The engineer
behind ZILA.
Fighting contractor fraud with code. Building the tools I wish existed when my family was quoted 3× the real cost.
Er. Angel Mainali
B.E. CivilI'm a structural engineer specializing in hydropower projects. After watching my family get deceived by inflated contractor quotes with no way to verify costs, I built ZILA — Nepal's most accurate construction cost estimator — to give ordinary people the same information contractors try to hide.
The Mission
Transparency is a right, not a luxury.
In Nepal, the construction industry runs on information asymmetry. Contractors quote wildly inflated prices because homeowners have no benchmark. A Rs. 60 lakh house becomes Rs. 1 crore on paper.
ZILA breaks this cycle by providing engineer-verified cost data across 50 districts, factoring in logistics, local material prices, and labour rates — updated regularly.
Every Rs. 199 report funds server costs, data collection, and keeps this tool free to explore. You're not buying software — you're funding transparency.
Journey
Started Civil Engineering career
Joined hydropower sector, worked on penstock design and anchor block analysis.
Witnessed contractor fraud firsthand
Family received wildly inflated construction quotes. Decided to build a solution.
Built ZILA from scratch
Learned Next.js, built a 50-district cost database, launched first version.
Pursuing Masters in Australia
Continuing to build ZILA remotely while advancing structural engineering research.
Support the mission
Keep ZILA alive & free.
ZILA's core tool is free forever. Your support covers server costs, data updates, and the time that goes into building tools for Nepal.
Support Internationally
Monthly or one-time support for those outside Nepal. Cancel anytime.
Support from Nepal
Direct eSewa or bank transfer. Every rupee goes to building better tools.
Have a project in mind?
I consult on structural engineering, hydropower design, and engineering SaaS products.
© 2026 ZILA · Built with ♥ in Kathmandu