Meet Our Coaches & Judges
Discover the distinguished professionals who will guide and judge our competition.
Judges
Narendra Gowda
Senior Software Engineering Manager - 2, Walmart
Narendra, with over 15 years of experience in the field, currently serves as a Senior Engineering Manager and Architect, having led engineering teams at companies like Walmart, Sam’s Club, and T-Mobile. As an Architect and Engineering Manager with over 15 years of experience, he has consistently tackled complex challenges by blending technical expertise with strategic leadership. Whether leading teams at organizations like Walmart, Sam's Club, and T-Mobile, or driving innovation in AI-based solutions, he has always approached problems with a mindset of both creativity and precision. He has a track record of architecting large-scale, distributed systems and designing scalable, efficient solutions that meet evolving business needs. Through fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, he has empowered his teams to think beyond traditional methods, leveraging cutting-edge technology to innovate, optimize processes, and solve intricate problems. By aligning technical innovation with business goals, he has delivered solutions that drive impact and efficiency across the board. His YouTube channel, with over 150,000 subscribers, has become a vital resource for software engineers seeking to improve their technical knowledge, architecture skills, and overall professional growth. Through his engaging and well-structured content, he breaks down complex concepts around software systems, cloud engineering, and large-scale distributed systems, making them accessible to developers at all levels.
Vihar Manchala
Staff Software Engineer, Walmart
Vihar Manchala is a visionary software architect and digital transformation leader with over a decade of expertise in designing and delivering cutting-edge software solutions across data, retail, and travel industries. He specializes in architecting scalable, AI-driven software platforms that power global business operations, ensuring resilience, high availability, and seamless user experiences for millions worldwide. As an expert in AI-driven software development, Vihar pioneers innovative methodologies that accelerate time-to-market for business solutions, optimizing efficiency and performance. His deep technical acumen enables organizations to build intelligent, adaptable systems that drive digital transformation at scale. Beyond his architectural expertise, Vihar is an industry speaker at several technical conferences, serves as a judge for prestigious tech awards, and mentors the next generation of engineers. His contributions extend beyond enterprise solutions—he is deeply involved in shaping the future of software development through expert panels, community engagement, and fostering innovation within the tech ecosystem. Passionate about pushing technological boundaries, Vihar continues to influence the digital landscape by advocating for modern software engineering practices, AI adoption, and strategic digital transformation.
Aditya Mulik
Software Engineer, Walmart
Aditya Mulik is a Software Engineer at Walmart Global Tech, specializing in backend development and architectural design. He works on backend applications for the Stores, Associates & Platforms team, optimizing caching and database layers, and contributes to the API Gateway team by enhancing observability in federated GraphQL models. Additionally, he is involved in leveraging Generative AI for innovative solutions. His expertise in building scalable and efficient systems makes him a key contributor to technological advancements in his field.
Sai Krishnan Subramanian
Software Engineer, Walmart
Sai Krishnan Subramanian is a Software Engineer at Walmart Global Tech, specializing in architecting scalable distributed systems and cloud-native solutions. With 5+ years of experience at industry leaders like Walmart, Amazon, and Adobe, he specializes in building high-performance systems leveraging GraphQL for API orchestration, serverless architecture and event-driven systems, complemented by cutting-edge frameworks and tools to optimize enterprise workflows. His expertise spans in designing resilient systems for Fortune 500 enterprises, adapting to emerging technologies like generative AI and modern distributed frameworks. A graduate of UC Irvine with a Master’s in Computer Science, he blends technical depth with a passion for scalable software design.
Balvinder Banjardar
Director of Software Engineering, Walmart
Balvinder Singh Banjardar is the Director of Software Engineering at Walmart Global Tech. An experienced strategist in critical and high-performance core software platforms, Banjardar has nearly two decades of experience working with CMMI Level 5 companies and Fortune 500 clients, including Walmart Global Tech, Deloitte, Wipro, CGI, Aramco, and ADP. Banjardar specializes in software engineering, strategic planning, enterprise architecture, and digital transformation. With deep expertise in Java/JEE, cloud technologies, DevOps, and big data, he is passionate about leveraging technology to drive business innovation and scalability. Throughout his career, Banjardar has played key roles in leading engineering teams, full-stack development, effort estimation, and solution architecture. His ability to navigate ambiguity, mentor teams, and optimize development processes has earned him recognition in both technical and leadership capacities. He is known for his grit, client-focused approach, and talent for fostering high-performing teams. Banjardar holds a Master of Science in Software Systems Engineering from BITS Pilani and is a proud alumnus of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he pursued the Chief Digital Officer Program - Leading Digital Transformation, earning him the Kellogg Northwestern Executive Scholar professional achievement . A strong advocate for AI, large scale development, technology leadership, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing, Banjardar is committed to driving scalable, innovative, and future-ready solutions.
