GT Visa Digital Tech

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Dear Platform Members

This point needs your attention, given your vast experience. GT promise route looks for emerging leaders. The point with my profile is that I have spent most of my time building, and I have had no time to apply for awards, get media traction, or network.

  • List item I 2023 I graduated in a BS with CS from Pakistan. During BS I was the only undergrad student as part of a core AI research center. I also published peer-reviewed conference papers. During BS I secured a fully funded PhD at King’s College London (World 40 ranked university), and part of funding came from an award where I was the only candidate to get it after rigorous selection process.
  • Alongside Kings, I was offered an AI consultant role from a firm based in US. I designed their solutions, solved problems, and led their engineering teams including hardware and software. After 1 year, I left PhD and became CTO of that AI firm.
  • Currently we have two groundbreaking patents granted with PCT protection, two more filed. The approved ones are related to foundational AI tech and rest two are in medical devices and data center infra.
  • I have also reveiwed NeurIPS papers as ethics reviewer for three consecutive years. I have spoked as a lightening round speaker at a stanford conference.
  • I have founded a company, a fintech one named StockLens, registered in UK. The product is live, I have one paying customer (Stripe receipt), and product producing millions of financial artifacts.

My point is that all our products linked to patents are in production phase, and I cant show impact until they are out and it takes time. The StockLens that I built has taken a hell lot of time and engineering effort.

I am so buried in actual work that I can not have any time to estabilish external recognition. How can we as emerging talent solve this issue. Tech nation demands significant proof of external validation, while it is not possible until the products are commerically out since we have to mantain the confidentiality.

How can I solve this issue in my application?

Thanks. You can ask questions I have not been that clear.

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You have more external recognition than you realise. The NeurIPS reviewing is exactly what the Official Guide describes as “a significant expert role participating on panels, or individually, assessing the work of others in the same field.” That’s MC evidence, and the conference speaking supports it.

The granted patents work for OC1.

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Thanks, Akash, for the clarification. I think then it’s the packaging of evidence and projection of narrative that I would need to work on.

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Hi @Osama_Mustafa

It’s a good thing you didn’t apply for awards. Most awards get rejected because their selection and acceptance criteria are open to anyone, and many of them are not relevant. Awards like Best Product Manager of the Year are not useful for a Tech Nation application if the applicant cannot show evidence of what they actually did. Awards are simply recognition elements of the work someone has already done.

Although your 2023 BS and CS are still within the 5 year window, evidence from research carried out during a Master’s or undergraduate degree is not enough to show that you are a promise or an established leader in the sector. Papers published during a BS (Bachelor of Science) may be dismissed, and this is exactly how Tech Nation puts it.

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You said "During BS I secured a fully funded PhD at King’s College London.”

If BS means Bachelor of Science, how were you able to secure a PhD? The academic progression is BSc - MSc - PhD. Even with a distinction, some institutions may allow progression to an MPhil, but not straight to a PhD. You need to correct this narrative. Funding that came from an award can be okay, but you must show evidence of a rigorous selection process, acceptance, and funding you got.

Your AI Consultant role may be dismissed. AI Expert can be acceptable, but simply being employed in any role is not evidence by itself. Your remuneration, shares, and stock options can complement your case, but you still need to show substantial contribution outside work. You described your role as quoted below

I designed their solutions, solved problems, and led their engineering teams including hardware and software. After 1 year, I left PhD and became CTO of that AI firm.

You see, beyond describing what you did, you must show evidence of how you led for MC, how you innovated for OC1, or how you contributed for OC3.

Groundbreaking patents are fine, but if they belong to the company and you cannot show clear ownership or involvement, they may be dismissed. Also, the patent must be granted, and it should include a verifiable ID on Google Patents.

Yes, NeurIPS is one of the top 3 most prestigious AI/ML conferences in the world. This can work for MC, but you need to show the selection criteria and the acceptance letter or email. Also mention the papers you reviewed and their listing on an external platform, such as the journal’s portal, with your name shown as a peer reviewer.

Simply founding a company is not evidence. You must show how you have been leading the company toward commercial success, partnerships, or product creation.

Regarding your point:

My point is that all our products linked to patents are in the production phase, and I can’t show impact until they are out, and it takes time. The StockLens that I built has taken a hell lot of time and engineering effort.

The primary evidence element for a patent is not impact. It is the patent being granted with a verifiable ID on Google Patents. Impact is complementary evidence that shows how the innovation is affecting lives, the industry, or the market.

On the your question below

I am so buried in actual work that I cannot have any time to establish external recognition. How can we as emerging talent solve this issue? Tech Nation demands significant proof of external validation, while it is not possible until the products are commercially out since we have to maintain confidentiality.

External recognition does not have to come from the product you are building. You need to review your narrative and career history to identify the evidence that aligns with your application story and the Tech Nation guidance. Then give yourself time and plan how to achieve them. 3 to 6 months can be okay.

All the best.

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Hi Raphael

It’s always good to see such an extensive reply. You and Akash literally are like the stars of this platform.

PhD after a BS is completely doable and allowed, however is an exception. Mine was a 3 year PhD clearly stated in the docs. Yes I have attached docs saying that I have been the top candidate awarded this. PhD level RQF is mentioned in official CAS doc.

Second, although I have not used publications in my evidence pack, they were not part of my undergrad thesis. One was with my voluntary work with my professor which I initiated, and other where I was the only undergraduate student to be part of a research center in AI. Have attached experience letter and evidence in MC.

I have included invitation emails, three of them, but didnt include papers evidence due to the shortage of length.

I have shown in detail the product creation internals, and its depth across the technical domain.

AI Consultant thing is tricky, as it was not a conventional consultancy role, but later I got promoted to CTO. I leading the products is clearly mentioned in the recommendation letter from the CEO as one of the three letters. But I am not sure if they will cross reference with that letter.

Lets see what the result comes, and will then plan accordingly.

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Thanks for the clarification.

On the PhD after BS, yes, it is possible, as I said in the case of Mphil but Tech Nation will not assume the exception. They will only go by what is clearly evidenced. So your documents must explicitly show the competitive selection and the fact that you were admitted directly. If that clarity is missing, the assessor may treat it as an academic progression gap.

Regarding the publications, even if they were not part of your undergraduate thesis, Tech Nation from feedback I have seen, still evaluates them based on when they were published and, if it was the same time you were a student, it might be flagged. Also they would also check relevance and impact to the sector. Voluntary research is fine, but it must still show why it matters and how it positions you as a promise or leader. If you wont include them due to space, You can share the links to where they were published, though the are not mandated to visit links.

On the AI Consultant - CTO progression, the assessor may not cross reference anything unless the evidence is explicitly connected. Your recommendation letter can be helpful, but not sufficient, you still need to show how you led, what you delivered, and what the measurable outcome was. Roles transitioning alone are not evidence.

All the best.