Top 10 Women in Tech Groups and Resources in Nepal in 2026
By Irene Holden
Last Updated: April 20th 2026
Too Long; Didn't Read
The WLiT Fellowship and Shequal Foundation stand out as top women in tech groups in Nepal for 2026, with WLiT offering intensive training that boosts developer salaries to over NPR 60,000 and Shequal hosting large-scale hackathons to enhance visibility. With women making up just 7.88 percent of Nepal's ICT workforce, these resources are vital for connecting members to employers like Fusemachines and CloudFactory while fostering skills and networks in the vibrant Kathmandu tech scene.
Every judge in a prestigious art competition knows that paralyzing moment: staring at two masterpieces with one scorecard left. A vibrant abstract and a detailed portrait, each brilliant in its own way, defy a single standard. How do you rank the unrankable? This is the core dilemma in attempting to map the vibrant, sprawling ecosystem supporting women in Nepal's tech sector.
Our brains crave ordered lists to navigate complexity, but this act often silences the unique purpose of each entry. The true value of these communities is not found on a podium but in a rich tapestry of interdependent support. This is especially vital in a market where women comprise just 7.88% of Nepal's ICT workforce, as highlighted in a New Business Age report on women driving change in the sector.
The subsequent guide is not a ranking but a curated look at unique brushstrokes of mentorship and opportunity. When the gender digital gap is estimated to cause an economic loss of Rs 13-15 billion annually, as noted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), each thread in this tapestry becomes a critical investment in the nation's digital future.
Table of Contents
- The Judge's Dilemma
- WLiT Fellowship
- Shequal Foundation
- WomenTech Network Nepal
- Women in Data Nepal
- Girls in Tech Nepal
- Nepali Women in Computing
- Women LEAD Nepal's OWN IT Summit
- Code Like Her
- TechAge Girls
- Girls in ICT Day Nepal
- Weaving Your Own Tapestry
- Frequently Asked Questions
Explore the steps to succeed in starting an AI career in Nepal's evolving tech ecosystem.
WLiT Fellowship
The WLiT Fellowship stands out for its transformative, cohort-based model that turns students into job-ready professionals. Running active cohorts in both Kathmandu and Pokhara, the program provides intensive technical training, one-on-one mentorship, and creates direct pathways to internships at major Nepal-based tech employers.
Its highly selective, typically subsidized program focuses on hands-on workshops in software development and data science, directly feeding talent into companies like Fusemachines, CloudFactory, and Daraz. Members gain a tight-knit peer community and structured mentorship from senior engineers, which can significantly boost employability and starting salaries for developer roles.
Applications open annually via their social media channels. The value is clear: a fellow might receive career coaching that helps negotiate a starting salary increase from an average NPR 40,000 to over NPR 60,000, providing a tangible return on the investment of time and dedication the fellowship requires.
Shequal Foundation
Shequal Foundation has cemented its role as a powerhouse for creating high-visibility platforms that break scale barriers. Its flagship achievement was organizing "Nepal’s Largest All-Female Hackathon in 2025", a massive collaborative event held in partnership with UN agencies.
The foundation focuses squarely on experiential learning, tackling urgent local themes like "Hacking for Empowered Women" to develop practical solutions. This approach connects participants directly with the broader Empowered Women Prosperous Nepal (EWPN) initiative, a joint government and UN effort to advance digital literacy and gender equality.
Participants gain unparalleled networking access to international organizations and major local sponsors like F1Soft International and Ncell. The value lies in enhancing problem-solving portfolios with tangible projects, often catching the eye of employers actively scouting for innovative, fresh talent from these competitive, collaborative environments.
WomenTech Network Nepal
As a global network with deep local roots, the WomenTech Network Nepal chapter provides a critical bridge to the international tech stage. With over 30 active Global Ambassadors operating within the country, it creates a powerful conduit for global mentorship circles, virtual career fairs, and leadership challenges like their "100k Challenge" to unite women in tech worldwide.
This network is an essential resource for women in Nepal aiming for roles in multinational companies or competitive remote positions. Members gain access to a global job board and ambassador-led local events, expanding their professional network far beyond national borders.
The value is particularly clear in understanding international market standards. Through the network, a professional in Kathmandu can learn global salary benchmarks for remote roles, such as AI engineering positions that can pay $60,000+ annually, and find targeted mentors in specific, high-demand tech stacks that align with both local and international opportunities.
