synthesizer for the Nepali Association of the Blind (NAB), a groundbreaking tool that enables visually impaired users to access digital content such as news, educational materials, and online platforms in Nepali. The project is now being piloted in schools in Pokhara. Jayanti continues to focus on assistive technologies, helping bridge the digital divide for marginalized communities across Nepal.

Eeda Rijal – CEO of SochWare and Communications Specialist

Eeda is a seasoned IT professional known for her contributions to software innovation, UX design, and tech entrepreneurship. As the CEO of SochWare, she oversees digital product development focused on solving local problems through data-driven solutions. During the COVID-19 crisis, she co-founded Covid Connect Nepal, an online platform that provided verified resources like oxygen suppliers, ICU beds, and ambulance contacts, in partnership with the COVID-19 Crisis Management Coordination Center (CCMC). She actively mentors women in tech and participates in public forums to promote female leadership in IT.

Melisha Ghimire – Managing Director of Girls in Tech Nepal

A computer engineer by training, Melisha has led Girls in Tech Nepal for over two years, where she has organized numerous initiatives to support women in technology. Her programs include coding bootcamps, resume-building workshops, and the "Code Like Her" fellowship, which offers mentorship and scholarships to young women pursuing IT careers. Melisha is also an alumna of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), where she gained insights into global tech advocacy.

Kushum Lama – Corporate Digitization Expert

Kushum is a renowned leader in Nepal’s ICT and enterprise digitization landscape. She has spearheaded corporate digital transformation projects that have streamlined operations and improved service delivery in sectors such as banking, insurance, and retail. Beyond her technical role, she actively advocates for women in STEM. She has spoken on platforms such as Martin Chautari’s Women in Science discussions and participated in roundtables hosted by the World Economic Forum focused on empowering female entrepreneurs.

Shreeti Shrestha – Software Engineer at Cotiviti Nepal

Shreeti specializes in building Network Intelligence solutions at Cotiviti Nepal, focusing on complex data analysis for healthcare systems. Her team develops software tools that enable hospitals and insurance providers to collaborate more effectively, with a strong emphasis on value-based healthcare delivery. She is also an active mentor in the local tech community and has taught Python and machine learning through initiatives like the Nepal Data Literacy Program supported by the World Bank.

Breaking Barriers: The Road Isn’t Easy

Despite these bright examples, many women still face deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers.

Gender stereotypes discourage girls from pursuing computer science. Some face pushback from families, especially in conservative households where IT jobs are seen as “male roles.” Work-life balance becomes a juggling act, especially for mothers with little institutional support.

Mentorship is limited, especially outside the capital. Many girls lack access to high-speed internet or even basic computer labs. For instance, Nhasala Joshi, who studied engineering in Pokhara, recalls being the only girl in her class—and being mistaken for a guest every time she entered the lab.

We need more than inspiration—we need infrastructure, mentorship, and policies that level the playing field.

Initiatives Empowering Women in Tech

Luckily, change is afoot.

Code Rush Nepal

Run by female engineers, this bootcamp focuses on JavaScript, React, and API development. Their all-women cohorts foster peer support, creating a safe space for learning.

Girls in Tech Nepal

They organize workshops, resume reviews, and career counseling sessions. Their hackathons regularly feature projects addressing gender-based violence and financial inclusion. Visit their LinkedIn page.

Women in STEM Nepal

Partnering with educational institutions, they provide scholarships, coding courses, and leadership training.

Corporates like Smtech Technology have adopted flexible work policies and maternity returnship programs, while the government’s Digital Nepal strategy supports tech training for rural women. NGOs and international partners such as UN Women are also contributing through digital literacy programs.

NepalNxt and similar platforms offer global networking opportunities, connecting women in Nepal with mentors and investors abroad.

Driving Innovation: Women at the Heart of Digital Nepal

Women aren’t just participating—they’re building the future of Nepal’s tech.

• In fintech, women have played key roles in UI/UX at eSewa and Khalti, designing user-friendly interfaces that enable digital inclusion.

• In AI, female engineers at Fusemachines are developing Nepali-language NLP tools and crop yield prediction models.

• In e-commerce, women at Daraz and HamroBazar contribute to backend systems and digital marketing.

• Social impact projects like edutech platforms for rural girls or cybersecurity awareness apps often originate from all-female or mixed-gender tech teams.

By solving real-world Nepali problems, women are ensuring that technology serves everyone, not just the urban elite.

Encouraging More Women: What Can We Do?

If you’re a student or parent wondering how to start, here are some tangible steps:

• Enroll in IT courses from institutes like Broadway Infosys or pursue BCA/BIT degrees at colleges like Islington College or The British College.

• Encourage mentorship networks like Women Who Code Nepal or tech talks hosted at Techrise Meetup.

• Advocate for scholarships for girls in STEM and corporate mentorship programs.

• Launch or support awareness campaigns in local schools, especially in rural municipalities.

Every action counts—big or small.

Getting Started: Practical Tips for Aspiring Women in Tech

If you’re just starting out:

• Learn programming languages like Python or JavaScript via free platforms like Codecademy, W3Schools, or Sololearn.

• Try freelance projects on Upwork, Fiverr, or WorknHire to build your portfolio.

• Apply for internships at Logpoint, Verisk Nepal, Deerwalk, or EB Pearls.

• Participate in hackathons, join GitHub open-source projects, or attend SheHack Nepal and Nepali Tech Meetups.

You don’t need a perfect resume—just a consistent passion to learn.

A Future We Build Together

Women are no longer waiting for a seat at the table—they’re building the table.

Their contributions to Nepal’s IT industry are real, measurable, and growing, and we all have a role to play in amplifying them.

Let’s celebrate their stories. Let’s ensure young girls see role models in the tech world. And let’s commit to a future where gender is no barrier to innovation.

Who’s your favorite woman in Nepal’s tech scene? Share her story in the comments!
Are you a woman in tech? Message Us —we’d love to feature your journey!