Meet SAIF BILLAH
Whether it was working on app development for Android, working for a virtual reality startup over the summer, or simply playing with Lego MindStorms as a child, Saif Billah has always been interested in pursuing his passions and pushing the limits of what he could create. Raised in Queens, New York, Saif attended Bronx High School of Science, a secondary school specialized in science. Bronx High School of Science offered Saif the chance to take three years worth of programming classes, which developed his interest in computer engineering from an early age. At the same time, he also grew an interest in entrepreneurship through seeing his father start and grow a small practice throughout his childhood. Now, as a Computer Engineering sophomore here at Northeastern, he has wanted to continue pursuing these same passions for engineering and entrepreneurship by being a part of the greater entrepreneurial community at Northeastern, specifically through his involvement in Generate.
Based on his prior experience, Saif knew he wanted to further develop his skill set through real hands on projects and he knew he enjoyed a startup work environment. As an engineering-based organization committed to helping entrepreneurs develop their products, Generate offered him both of these opportunities. Throughout this semester, Saif’s experience and knowledge have been put to the test as he has worked on the Dash Electric team. With the goal to have a fully functionable product by the end of the semester, Saif and the Dash Electric team have been working vigorously to develop their big idea, a custom controller for a user-friendly motorized longboard. “Easier said than done”, as Saif puts it. The project has proven more difficult than expected, and at times, can be stressful. However, Saif believes he has already developed so much in just a few short months working on this project. As Saif describes, communication, experimenting, and teamwork are essential to getting momentum. The team must work closely with its clients to converse over goals for each test trials, evaluate performances, make adjustments where necessary, and ultimately see the process through until it is a functioning product.
As he reflected on his experience throughout the semester thus far, Saif was immensely grateful and excited for the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people from a variety of disciplines who all share his same interests in engineering and entrepreneurship. He has already seen many of the concepts learned in class be put into practice throughout his time working on Dash Electric; however, he also has already been a part of variants someone can only gain through real world experience. When you actually work on a project, you begin to understand how complex and long the developmental process really is. “Things are not as easy as they seem.” Unlike in class where there is a set protocol to getting the assignment done, the Dash Electric team must start from scratch, test hypotheses, and adjust how they see fit with little to no clear cut path to success. Furthermore, Saif described other elements that come into play when working on a real project. As a consumer product, rather than focusing on what will satisfy a teacher or a rubric, the team must consider other aspects of the product that make it desirable to a consumer. In addition, unlike in a class assignment, the real world has limitations. A design is only good if it can be manufactured, which has proven to be difficult at times. These are some of the insights that Saif describes as invaluable. It has offered him a different perspective in the product development process that one can only gain from experience. “I really do have a newly founded appreciation for how difficult it really is, but also how exciting it is to be a part of it.” With many ambitions of his own, Saif is confident his experience with Generate will prepare him for his future endeavors, and he is looking forward to embarking on his own entrepreneurial aspirations.