Women in Data Nepal
This specialized community directly addresses Nepal's booming demand for data science and AI talent. Women in Data Nepal makes complex fields like machine learning and analytics accessible through conferences, hands-on workshops, and collaborative study groups, often hosted in Kathmandu's growing tech hubs.
Their events, like the "Women in Data Conference on February 25, 2025," focus on practical AI applications within the local context, featuring practitioners from leading firms like Deerwalk. This creates a vital niche for women to build expertise in one of the sector's highest-value domains.
Members gain access to a focused professional network, learning about the skills that command premium salaries of NPR 80,000 to over NPR 150,000 in Kathmandu's data sector. The community provides not just learning but a platform to find collaborators for real-world projects, directly enhancing career portfolios for roles at major data-driven employers.
Girls in Tech Nepal
A long-standing pillar in the ecosystem, Girls in Tech - Nepal continues to provide broad-based, foundational support for students and early-career professionals. Their strength lies in creating sustained mentorship relationships and safe spaces for asking fundamental career questions, which is crucial when navigating entry into the tech workforce.
As highlighted by professionals in local discussions, such support provides "career-altering advice and networking" in a market where unique cultural dynamics exist. The group operates through regional ambassadors often based at major universities like Tribhuvan University (IOE) and Kathmandu University, ensuring reach across academic institutions.
The value is deeply practical: receiving grounded guidance on navigating specific workplace cultures at local tech companies and building a long-term professional support system. This foundational community helps women build the confidence and network needed to persist and grow in their careers from the very start.
Nepali Women in Computing
Serving as an AnitaB.org Systers Affinity Group, Nepali Women in Computing (NWiC) functions as a crucial grassroots hub that connects members to a global movement while providing space for local advocacy. Founded in 2019, it remains a vital platform for sharing research, hosting informal meetups, and discussing the nuanced realities of being a woman in Nepal's tech scene.
The community fosters discussions on challenges ranging from workplace dynamics to balancing professional and caregiving responsibilities. Members can engage through their online community and events listed on their Astro Blog, which serves as a central resource for connection and information.
The primary value NWiC offers is a profound sense of belonging and shared identity, coupled with direct access to AnitaB.org’s global resources. This combination is vital for professionals who benefit from both local peer support and the perspective of a worldwide community advocating for women in computing, helping them feel part of a larger, empowering movement.
Women LEAD Nepal's OWN IT Summit
While not a year-round community, Women LEAD Nepal’s flagship OWN IT Nepal leadership summit acts as a catalytic, high-intensity event for young women aged 18-26. The summit, such as the one held on February 22, 2025, brings together hundreds of participants for speed mentoring, workshops on business and tech, and keynotes from top-tier industry leaders.
The summit features notable figures like Karvika Thapa, CEO of Kimbu Tech, who has highlighted how AI can accelerate the startup ecosystem for women. This intense, short-form exposure to leaders and peers is designed to provide a significant confidence boost and practical leadership skills.
Accessible with a nominal fee (typically around NPR 300), the event's value lies in creating a dense, high-quality network that attendees can leverage for years. It offers a unique convergence point for ambitious young women to gain vision, inspiration, and direct connections that can alter their professional trajectories.
Code Like Her
This initiative by Kina Social Ventures tackles one of the most critical barriers: access to technical education for young women from underserved backgrounds. The "Code Like Her" program aims to fund entire cohorts, typically of 15-20 young women, for immersive training covering high-demand skills from front-end development to backend logic.
As detailed in a Compassionate Eye Foundation blog, the program is designed to rewrite futures by providing a fully-funded education in high-income skills. Applications are announced through partner organizations, creating pathways for those who might otherwise lack the means to enter the tech sector.
The value is truly life-changing. For a participant from outside the Kathmandu Valley, this opportunity can mean the difference between limited local prospects and launching a tech career with a starting salary capable of supporting her family, effectively breaking cycles of economic limitation through education and skilled employment.
TechAge Girls
Operating through READ Centers across Nepal, the TechAge Girls program directly confronts the country's stark urban-rural digital divide by providing digital literacy and leadership training in community settings. This approach is crucial in a nation where the gender gap in technology access contributes significantly to economic loss.
