Kathmandu, November 10
A social media app called Thopla, developed by a young Nepali in Australia to connect Nepalis abroad through homegrown technology, has grown in popularity recently.
Ujjwal Khanal, originally from Bharatpur, Chitwan, built the app while living in Canberra, the Australian capital. About 20,000 users have joined in the five months since the new version went live.
In a conversation with Onlinekhabar, Khanal said he wants Thopla to be more than just another social network. He hopes to develop it into a digital platform that connects Nepalis around the world and turns their creativity into income.
Khanal said the app has become especially popular among Nepali workers in the Gulf countries. In some of these countries, platforms such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are difficult to use or restricted. He believes this has made Thopla a reliable alternative for staying in touch with family and relatives.
According to Khanal, about 15,000 Nepalis in the Gulf region alone have downloaded the app so far.
“Messenger and WhatsApp do not work easily in some Gulf countries. Our Nepali brothers and sisters there have told us that Thopla makes it very easy to talk to their families,” he said. He added that the app gives high priority to user safety and privacy.
What features does it offer?
Like other popular social networks, Thopla is a multipurpose platform. Users can create and share short videos (reels), as in TikTok. They can also post photos and statuses, make audio and video calls, and go live. Through a “coin system,” users can send virtual gifts to creators whose content they enjoy.
The app also offers account verification, live video streaming, and live audio rooms. In the audio rooms, many users can join at once for group conversations.
Earning while using the app
Another key attraction is the opportunity for content creators to earn money. Users can receive virtual gifts once they reach 200 followers. After reaching 500 followers, they can earn directly based on views and advertisements.
“The money collected on Thopla can be transferred to a bank account,” Khanal said. “We currently use an international payment system. In the future, we plan to integrate local Nepali wallets such as eSewa and Khalti.”
To keep users engaged, the app also runs various contests. Earlier, it held photo competitions during Teej and Dashain-Tihar, with cash prizes for the participants who received the most likes.
An accounting student with a passion for technology
Khanal, from Chitwan, went to Australia three years ago for higher studies. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in accounting. He began learning programming while studying for his BBA in Nepal, and his interest in information technology grew over time.
He kept up that interest after moving to Australia and now works as a zone manager at an IT company.
Alongside his studies and job, Khanal and his friends first proposed the idea of Thopla around 2021. The app did not attract the expected number of users at first, but it gained momentum after a revised version was released.
Aiming to build a tech venture in Nepal
Khanal’s next plans include adding new features, creating more income opportunities for creators, and integrating Nepali payment systems.
“Our main goal is for Nepalis around the world to connect with their families and relatives through an app made by Nepalis. We also want them to have the chance to earn from their creations,” he said.
Khanal hopes to return to Nepal one day and work in the IT sector. His long-term goal is to establish Thopla as a platform that shows world-class technology can be built through Nepali initiative, by understanding the needs of Nepalis abroad.
