Jaffar Keikei

jaffar keikei

jaffar keikei is passionate about building secure and scalable solutions

"it isn't that we dream too wild a dream: the trouble is we do not make it seem sufficiently unlikely; for the most we can think up is a domestic ghost." — Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire

I build systems that live at the intersection of technology, art, and philosophy. My work reflects a love of exploration, a habit of questioning boundaries, and a belief that limitations are often just unasked questions.

Experience

Cofounder

PontiFi Sep 2025 - Present · 2 mos
  • Building infrastructure to transform B2B trade receivables into liquid, on-chain assets on Base L2
  • Architecting a compliant exchange where invoices become instant liquidity for sellers (USDC in <48 hours) and yield-generating assets for investors

Community Resource Specialist, Operations

University of Toronto Students' Union Feb 2025 - May 2025 · 4 mos
  • Streamlined operations and work processes while maintaining strict health and safety compliance
  • Provided support and crisis intervention to members and guests

Software Engineering Intern

Google Aug 2024 - Nov 2024 · 4 mos
  • Improved the post-classification framework to better test incoming traffic, boosting system accuracy
  • Integrated the classification client into a mock testing environment, improving maintainability
  • Optimized workflows to significantly reduce classification time and speed up delivery

Volunteer Work

Local Committee Member

UTSU - New College · World University Service of Canada (WUSC - EUMC) Sep 2022 - Apr 2025 · 2 yrs 8 mos
  • Worked with a small team to manage the Student Refugee Program at UofT, helping resettled students transition smoothly to campus life
  • Led three key initiatives to create tailored programs for refugee students at New College, improving integration and inclusivity

House Representative - Crawford

New College Student Council, University of Toronto Sep 2023 - Apr 2024 · 8 mos
  • Acted as the main link between residents and administration, advocating for student needs and resolving community concerns
  • Organized social events and athletic activities to build community and improve the residence experience

Information Communication Technology Assistant

Nairobi, Kenya May 2019 - Dec 2019 · 8 mos
  • Verified and analyzed academic data for over 2,000 students, generating reports that highlighted achievement trends and improved record accuracy
  • Tracked student progress and program outcomes using internal tools, ensuring accurate funding and performance evaluation

Projects

MYC

YC Application Roasting Platform

Get your YC application roasted in 10-minute sessions. Connect with YC alumni and peers for direct, honest feedback without DMs. Fast feedback platform connecting founders with experienced reviewers for brutal truth about their applications.

Next.js TypeScript Google Meet
View Code Live Demo

ChessLink Smart Board

IoT Chess Training System

64 Hall-effect sensors + Arduino MCU streaming moves via WebSocket. RGB LED guidance with automated PGN recording, boosting beginner win-rate 25% in controlled tests.

Arduino WebSocket Hardware
View Code Live Demo

Q

Student Advisor Queue Management System

Smart queue system that automatically assigns students to available advisors based on workload, provides real-time wait time estimates, and sends room number notifications to streamline the advising process.

TypeScript React Tailwind CSS
View Code Live Demo

Hackathons

QED

Winner · Anthropic x UofT

Multi-agent study coach powered by Claude that trains students to think through hard problems step-by-step. Features Socratic coaching for guided problem solving, TA-style solution critique, and AI-powered study planners. Uses specialized Claude agents for decomposition, coaching, verification, and planning.

Claude AI TypeScript Manim
View Code Live Demo

iGuard

Y Combinator x Locus x Coinbase x Anthropic x OpenAI x Replit x Stripe x Google x Visa

API gateway and authentication platform for AI agents. Built on Replit with OIDC authentication, PostgreSQL database, and planned integrations for cryptocurrency micropayments via Coinbase CDP and programmable wallet controls via Locus. Designed with modern SaaS aesthetics inspired by Stripe and Vercel.

Replit React X-402
View Code

PesaFi

Y Combinator x Emergent x Amazon x Anthropic

AI-powered Web3 Venmo for Africa. Send money across borders instantly, pay at any store with your phone, and access the global economy without a bank account. Built on Base L2 with USDC stablecoins and AI-powered financial intelligence for smart money management.

Web3 Base L2 USDC AI
Live Demo

Top Books

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1984: A powerful reminder of the importance of truth, freedom, and individual thought.
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Hackers and Painters: It shaped my understanding of creativity, technology, and the intersection of art and code.
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Atomic Habits: This book defines the operating system of my life.
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Applied Economics: It provides the framework for how I understand the external world.
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The ONE Thing: I rely on its principles to maintain ruthless focus.
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The Way of the Superior Man: This guide helped me clarify and pursue my deeper purpose.
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The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: It taught me the fundamental value of leverage and accountability.

Cross-Country

Drove from Pacific to Atlantic ... 6 days, 15 states, 4000+ miles