The program enables young women in areas with a READ Center to apply for a fellowship that combines IT skills with community project leadership training. As showcased in a READ Nepal feature, participants become tech leaders within their own localities, building solutions and confidence where they live.
This model creates value that extends far beyond individual career paths. By empowering women to bridge the access gap in their communities, TechAge Girls addresses the root of a problem that causes an estimated Rs 13-15 billion in annual economic loss, as reported by the International Telecommunication Union. It represents a sustainable, grassroots strategy for inclusive digital growth.
Girls in ICT Day Nepal
This annual flagship initiative, led by Nepal's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), represents crucial top-down policy and institutional support for women in technology. It mobilizes national resources through nationwide coding workshops, seminars, and networking sessions directly with industry leaders from Nepal Telecom and major private sector partners.
The International Girls in ICT Day on April 23, 2026, carries the theme "AI for Development", aligning with global trends and Nepal's own digital strategy. This formal, government-backed platform provides training in cutting-edge areas like data analytics and cybersecurity, often engaging hundreds of participants, as seen when over 160 young women joined the 2025 coding challenge.
The value for participants is multifaceted: receiving formal recognition and certification from national authorities significantly boosts professional credibility. This can directly open doors to internships in government IT projects or roles at major telecom companies, effectively linking individual skill development with structured national and industry pathways for career advancement.
Weaving Your Own Tapestry
The journey through Nepal's tech ecosystem is not about finding a single "best" group, but about selecting the right supportive threads for your unique canvas. Each community offers a distinct brushstroke: deep technical skills from the WLiT Fellowship, leadership vision from OWN IT Nepal, or a global bridge through the WomenTech Network.
As Microsoft engineer Jharana Luitel advises, growth often happens when you engage with groups outside your immediate professional focus to gain a broader mindset. Your strategy should be intentional: are you a student needing hard skills, a professional seeking leadership circles, or someone aiming to bridge the digital divide from within your community?
Begin by following a few groups online, attending one virtual event, and reaching out to a member. For those seeking structured, affordable skill-building to complement these communities, bootcamps like Nucamp's AI Essentials offer a 15-week, practical pathway to leverage AI in the workplace. The palette of support is rich and varied; the first step to weave your own professional tapestry is yours to take.
Frequently Asked Questions
How were these women in tech groups selected and ranked?
We curated this list based on impact, accessibility, and unique offerings rather than a strict ranking, considering factors like mentorship quality and event scale. For instance, Shequal's UN-backed hackathon and data showing women make up only 7.88% of Nepal's ICT workforce highlight their vital role in the ecosystem.
Which group is best for students starting a tech career in Nepal?
The WLiT Fellowship is ideal for intensive training that can increase starting salaries from NPR 40,000 to over NPR 60,000 for developer roles. Alternatively, Girls in Tech - Nepal offers foundational support and safe spaces at universities like Tribhuvan University for early-career guidance.
Are these groups free to join, or do they have costs?
Most have free entry points; for example, WomenTech Network offers free membership for global resources. Some events like the OWN IT summit have nominal fees around NPR 300, while programs like Code Like Her are fully funded for underserved backgrounds.
What real-world impact have these groups made in Nepal?
They've boosted employability and skills, with Women in Data Nepal conferences addressing high-demand AI roles paying NPR 80,000 to NPR 150,000+. Shequal's 2025 hackathon partnered with UN agencies to solve local problems, attracting sponsors like F1Soft International and enhancing networking opportunities.
What's the easiest way to get involved with these communities?
Start by following 2-3 groups on social media and attending one virtual event, such as those by WomenTech Network. Reach out to members or join mailing lists, like Women in Data Nepal's, to access workshops in Kathmandu's tech hubs and build your network quickly.
For a guide to accessible tech training in Nepal's community centers, read this post.
Discover the best AI conferences and hackathons in Nepal 2026.
For non-graduates, here are the top tech jobs in Nepal's growing market without a degree requirement.
The leading sectors for AI employment in Nepal are detailed here with local context.
Discover the leading startups for junior engineers in Nepal's 2026 market.
Irene Holden
Operations Manager
Former Microsoft Education and Learning Futures Group team member, Irene now oversees instructors at Nucamp while writing about everything tech - from careers to coding bootcamps.