Shafqat Ullah

Research & Engineering Director at Ālo Labs | CTO at Sourcēvo

About

A diversely experienced technology leader and software architect, Shafqat has 22+ years of industry experience and 35+ years programming experience. With an entrepreneurial mindset, he is keen to make instrumental contributions to future-focused organisations aspiring to become category leaders through innovation. Shafqat has solid skills in high-scalability microservices-based SaaS architecture, modern software engineering, product innovation and management, design thinking, product and solution strategies, agile development processes, etc. Industries worked include hi-tech, telecom, financial services, health care, government, education, defence, aviation, retail, clean energy, ICT4D, etc. He served customers like UNICEF, UNDP, Mayo Clinic, Healthways, World Health Congress, BroadSoft (acquired by Cisco), Polycom, Obopay, Interscan, Roamware, InSTEDD, Skoll Global Threats Fund and University of Cambridge. Among many products architected by him, BroadWorks Communicator, a full-featured voice/video softphone (now a Cisco product), had won the Frost and Sullivan Best Technology Award in VOIP in 2006. Shafqat is an invited subject matter expert at MIT Futures CoLab, an international think tank for the future of global sustainability. He also advises various government organisations and companies on digital transformation initiatives and SaaS apps. Before founding Ālo Labs and Sourcēvo, he was at Grameen Solutions, the flagship digital solutions company of globally renowned Grameen family of companies, where he was hired and promoted as CTO by company Chairman 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. At Grameen, Shafqat initiated the offshore outsourcing unit in 2003, eventually making it a successful business with worldwide customer base. He was the acquisition consultant for Bangladesh’s largest defence IT project undertaken by Bangladesh Air Force, spanning 50 offices countrywide. He was a board member of Grameen Cybernet, one of the first ISPs of Bangladesh.

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Work experience

April 2022 – present
CodersTrust
CTO - EdTech SaaS
CodersTrust is a global EdTech company innovating new ways to upskill/reskill the untapped youth of emerging markets with in-demand skills so that they can join the evolving global virtual workforce and realize their full potential. + Advising leadership team on all aspects of EdTech SaaS technology and business strategy + Re-architecting and re-engineering SaaS for a scale of 100M learners, instructors, mentors and employers in 10 next emerging market countries CodersTrust will expand to + Technologies: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Scala, Dart, Kubernetes, AWS, Flink, DynamoDB, Aurora, Lambda, EventBridge, HLS, Flutter, React, Svelte, WebAssembly, etc. + Developing new competitive strategy, value propositions, business model, organizational restructuring and growth strategies to raise valuation to $100M
February 2022 – present
UTC Associates, Inc.
Consultant, Technology Strategy and Sr. Solutions Architect
UTC is a leading technology consulting, systems integration, staffing, business solutions and services company, established in 2001, with both Fortune 500 and public sector clients like AT&T, Verizon, MetTel, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Dow Jones, IBM, Microsoft, Dell, Viacom, Con Edison, PSEG, various New York State agencies, etc. + Advising CEO and leadership team on technology strategies and emerging trends in various client engagement and SaaS contexts + Creating "UTC Digital Performance Framework", a next-generation end-to-end enterprise innovation framework and value delivery platform for digital solutions + Leading technical presales for both private and public sector clients
November 2020 – present
AlphaSights
Expert Advisor
AlphaSights is a global leader in knowledge on-demand. AlphaSights connects investment and business leaders with a dynamic global network of industry professionals whose informed perspectives help clients make superior investment and business decisions. + Providing insights on various areas of enterprise technology including event-driven architecture, real-time event streaming data infrastructure like Confluent Kafka, AWS Kinesis, Pulsar, etc.
January 2020 – present
Ālo Labs
Research & Engineering Director, Scalable Reliability, Security & Reuse for Enterprises and SaaS
+ Bootstrapped this non-profit, community-driven, first-principles based research and innovation lab creating groundbreaking open source tech, with a mission to reduce by 10x the cost, complexity and effort of envisioning, developing, operating and maintaining complex, modern, large-scale, distributed software by unifying, simplifying and amplifying the synergistic power of surprisingly under-leveraged concepts and methods of last 100 years of Systems Sc, Computer Sc, Systems Eng and Software Eng. + Attracted talented research contributors by training and mentoring software engineers, university professors, CS undergrad and graduate students under the CoLeap (Contributors Learning Program) initiative, which will soon launch its third cohort of 300 participants. + Led original research on various layers of the Ālo Stack, both theoretical and applied, now leading to 50+ research publications and 5+ patents. + Raising funding from various national and international funding agencies.
