Tech in the Valley, Working in Kathmandu

9 Mar. 2014 - - Total Reads 7,383

Nepal

The questions I get asked when people find our software development office is in Kathmandu, is why there? What is it like? Did you go hiking?

I first started sending work there around 10 years ago, checking out border countries India and China as comparisons. I was coding and selling software to Melbourne companies employing fellow students from Melbourne University. Engineering back then was probably the most global cultural melting pot you could imagine and the guys actually sparked the idea of building a team overseas well before offshoring was common knowledge.

What endeared me most about Nepal was the people I met. I note in the early 2000s when I first went to meet software engineers there, I had to get over the unstable political space: the ruling royal family was massacred at a dinner party and the rest of my hotel was occupied by the UN to help establish democracy. It was quite an incredible time. While there were bombs literally going off in and around Kathmandu, India I thought was far more of a battleground for a startup. Microsoft, Infosys and other large corporates were already pulling the best available talent, shutting out small startups like mine. Plus you couldn’t walk down the street without having 50 people follow you begging. A stark contrast to Nepal where the locals were like, ‘oh yeah another tourist’. The Nepalese family values were beautiful; a place I would happily visit every year. But another huge advantage was engineering/IT was a major export for the country. I’ve been 7 times in the last decade and we now have 40 in our office.

The country is, as most imagine, picturesque: a postcard around every corner, with some of the densest world heritage areas on the planet. But the city is crowded; with over half the population living in central Kathmandu, it is highly polluted like a lot of emerging cities. You’ll see me wearing a mask as I walk or transit to work on the back of our General Manager’s bike (don’t bother with cars there: there are constant traffic jams and only one set of working traffic lights). If you do happen to catch a taxi, the meters broke in the mid-80s, so its set fees and you should ask for the price upfront, but the range varies from driver to driver (sometimes double if they are feeling lucky!)

online advertising agency-Nepal

I’ve seen nearly every corner of the country, except Pokhara which I’m saving till I can take the wife and kids. It is one of the truly magical places on earth – historical city on a lake in the Himalayas under Everest and the Annapurna range (Google images if you have a few minutes). I’ve fought with monkeys over food; bungee-jumped the cliffs between Nepal and Tibet; joined Hindu and Buddhist festivals; and witnessed ritual sacrifices in mountain temples across the country. In fact, in Manakamana it is said that a wish made during the ritual offerings will be granted in your life. I wished for a family and met my wife soon after returning to Melbourne, so maybe there is something truly magical happening there.

I haven’t hiked to Everest base camp or up any of the larger ranges, simply because I’m there for a week or two to work, and the shortest hikes are around 10 days. Plus the overpopulation, litter and almost daily deaths on Everest don’t feel like the right way to enjoy this incredible country. I’ve done short hikes of a day or two with my senior team members, tourist free, sometimes to their home villages – places that have remained untouched for centuries and care little for change. It is amazing to see how many of us would have lived decades and centuries ago: the challenges we have solved and created in the modern cities of the world.

My last trip had been after some major growth at &Mine – both clients and new team members across all offices – so I was busy working with the guys to optimise every aspect of the business I could. With some huge wins already on the board, we’ve got many more tasks ahead to build the world-class back-end office to rival those multinational rivals in India. We’ve also started networking with larger corporates across finance, banking, government, tourism and similar national verticals in Nepal to plan and be part of the next steps in the evolution which has taken place in their neighboring countries. On a commercial front through our business entities there, we are investing in property and looking at ways we can further support local charities.

internet-advertising-agency-Nepal

While I miss my family dearly (to be honest not the crying, nappies and dishes!), I look forward to my time there, as every year I learn more and more about Nepal, the business and interestingly, myself.

If you do want ever want to experience Nepal, it is one of the most unique places on earth, make sure you hit me up beforehand for some pro-tips, on-the ground connections and must sees.

– Michael

Michael Simonetti
Posted by:

Post Reads: 7.4K

Share this

Go on, see if you can challenge us on "Tech in the Valley, Working in Kathmandu" - Part of our 168 services at AndMine. We are quick to respond but if you want to go direct, test us during office hours.

