Vess

Founder & AI Product Lead

Jan 2025 - Present • 1 yr 4 mos

Built and launched Etala, a regional ecommerce marketplace that serves a specific geographic area. The platform uses AI powered navigation to personalize product discovery, search rankings, and category suggestions in real time. I led the end to end development from concept to deployment, including frontend, backend, and AI model integration. Key challenges included integrating local payment gateways and optimizing for users with inconsistent internet connectivity. I solved this by implementing a lightweight AI layer that precomputes navigation paths and serves cached recommendations offline. The result was a 40 percent increase in add to cart rates and a 25 percent reduction in bounce rate within three months. I also managed a small remote team of two developers and one UX designer. This experience taught me how to balance rapid iteration with scalable architecture in a startup environment.

AI Health Bot Developer

Dec 2025 - Apr 2026 • 4 mos

Developed an AI powered health support bot that operates entirely within WhatsApp. The bot provides users with reliable health information, symptom checking guidance, medication reminders, and connects users to local clinics when needed. I integrated a large language model with a medical knowledge base, ensuring responses are accurate and safe. A major challenge was handling sensitive health data while maintaining privacy. I implemented end to end encryption compliance and designed an anonymous user session system. The bot processes natural language queries from WhatsApp users and responds with empathetic, helpful answers. It also supports Swahili and English for the target region. Over four months, the bot served more than 5000 active users with a 92 percent satisfaction rating. I worked closely with two local health professionals to validate the medical content. This project showed me how AI can make healthcare support accessible through a platform users already trust.

Lead Developer & Creative Technologist

Mar 2025 - Feb 2026 • 11 mos

Designed and built a fan interactive app based on the Rick and Morty universe. The app lets users explore characters, episodes, and locations with an animated, portal hopping interface. I integrated AI generated character dialogue that mimics the show's tone, allowing users to have conversations with Rick, Morty, and other characters. The app also includes a multiverse timeline generator where users can create alternate storylines. A key challenge was balancing humor and interactivity while keeping the AI responses in character. I fine tuned a large language model on episode scripts and character quotes to achieve authentic voice. The app runs on web and mobile, with smooth animations and sound effects inspired by the show. Early beta users reported high engagement, with average session times of 15 minutes. This project showcases my ability to merge pop culture with cutting edge AI for fun, interactive experiences.