When Kiran Sachdev, an aspiring technology entrepreneur, first read about the University of Toronto’s Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) program, he knew it was the perfect fit.
“I had experience as an arts entrepreneur and was considering a transition into the tech startup world,” said the straight A+ student, who graduated from the program in June. “MScAC provided entrepreneurship training and immersion in cutting-edge computer science research. Additionally, U of T ranks among the top 10 computer science programs in the world, so it was a great opportunity. ”
After more than a decade in the performing arts, Sahadev, 38, went back to school, worked as a musician and composer, and for several years ran the Bread and Circus theater in Toronto’s Kensington Market.
Like art, Zakdev has long viewed computer technology as an opportunity to bring people together and achieve social goals. While studying in the Mathematics and Physics Department at McGill University, he created a website to promote new music through social networking. He later gained international recognition by creating Al’s Relativistic Adventures, an interactive online program that explains Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
“Computers, the Internet, and mobile phones are amazing tools that, when used well, can improve products and services in any field,” says Sachdev, who started programming at the age of six. A lot of work creating software. For example, we developed our own POS system so that we always know what we have in stock. ”
MScAC consisted of eight months of classes and eight months of internship, giving Sachdev an inside look at the computer industry, deepening his technical skills, and preparing him to run a startup. As part of his coursework, Sachdev was mentored by a venture capitalist and led a team developing a creative mobile application that uses virtual pets to help strangers connect socially. He spoke enthusiastically about a patent course taught by Professor Ravin Balakrishnan, who served as an expert witness in the Apple-Samsung patent dispute.
“For this course, I created a set of gestures for touchscreen devices, which I hope to patent myself,” Sachdev says. “As someone who plans to obtain patents as part of a technology business, I gained great insight into the process and the pitfalls that come with it.”
Zakdev’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. “Kiran embodies the exceptional talent and diversity of our high-achieving students in our professional master’s programs,” said Professor Sven Dickinson, Head of the School of Computer Science.
From theory to practice: practical experience in the industry
After completing an internship at Riva Modeling Systems in Toronto, Sachdev became director of research. Riva Modeling creates software that helps municipalities and utility companies budget and track infrastructure by modeling the condition and risk of failure of millions of assets such as pipes, buildings, and machinery. I’m doing it.
During his internship, Sachdev created an application that allows clients to optimize project schedules under multiple resource constraints through a user-friendly interface.
“This system works in seconds, compared to minutes or days with other systems,” says Sachdev. “We have taken prototypes, commercialized them, and already have some large customers.”
Sachdev’s research at Riva also includes collaborative projects with professors at the University of Toronto, which allows him to stay on top of new research and anticipate applications in industry.
Sachdev believes that his coursework, industry experience, and wide range of skills have prepared him well for life as an innovator.
“Computer science is much deeper than just writing code,” Sachdev says. “It’s mathematics, it’s interaction with machines, it’s psychology involved, a lot of things under one umbrella, and for someone like me who likes to combine different disciplines; That’s perfect.”