Almando Cox
Founder & CEO, ResolveIT Limited | President, Jamaica Technology & Digital Alliance
Almando Cox is a technology leader and digital transformation expert with over 20 years of experience in managed IT services, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. As the Founder & CEO of ResolveIT Limited, he drives innovation and empowers businesses across the Caribbean with scalable IT solutions that enhance security, productivity, and operational efficiency. Beyond his role as a technology solutions expert, Almando is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, mentorship, and youth development in tech. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, a trusted advisor to startups, and a judge for innovation-driven competitions, including the eGov Hackathon, Microsoft Hackathon, and MIIC Roadshows. His commitment to fostering digital growth and shaping the future of technology makes him a key contributor to the tech ecosystem.
Matthew Stone
Founder, Jamaica Artificial Intelligence Association
Matthew Stone is a visionary leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with a deep passion for leveraging technology to drive innovation and change. Currently pursuing his PhD in Artificial Intelligence at the prestigious University of the West Indies, Matthew's research focuses on cutting-edge AI applications in various industries. Matthew is also the founder of the Jamaica Artificial Intelligence Association, a groundbreaking organization that brings together professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts to promote the advancement of AI in Jamaica and beyond. As the CEO of Stone Technologies Limited, a pioneering technology company, Matthew has been at the forefront of developing automated drone technology for the agricultural sector, revolutionizing the way farming is done and making a positive impact on food production. With his keen entrepreneurial spirit, Matthew has also been instrumental in putting together Jamaica's first-ever drone light show for the country's 60th independence celebration, showcasing the innovative potential of drones in creative and artistic displays. Matthew Stone's relentless pursuit of excellence in the field of AI, combined with his forward-thinking approach to technology and business, has earned him recognition as a visionary leader in the industry. His work is driving the adoption of advanced technologies and creating positive impacts on industries and communities, positioning him as a trailblazer in the field of AI and automation.
Coaches
Celu Ramaswamy
CEO, Blockgenic
Celu Ramaswamy is a co-founder of Focus Investments, a digital asset fund, and an early backer of more than 40 blockchain protocols and companies. With a diverse background that includes over a decade in Hollywood working on Oscar‑nominated films, Celu is also a published author and regular speaker at international conferences on emerging technologies. His extensive experience as an investor in over 100 companies and his passion for exploring future innovations mark him as a forward‑thinking industry leader.
Anubis Watal
Platform Lead — Lab & Open Source, Intellibus
Anubis Watal is a highly skilled software engineer serving as the Platform Lead for Lab & Open Source at Intellibus. He developed an AI-powered Point of Sale system tailored for hotels and restaurants, streamlining operations and enhancing customer experiences. Notably, Anubis created the world’s first AI auto-pilot Engineer—a breakthrough that outperformed human engineering capabilities by 34x, underscoring his reputation as an innovator in the tech industry.
Sid Sharma
Solutions Architect, Intellibus
Sid Sharma is a Solutions Architect with over 15 years of experience in cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and enterprise architecture. He designs, develops, and deploys scalable, secure, and efficient applications using technologies such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Java, and Python. Sid holds a Master’s degree in Machine Learning, Business Intelligence, and Analytics from Virginia Tech and has earned multiple certifications, including AWS Solutions Architect Associate, underscoring his commitment to delivering innovative, value‑driven solutions.
Vishnu Patel
Solutions Architect, Intellibus
Vishnu Patel is a data architect at Broadridge who has transformed the organization’s data landscape by leveraging tools like Snowflake Cloud, Airflow, AWS Glue, and AWS Lambda. He has successfully automated complex processes—integrating over 200 manual steps—and led the migration of legacy ETL applications to modern data platforms, significantly enhancing performance and operational efficiency. Vishnu’s advanced data integration techniques empower the Customer Analytics division to process vast datasets with exceptional speed and precision.
Roger Hu
Financial Services Industry Leader, Intellibus
Roger Hu is a digital transformation leader dedicated to reinventing financial services by driving large‑scale changes across client, advisor, agent, trader, and banker‑focused businesses. With a proven track record of building consultative front‑office organizations and leading initiatives in wealth, asset, and investment banking, he has held executive roles at firms such as Gartner, Accenture, IBM, and Morgan Stanley. Additionally, Roger has contributed to commercializing innovative solutions like IBM Watson for Wealth and actively advises fintech startups. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern and an A.B. in Economics from Amherst College.
Manish Modh
Founder & CEO, Andromeda 360
Manish Modh is the founder and CEO of Andromeda 360, Inc., an open and hybrid AI application delivery platform that supports enterprise AI adoption. With more than 20 years of experience spanning Big Data, Cloud, DevSecOps, AI/ML, and Edge Computing, he is passionate about empowering businesses with responsible and cost‑effective machine learning operations. Previously, Manish served as the Founder/CTO of Gravitant, Inc.—a cloud brokerage company acquired by IBM in 2015. He is also a recognized thought leader, having received multiple honors and awards, and he actively mentors and volunteers in various technology and creative community initiatives.
Join the Challenge
Real Problems. Real-Time Solutions. From Smart ER Queues to Surplus Crop Marketplaces, build something that fixes real-world inefficiencies.