January 2020 – present
Ālo Labs
Principal Investigator - Applied Innovations
Innovated: + Ālo OS, a truly next-generation, universally deployable "overlay OS" (Single System Image - Distributed OS) that can launch maximally reusable, mobile, intelligent, polyglot "nanoservice agents" 1000x faster than any alternatives (e.g. FaaS), hosting up to 5M in-memory agents serving 5M standard microservice-class calls equivalent event-reactions/sec concurrently on ordinary $60/month VM instances, scaling from IoT & user devices incl browsers to Edge & Cloud. + Fluid Computing, a new compute paradigm that unifies multi-cloud IaaS, CaaS, FaaS, CDNs, edge, user device, IoT and decentralized infra in a single system image compute substrate that abstracts away distributed computing complexity, provides autoscaling, process offloading & migration and ensures maximal data locality through dynamic provisioning and orchestration. + Bloom, a high-level microkernel, that runs on cloud, edge, user devices, IoT and decentralized infra, unifies the OS concept of process with systems-theoretic agents, provides eventing-based IPC and a distributed state store-backed virtual memory. Bloom also introduces the concept of "exo-processes" and can drive remote processes in any remote compute infra, e.g. FaaS, CaaS and Kubernetes-based containerized processes. Bloom also acts as a Virtual Kubelet for Kubernetes and is compatible with Knative API. Also provides a WebAssembly WASI-like systems API. + ĀloScript, a PITL (Programming-in-the-Large) scripting language on top of Scala, that brings Smalltalk-like expressiveness and productivity to distributed applications programming powered by a meta-recursive, self-describing primitive and language kernel based on the Systems Model of Computation developed at Ālo. + Crux, a cross-platform, reactive UX framework that reifies UX-level primitives that are currently neglected in typical UI frameworks and provides a reusable single-effort UX substrate for apps to drive UI of different devices.
January 2019 – present
Ālo Labs
Principal Investigator - Theoretical Advancements
Innovated: + STEPS (Systems-Theoretic Engineering Paradigm for Software), a powerful new paradigm that unifies the most powerful yet neglected concepts of Systems Sc and Computer Sc that caters to the changed needs of modern distributed software. + Systems Model of Computation, a fundamental model of computation that improves upon and unifies Lambda Calc, Lisp Model, Actor Model and Alan Kay's Object-Orientation, radically simplifying modern computing needs and is based on the mathematical foundations of Systems Sc. + SODA (Semantics-Oriented Development Approach), a powerful semantic approach to software reuse and component-based development that unifies Philosophy, Systems Sc, Logic, Lambda Calc and Type Theory with denotational, axiomatic and interaction semantics, resulting in maximized reuse, quality and security - all centered around the well-established concept of Term (as in Logic, Lambda Calc and Mathematics). + Sema (Semantic Modeling & Analysis), a domain modeling method for applying SODA using STEPS, that completely eliminates the currently existing cognitive impedance mismatch between an analysis model vs design model vs solution model vs programming model vs computational model vs deployment model, leading to unprecedented TTM (Time-to-Market) of features while maximizing developer independence & ownership of a feature. + Semantic Containers, a novel ultra light-weight, semantics-based security isolation method for isolating untrusted components/agents that provides semantic guarantees and is an additional sandboxed container above and beyond capability-based security, language-based isolation, VM Isolates-based isolation and more conventional container-based isolation. + Alpha Architecture, which improves over Kappa and Lambda Architectures of distributed applications and unifies the currently heterogenous OLTP, OLAP, ML and AI architectural approaches with an end-to-end homogenous, agent primitive-based architecture.
January 2019 – present
Nomadic Care
Advisor, AI-based Healthcare SaaS
Nomadic is an Australian tech startup leveraging multi-agent AI technologies to create a quantum leap in leveraging technology in the healthcare industry. The first product based on an award-winning AI technology, Nomadic Care, will be launched soon as a SaaS for healthcare providers. + Advising leadership team on all aspects SaaS product strategy, architecture and business strategies
July 2018 – present
MIT Center for Collective Intelligence
Expert on Sustainability in the Digital Age at Futures CoLab
As an invited technologist, contributed to the futures-thinking lab to help decision makers worldwide understand and explore future solutions to global systemic challenges. Futures CoLab is hosted at MIT Center for Collective Intelligence in collaboration with Future Earth. + Contributed various insights on current and future global systemic trends involving a range of technological issues affecting climate change and global environmental sustainability ultimately compiled into insights reports for decision makers. + Contributions included topics like energy-efficient smart home tech, cloud computing carbon footprint, AI/ML and big data-based climate scenario analysis, AI-based traffic control, blockchain-enabled community micro-grids, dematerialization through virtualization and VR/AR, compounding effects of convergence, satellite constellation-based Internet, precision agriculture, quantum computing and implications of AI as proxy for humans in the complex future world.
