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My Journey

From Zero Code to AI Product Engineer

Born M Shayan (2004), I went from an Electronics Engineering student with zero coding experience to building AI platforms in 20 months.

20
Months Journey
4
AI Products Built
Highest
FYP Marks in Batch
3.63
CGPA (Silver Medal)

In my third year of Electrical Engineering at Sukkur IBA University, I received an email about the Google AI Hackathon featuring the newly launched Gemini. That email changed everything. I had taken courses in Java, Python, and Arduino, but I had never built a real product.

Working with Dr. Gul Sher Baloch, we built PoultaVet AI—an AI solution for poultry disease management. Our team connected with Poulta Inc., which led to my Kedarobiz role, teaching me business management and customer relations. By summer 2024, Dr. Gul Sher and Dr. Muhammad Yameen Sandhu invited me to co-found Leaveit2AI.

The learning curve was intense but fast. I started with Excel sheets as databases, then rapidly progressed to MySQL, Redis, and proper architecture. I learned Linux deployment, DNS management, Nginx configuration, and production systems through necessity. English became my favorite programming language—as AI tools improved, I transitioned from assistance to full control, using AI as my pair programmer, not my crutch.

Learning Path

From Vibe Coding to Lead Engineer

How I went from Excel spreadsheets as databases to architecting production systems in 18 months.

1
Phase 1: Early 2024

First Real Product - PoultaVet AI

Built PoultaVet AI for the Google AI Hackathon with Dr. Gul Sher Baloch—an AI system for poultry disease management. Team connected with Poulta Inc., which led to my Kedarobiz sales role. Started with Excel sheets as databases, learning by breaking things. This taught me the gap between theory and production.

2
Phase 2: Summer 2024

Co-founding Leaveit2AI

Built AI tools directory with a tag-based recommendation engine (my first real algorithm). Team built multiple projects: AI PPT generator (Jawad), AI Flashcard app (Hasnain), and Designs—my AI clothing design tool. Rapidly learned proper databases, Flask architecture, and deployment. Business skills from Kedarobiz became invaluable for customer understanding.

3
Phase 3: Fall 2024

GradexAI - Final Year Project

By now, I was a capable full-stack developer. Built GradexAI as my FYP using proper architecture from day one—MySQL, Redis, Celery, proper deployment. No vibe-coding, just solid engineering. Team saw potential and pivoted to make GradexAI our flagship. Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba from Regis University (USA) joined as advisor. Secured highest FYP marks in entire batch.

4
Today

AI Product Engineer & Co-Founder

Lead developer for platforms serving thousands. Built 4 AI products in 18 months: PoultaVet AI, AI Directory, Designs, and GradexAI. Mastered full-stack development, AI integration, and production systems. My electronics degree gave me opportunities I wouldn't have found in traditional CS. English is my favorite programming language.

Products

Built From Zero

Two AI platforms born from curiosity, shaped by necessity, and refined through real-world feedback.

Co-Founded Summer 2024

Leaveit2AI

AI Tools Platform & Innovation Lab

Started as an AI tools directory with a tag-based recommendation engine I built to help users discover relevant tools. Our team experimented with multiple products: AI PPT generator (Jawad), AI Flashcard app (Hasnain), and Designs—my AI-powered clothing design tool. These rapid prototypes taught us about market fit, technical architecture, and user needs, setting the foundation for our flagship product.

Core Team

Dr. Gul Sher Baloch

CEO · MIT AI/ML Background

Dr. Muhammad Yameen Sandhu

Professor at Sukkur IBA University

Jawad Ali

Full-Stack Developer · IBA'26

Hasnain Hyder

AI/ML Researcher · AWS Expert

Flagship Product

GradexAI

AI-Powered Learning Management System · Launched October 2024

By the time I started GradexAI as my Final Year Project, I was already a capable full-stack developer. No more vibe-coding—I built it with proper architecture, databases, and production-grade deployment from day one. Secured the highest marks in my entire batch. The platform's potential was undeniable—our entire team pivoted to make GradexAI our primary focus. Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba from Regis University (USA) joined as an advisor, strengthening our academic foundation.

Technical Architecture

Flask + SQLAlchemy + Celery backend
Next.js frontend (migrated from Jinja2)
AI-driven rubric-based evaluation
Advanced anti-cheating technology
OAuth 2.0 & role-based access control
MySQL + Redis for scaling

Platform Status

Now serving 5,000+ active users across 10+ educational institutions worldwide, processing 15,000+ AI-powered assessments and saving educators 90% of grading time.

Philosophy

Why Electronics, Not CS?

My unconventional path became my greatest advantage.

The Opportunity I Wouldn't Have Had

If I'd studied Computer Science, I might have learned more theory. But I wouldn't have received that Google Gemini hackathon email in my third year. I wouldn't have been working with PhD researchers on AI projects. I wouldn't have had the unique perspective of an outsider learning to code by necessity, not curriculum.

Rapid Skill Acquisition

My journey proves something important: you don't need four years of CS theory to build production systems. What you need is curiosity, determination, and real problems to solve. I built 4 AI products in 20 months: PoultaVet AI (hackathon), AI Directory with recommendation engine, Designs (AI clothing tool), and GradexAI (full-scale platform). Each project leveled up my skills exponentially.

English as a Programming Language

As AI tools improved, so did my approach. I stopped "vibe coding" and started taking full control. AI became my pair programmer, not my replacement. English became my favorite programming language—I could articulate complex logic in plain language, then implement it properly. This is the future of software development.

The Result

In 20 months, I went from zero web development experience to building 4 AI products, co-founding Leaveit2AI, scoring the highest FYP marks in my batch, and earning a Silver Medal (3.63 CGPA). Built platforms now serving thousands of users. My electronics degree didn't limit me—it gave me opportunities I wouldn't have found in a traditional CS path.

What's Next

The Journey Continues

Graduating in Spring 2025 from Sukkur IBA University with a Silver Medal (CGPA 3.63) in Electrical Engineering. But the real education happened in the last 18 months—building real products, solving real problems, and serving real users.

I'm focused on scaling GradexAI globally while exploring new opportunities to apply AI in practical, meaningful ways. My approach is simple: build tools that work, solve problems that matter, and learn by doing.

If you're building something ambitious, working on practical AI applications, or just want to connect with someone who learned to code by building production systems—let's talk.