Alex Lai Entrepreneur • Product Designer • Full-Stack Developer
Building user-first digital products that drive value and scale
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About Me
Builder. Educator. Technical Leader.
I'm Alex Lai, a builder who turns product ideas into functional, customer-ready platforms by leveraging skills across design, development, and startup operations.
From writing my first lines of code for competitive robots to architecting full-stack marketplaces, I bring a pragmatic, execution-first approach to everything I do—from initial wireframes to launch and iteration.
My Journey
A multifaceted path through technology, education, and entrepreneurship
Robotics Engineer
Started in competitive robotics, building autonomous systems and computer vision solutions for FIRST Robotics competitions.
Full-Stack Developer
Mastered the complete development stack—from React Native mobile apps to Next.js web platforms, with backends spanning Supabase to Express.
Technical Educator
Taught programming and STEM concepts to students of all levels, developing curriculum and mentoring the next generation of builders.
Startup Builder
Co-founded and led technical development for multiple ventures, turning ideas into customer-ready platforms from ground zero.
What Drives Me
Design Thinking
Creating intuitive experiences that simplify complex problems
Rapid Execution
Moving fast from concept to production without sacrificing quality
Knowledge Sharing
Empowering others through mentorship and education
Work Experience
CTO and Co-founder
Plandid
Leading technical development and innovation for a cutting-edge platform. Responsible for architecting scalable solutions, managing engineering teams, and driving the technical vision from concept to production.
Highlights:
- Architecting and developing core platform infrastructure using modern tech stack
- Leading technical team and establishing engineering best practices
- Driving product vision and technical strategy in alignment with business goals
- Implementing CI/CD pipelines and development workflows
- Building scalable microservices architecture and cloud infrastructure
Software Consultant
Love Poets
Part-time software consultant building innovative platforms and providing IT support. Developed the Love Poets Partnerships platform enabling photographers to seamlessly book video services across the business.
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Co-founder
Refera Trade
Front-End & Marketing Lead for innovative trade referral platform connecting businesses with quality trade professionals. Spearheaded digital presence and user experience design.
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Technical Lead
Wired
Technical leadership for digital initiatives, overseeing full-stack development projects and team coordination. Drove modernization of web infrastructure and implementation of new features.
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Instructor
STEM Education Roles
Teaching programming, robotics, and STEM concepts to students of various age groups and skill levels. Created engaging curriculum and hands-on learning experiences that fostered technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
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Software Lead
FIRST Robotics Competition
Led software development for competitive robotics team, designing and implementing autonomous and teleoperated control systems. Coordinated with cross-functional teams to deliver winning robot solutions.
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Projects
A showcase of my work spanning full-stack development, mobile applications, consulting, and robotics engineering.
Love Poets Partnerships
Software Consultant at Love Poets, where I built the Love Poets Partnerships platform enabling photographers to seamlessly book video services, while providing ongoing IT support across the business. Integrated Resend API for automated email communications.
Tech Stack
Plandid
Full-stack curated marketplace connecting couples with wedding photographers and videographers. Features content-led UX designed for wedding planning novices, with real-time availability and booking management.
Tech Stack
Wired MonStar
Modern full-stack web application built with a robust architecture featuring Next.js frontend, MongoDB database, and Express.js backend for scalable and efficient data management.
Tech Stack
Refera Trade
Professional networking platform connecting licensed trade professionals with customers seeking quality referrals for construction and home improvement projects. Features real-time matching and project management capabilities.
Tech Stack
FIRST Robotics
Advanced robot control systems with integrated computer vision for autonomous navigation and object detection. Developed for competitive FIRST Robotics challenges, featuring precise motor control and real-time sensor processing.
Tech Stack
Trashify
High school final year project: iOS application that uses machine learning to classify different types of trash and recyclables. Built with a custom-trained ML model from a self-curated dataset, helping users make informed recycling decisions.
Tech Stack
Beyond Tech
When I'm not building digital products, you'll find me on the badminton court.
Victorian State Team (2021-2024)
Proud member of the Victorian State Badminton Team, representing at national tournaments and championships.
- Competing in singles and doubles categories
- Training with elite coaches and athletes
- Developing mental toughness and strategic thinking
Monash University Representation (2024)
Representing Monash University at the Australian University Games, competing against top university players from around the country. Balancing academic excellence with sporting achievements has been a rewarding challenge that has taught me valuable lessons in time management, teamwork, and leadership.
Certifications & Education
Monash University
2024-Present
Currently studying Bachelor of Information Technology, focusing on software development, user experience design, and emerging technologies.
Google Machine Learning TensorFlow Certification
2020-2023
Advanced certification in TensorFlow, covering deep learning fundamentals, model deployment, and practical ML applications for production environments.
Monash Generator Programs
2024
Participated in Monash University's startup accelerator program, receiving mentorship and resources to develop entrepreneurial skills and business acumen while building real-world products.
Content Creation
2022-2023
Produced educational tech content on YouTube, sharing insights on web development, design principles, and startup journey experiences. Created tutorials and behind-the-scenes looks at project development.
Let's Connect
Have a project in mind or want to chat about design, development, or startups? I'd love to hear from you.
Connect With Me
Let's build something meaningful together. Reach out through any of these channels.
I'm always open to discussing new projects, creative ideas, or opportunities to be part of your vision.