January 2018 – present
Ālo Labs
Principal Investigator - Innovation Management
+ Innovated Aspire (Ālo Strategic Product Innovation Resources), a STEPS paradigm-based end-to-end software product innovation and product management methodology and process that unifies concepts from Systems Science with JTBD (Jobs-to-be-Done) Theory (Tony Ulwick and Clayton Christensen) & OKR (Objectives and Key Results) method with an emphasis on strategy, combining the methodologies of Blue Ocean Strategy (Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim), Customer Development (Steve Blank) and Business Model Generation (Alex Osterwalder).
August 2010 – present
Sourcēvo
CTO
Founded this technology strategy, solutions and staffing company and served organisations globally that include Rockefeller Foundation, University of Cambridge, Skoll Global Threats Fund, InSTEDD (Google.org's spin-off), RMG Networks etc. and high-tech startups like FutureVault, Siempo, Trace, Slyce in diverse industries, directly and through partners like InSTEDD, USA and TeamSlice, Canada. + Developed technology and innovation strategies for clients, ranging from satellite imagery analysis to solve global water scarcity to large-scale SaaS product architectures to digital solutions for epidemiological research. + Developing Ēvo, an end-to-end enterprise platform for product innovation to accelerate value delivery encompassing the entire innovation process from concept to outcome achievement. + Products and solutions developed: IoT data streams processing, autonomous drone-based live video streaming, secure document management system, computer vision-based shopping app, epidemiological research survey tablet app, digital well-being mobile app, crowdfunding app for social causes, IPTV video portals, browser extensions for offers, etc. + Technologies used: Scala, Kotlin, Swift, Java, PHP, NodeJS, Objective-C, Spring, Kubernetes, Docker, Spinnaker, Helm, AWS, iOS, Android, Angular, React, oAuth, REST, GraphQL, Azure, Pivotal Cloud Foundry, Lambda, Kafka, API Gateway, DDD, CQRS, Event Sourcing, Flutter, Camunda, Zeebe, Akka, Alpakka, DynamoDB, MongoDB, etc.
February 2015 – January 2018
FutureVault
Consultant, SaaS Architecture
FutureVault is an industry-leading provider of secure document exchange and Digital Vault solutions for the financial services industry that enables institutions, advisors, and households to manage information better, together. FutureVault offers a powerful white label solution that transforms the way organizations manage, store, and deliver client documents and statements, onboard and retain clients, onboard and retain advisors, and manage compliance and audit readiness leading to significant operational efficiencies. By leveraging FutureVault’s patented technology, organizations save significant time and money in their day-to-day workflows. + Provided broad range of strategic architectural guidance and led hands-on technical proof-of-concepts development for all aspects of cloud-native SaaS product architecture including infrastructure modernization on Kubernetes, CICD enablement using Spinanker, malware detection and handling, client-side RPC, GRPC, RSocket, Data Fetch/Caching using GraphQL, document ingestion using AWS Lambda, fine-grained access control, API versioning, authn, SSO, authorization, feature toggles, presales and RFIs, API gateways, AWS Cognito and IAM, UAA, AppSync, AWS Fargate, observability using CloudTrail, ELK, Elastic Beanstalk, DDD, event sourcing, CQRS, Kafka, Spring Cloud Data Flow, Spring Cloud Security, AWS Data Lake, inter-services security, MTLS, AWS Step Functions, DynamoDB, etc.
August 2008 – January 2014
Grameen Cybernet Limited
Board Member, Pioneering ISP in Emerging Market
Was appointed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to the board of this pioneering Internet and communications services company of Bangladesh, co-founded by him, as a recognition of technology competence and business acumen. + As the key technical board member, provided strategic guidance and insights to the management team for various strategic initiatives like launching Triple-Play services (broadband, IPTV and telephony) in a fast-growing emerging market. + Youngest board member across the globally renowned Grameen Bank family of companies.
January 2012 – October 2013
MIS, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of Bangladesh
Industry Expert for Countrywide Digital Transformation of Government Healthcare Services
As an invited industry innovator, provided guidance and insights to help formulate the e/m-Health strategy and programs of the government of Bangladesh, working as part of an expert panel and also directly with Director of MIS and Additional Director General of DGHS.
