Esewa

1. About the Company

eSewa is Nepal’s first and leading digital wallet and online payments platform. 

It was established in 2009 under the umbrella of F1Soft International Pvt. Ltd. (the same fintech group that has pioneered many digital-payment services in Nepal). 

It is licensed by the Nepal Rastra Bank (the central bank of Nepal) as a Payment Service Provider under the Payment and Settlement Act. 

It holds ISO 27001 certification (2022 version) which demonstrates its focus on information security and operational excellence. 

eSewa’s purpose is to simplify digital payments, bringing financial services to large parts of Nepal, including underserved areas, thereby promoting financial inclusion. 

2. Size & Locations

  • Headquarters: Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal (Listed location is Lal Chand Plaza, Hattisar, Kathmandu as per CB Insights) 
  • Employee Strength: According to one update, more than 450 employees. 
  • User Base: Over 10 million users (as of 2024–25) are reported in several sources. 
  • Agent & Merchant Network:
    • Agents: 250,000+ agents across Nepal. 
    • Merchants: 425,000+ merchants (according to business vertical page) 
    • Works with 49+ banks and financial institutions. 
  • Geographic Reach: Serves all 753 local bodies / municipal divisions in Nepal. 
  • Industry: FinTech, Digital Payments, Wallet & Payment Gateway Services.

3. Technologies Used

eSewa uses a wide range of modern technologies and operational tools to build, maintain and scale their digital payment and wallet platform. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their tech ecosystem:

• Frontend / Web & Mobile: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+), modern frameworks such as Angular (job listing mentions Angular) 

• Mobile Development: Native mobile SDKs and apps (for example, Android SDK for eSewa payments) 

• Backend / Server-Side: Java or Python for backend services (according to full-stack job description) 

• Database & Data Management: MySQL (or similar relational databases) and ETL/data-engineering work using Python and MySQL (data engineer role) 

• DevOps / Cloud & Infrastructure: Use of CI/CD tools, automated deployment pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), security compliance (Platform Developer role) 

• Security & Compliance: Multi-layer protection including next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), web application firewalls (WAFs), ISO 27001 certification—key for fintech operation.

• Integration / SDKs & APIs: Merchant SDKs (e.g iOS, Android) for payments, RESTful API models for partner integrations with banks/merchants. 

4. Hiring Process

While the company’s official detailed hiring steps were not fully publicised in the sources found, typical practices can be inferred from job-postings and company culture:

  • Application via online portal / LinkedIn.
  • Screening for basic fit & digital payment domain interest.
  • Technical assessment if for engineering/development role (mobile, web, backend).
  • Interview(s) for role-specific skills, problem solving, fintech domain knowledge.
  • Final evaluation for cultural fit eSewa emphasises values such as Trust, Integrity, Innovation, Collaboration. 
  • On-boarding and orientation into digital wallet & payments product environment.

5. Skills Required

Skills will vary by role (front-end, backend, mobile, DevOps) but the following are highly valued at eSewa for aspiring developers:

Technical Skills

• Programming languages: Java or Python (backend), JavaScript/TypeScript (frontend)
• Frameworks & front-end libraries: Angular (or modern equivalents)
• Mobile SDK/Development: Native Android (Java/Kotlin) or iOS (Swift) integration with paymentSDKs
• Database management: SQL relational databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL) and data-engineering knowledge(ETL,schemas)
• DevOps & Tools: Git, Jenkins/CI-CD pipelines, Docker, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), monitoring&release-management
• Security & Fintech compliance: Understanding of encryption, secure APIs, compliance (ISO 27001), threat mitigation

Soft Skills

•Strong problem-solving ability; especially in fintech/payment-systems context
• Team collaboration and adaptability; working across mobile, web, backend, operations teams
• Good communication and time-management skills; especially when dealing with partners, merchants,agents
• Interest in fintech and payment technologies; since the business is digitally heavy and domain-specific

Domain Knowledge

• Understanding of digital payments, wallets, merchant/agent networks, bank integrations and regulatory compliance (important in Nepal’s fintech environment)

6. Work Culture

From company statements and media coverage:

Strengths

  • Pioneer brand in Nepal’s digital payment space; working for eSewa gives exposure to large scale digital-finance operations in an emerging market.
  • Strong mission-driven culture (financial inclusion, cashless economy) and emphasis on innovation. 
  • Good for professionals looking to work in fintech / payments / digital wallet domain in Nepal.

Areas to Note / Challenges

  • As with many fintechs in emerging markets: dependence on infrastructure (internet, telecom) may create operational challenges.
  • High growth and broad network (agents & merchants) can mean dynamic environment — may require adaptability.
  • Competition in digital wallet/fintech space is increasing (other wallets, bank apps) which may drive demand for continuous improvement. 

Overall, eSewa appears to maintain a positive, mission-aligned culture with opportunities for growth in the digital payments space.

7. Alumni Insights

  (written once company visit)

8. References / Links

Summary

eSewa is a cornerstone fintech player in Nepal, leading the digital wallet and payment gateway market since 2009. With over 10 million users, hundreds of thousands of agents and merchants and a wide range of services (from mobile recharges to utility bills, airline tickets, merchant payments, bank transfers), it has transformed how Nepalis transact and access financial services. Its parent entity, F1Soft, and its licensing by Nepal Rastra Bank give it strong institutional backing. For professionals seeking to work in the Nepali fintech space, eSewa offers exposure to scale, innovation and network-driven operations. The dynamic environment means both significant opportunities and evolving challenges (competition, infrastructure). Overall, eSewa stands out as one of Nepal’s most influential fintech firms in the digital payments domain.