Add Your Comment

Trusted by

Palace Cinemas
PranaOn
Australian Government
Street Kitchen
Dinosaur Designs
CSquared Executive
SMH – The Sydney Morning Herald
Cleanfit
Oakdale Meat Co
Cooper Mills
Instant RockStar
National Relay Services
Tribe
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre – MSAC
Fresh Cheese Company
Herbert Smith Freehills
GooglePlay
OJAY
Matchbox Homewares
Loan Market
Viktoria & Woods
Uber
Rackspace
Brisbane Times
Boston Consulting Group
Coles
NextTech
Novvi
Catholic Insurance
Green St Juice CO
Plan It Sync It
Federation Square
Liveoneday
Kay&Burton
Positive Poster
Tek Ocean
Natralus Australia
Federation University Australia
Gilbert+Tobin
Tomorrow Stars Basketball
Ello
The Royal Melbourne Hospital
The Age
DeeWhy Market
Think & Grow Rich Inc
Melrose Health
ADP Payroll
Vendor Advocacy Australia
Bank of Cyprus
Madman Entertainment
Cell Therapies
Bostik
Watches of Switzerland
Switzer Media+Publishing
SwinBurne University of Technology
Google
Thomson Geer
Appstore
Ego Pharmaceuticals
Aqium Gel
Bondi Sands
The Fortune Institute
Elucent
Passage Foods
SunSense Digital Agency
ISO Certified
Australian Physiotherapy Association
One Shift
Castran Gilbert
Movember
Naturtint
Marshall White
MyAccount
The Canberra Times
News
Schiavello
Australian Anthill
NMI Insurance
Gadens
Etihad Stadium
National Museum of Australia
BlackMores
Rock Pool Group
Smart Company
Oracle
Peter Mac
Engineers Without Borders
Telstra
Buy Aussie Now
Crumpler
Hanover
The University Of Melbourne
Beaumont
Grays Ecommerce
Engine Swim
Van Egmond Group
Hairhouse Warehouse
Grow Your Business
LBG Australia and New Zealand
Drupal
AC/DC
Jetstar
HGG 
Vitura Health
Melbourne Central
131 Pizza
Royal Freemasons
Sports Power
OMS – Order Management System
Melbourne Heart
Toni&Guy
Parker Lane
Jalna
Scrum.org
TPP
Heat Holders
Ebay
ABC
DUSA, Deakin University Student Association
King Wood Mallesons
Bigcommerce
Eway
Bintani Australia
Metricon
Focus On Furniture
Mark Alexander Design
Xavier
Wild Rhino Shoes
Ubertas Group
Tassal
Magento
Paypal
James Buyer Advocates
Plants
Cronos Australia
Moov Head Lice
Craft CMS
French Tables
Melrose MCT
Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals
Amino Active
Max’s
CB Richard Ellis
RMIT University
Victorian Government
Mecca Brands
Grainshaker
Garmin
CAN- Common Wealth Bank
Inferflora
Celebrate Health
Passage To India
WTFN
Fast.co
Australian Organic Food CO
Magento Solution Specialist
Maxine
POSTER Magazine
VISSF
Forbes
MAP
Fairfax Media
Acquia Certified Site Builder Drupal
Chia
Toy World
Arc One
21st Century Australia Party
GPT Group
Windsorsmith
Kadac
Bulk Nutrients
Shell
Dial Before You Dig
Sunday Creek
The Burger Cheese
White Suede
Florsheim Shoes
Mamma Lucia
Unsw Australia
High Street Armadale
iPrimus
Carlton Football Club
QV Skincare
Associated Press
Atlantic Group of Companies
McArthur Skincare
DepSkin.com
Rydges
Macmillan Publishing
ACTUATE IP
Arthur Galan
Adobe Professional

Testimonials

It is great working with such a dedicated and competent team in this ever changing space and I would highly recommend Michael and his work. Stephanie Clayton, Marketing Services Manager, Ego Pharmaceuticals

More Testimonials
AndMine-Google-Partner-Signature