August 2011 – September 2013
InSTEDD, USA
Country Consultant and Director for proposed Innovation Lab
InSTEDD was founded by Google.org and Rockefeller Foundation, based on the TED Prize wish of Dr Larry Brilliant, a global public health personality. As part of InSTEDD's vision of a world where communities design and use technology to improve their health, safety and development, they explored setting up an innovation lab in Bangladesh after creating a sustainable model operating in Latin America and Southeast Asia. + Conceptualized and formulated strategies to set up a national level, multi-stakeholder, community-owned innovation lab in Bangladesh focusing on e-health and m-health with a triple bottomline of capacity building, social impact and financial sustainability + Developed the initial scope and organizational details for the innovation lab consulting with 30+ local and international stakeholders including ministers, researching the current e/m-health landscape of the country and ensuring alignment, synergy and buy-in from government and non-government initiatives and organizations + Created sustainable business model and financial models to launch, operate and sustain the lab + Developed grant-seeking proposal to fund addressing health vulnerabilities of informal worker populations with technology, which was implemented in Cambodia by InSTEDD with fund from Rockefeller Foundation
January 2013 – May 2013
Skoll Global Threats Fund
Consultant, Satellite Data Cloud Strategy, South Asia Climate and Water Data Initiative
Skoll Global Threats Fund, founded by eBay’s first president Jeff Skoll, had a mandate to drive large-scale global change on the most critical issues facing mankind. + Developed comprehensive cloud-based technology strategies and cost model for storage, processing, sharing and crowdsourcing of high-volume, high-resolution satellite imagery data and other climate and weather data for South Asia Climate and Water Data Initiative, involving the four countries at risk of water security: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.
July 2010 – May 2012
Access to Information, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Member, Panel of Experts, National e-Governance Architecture (NEA)
As an invited advisor to this ambitious national digital transformation program, provided architectural guidance and insights for a large-scale country-wide system to provide 700+ government services digitally to 170 million citizens. The program has later expanded to include 2800+ services delivered through web and mobile apps. Outcomes include: significant reduction of service delivery process overhead, citizens' time, cost and number of visits, improved service delivery efficiency, monitoring of service lifecycle, assurance of chartered services, transparency and information to citizens.
January 2007 – July 2010
Grameen Solutions
CTO
After rebranding of the company, continued leading the development organization of 60+ software development professionals serving customers globally in diverse industries. + Radically improved service delivery by restructuring the development organization into 5 separate service-specific SDUs (Solution Delivery Units) + Significantly improved predictability and repeatability by adopting tailored, scalable agile processes and management tools covering end-to-end of the development lifecycle with careful change management + Effectively improved management and customer's visibility into progress and status of project teams + Substantially increased revenue by expanding service portfolio into traditionally low-margin services yet made the SDUs profitable with process and delivery efficiency + Served category-leading customers like Mayo Clinic, Obopay, Roamware, UNICEF, UNDP, Grameen America, Grameen Shakti, etc. in various industries including Financial Services, Healthcare, Online Media, E-commerce and Education.
October 2004 – December 2006
Grameen Software
CTO
Grameen Software was the flagship technology solutions company of globally renowned Grameen family of companies, where I was hired and promoted to CTO role by company Chairman 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. + Initiated the offshore outsourcing unit in 2003, eventually making it a successful business with worldwide customer base + Continued architecting products and solutions for customers globally and leading engineering teams + Products and solutions developed under my leadership include: remote monitoring and management console of air traffic control radar systems for Interscan Navigation Systems, Australia, book publishing collaboration solution for Integrated Software, USA marketed by IBM, enterprise content management and workflow solution for Azolve, UK, patient relation management solution for Docvia, USA, various open source humanitarian disaster tech tools for InSTEDD, USA, business intelligence reporting tool for Anabase, USA, insurance claims management for Aquilo, UK, partner extranet for Poractis, UK, various national-level e-government applications and databases for education sector including student registration, result processing and publication for millions of HSC and SSC candidates, inventory management for healthcare, SMS-based sales monitoring for globally renowned solar technology company Grameen Shakti, etc. + Technologies used: Ruby on Rails, Visual C++, JEE, Spring, Hibernate, MyFaces, JSF, J2SE, PHP, MySQL, Oracle 10g, Apache Web Server, MS ASP.net, IIS, SQL Server, JavaScript, DHTML, Eclipse RCP, Visual Basic 6, Crystal Reports, etc.
January 2001 – September 2004
Grameen Software
Sr. Systems Architect
+ Architected various high-tech products and led engineering teams for global customers in many industries + Products architected include highly innovative voice-video softphone for BroadSoft that won the 2006 Frost and Sullivan Best Technology in VOIP award (now part of Cisco BroadWorks suite), auditing and monitoring system for BroadWorks platform, a deskphone personalization technology for Polycom, softphone porting for Sun Microsystems, location-positioning solution for Vonair, a VOIP endpoint provisioning and management system for Netria, telnet and FTP clients for Pragma Systems, etc. + Technologies used: C, C++, Java, CHTML, JEE, CORBA, XML, SWT, Swing, JNI, SIP, RTP, STUN, ICE, Tomcat, MySQL, Visual Studio, Eclipse, Subversion
July 1999 – December 2000
Innoqube
Software Consultant
As an independent consultant, provided software and systems strategy and architecture guidance to various organizations including World Bank projects like PKSF.