In a rapidly evolving world where technology continues to break barriers, a self-taught Bangladeshi developer, Waliul Islam Nohan, is making waves with his innovative spirit and determination. The creator of Bangladesh’s first AI-powered English learning app, English Mate, Nohan’s journey is nothing short of an inspiring tale of resilience, ambition and a drive to solve real world problems through technology.
A humble beginning
“I prefer to call myself a self-taught software developer,” Nohan began, reflecting on his journey that started in 2018. His early career as a digital marketer soon evolved into running an ad agency for restaurants. While serving his clients, Nohan identified a gap in software solutions, which eventually led him to transition into software development.
His academic journey wasn’t conventional. “I wasn’t a bright student, but I tried,” he shared, recalling his school days at Ideal School and College. Despite societal pressure to rely on institutional success, he made a pledge: “I will prove one day that a great institution won’t guarantee success, you have to work on your own.”
His decision to join Daffodil instead of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST), where he was also accepted, reflected his belief in prioritising skills over institutional pride. “I prefer skill in my domain more than institutional pride,” he explained.
With that mindset, Nohan pursued college at Dhaka Imperial College. Nohan shared two significant milestones from his journey: winning first prize at the National Science Olympiad during his time at Dhaka Imperial College and earning recognition as the 2nd runner-up in the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2022.
Despite lacking formal training in software development, Nohan embraced the challenge and began teaching himself coding. The Covid-19 pandemic proved to be an important period in Nohan’s journey. He dedicated himself to mastering full development during the lockdown.
“People around me made it clear that coding and programming were so difficult,” he said, “but I started it eventually and it didn’t disappoint me at all.” This period of intense self-learning allowed him to address software delivery challenges he faced during his agency days and laid the foundation for his future successes.
Building a community of innovators
By 2023, Nohan had created the “Developer’s Community,” a group of 100 developers from Daffodil International University.
Within the Developer’s Community, Nohan not only trained beginners but also spearheaded the creation of over 12 innovative tools. Among these were Justice AI, a Doctime-type app that offers micro-consultations with lawyers and an AI tool to help users understand their legal rights; Monitor.ai, an ed-tech solution enabling teachers to gauge student attentiveness during online classes; Smart Guard, a plugin for CCTV cameras designed to alert authorities in real-time during emergencies, aiming to prevent crimes rather than just record them.
“These projects were designed to solve real problems in our country,” Nohan explained. However, due to funding limitations, many of these promising solutions could not be taken forward.
Rising to leadership roles
The year 2024 marked a turning point in Nohan’s journey. Despite not holding a graduate degree, he cracked the “Project Manager” interview, a role typically requiring 7-10 years of experience. Nohan joined Envobyte as an AI Tech Lead.
“I was lucky that, after an interview, companies felt I was worthy of this kind of responsibility,” he said. At Envobyte, he led an AI team and successfully shipped a product.
During this time, he also founded his own clothing brand, Caspian Life and continued to guide the Developer’s Community. The group went on to win three trophies at the NASA Space App Challenge.
Additionally, Nohan launched the Golden Vault, a platform where developers learn skills that aren’t typically covered in paid courses or institutes. “We even organised our own tech fest,” he said proudly.
The birth of English Mate
One of the most significant achievements of 2024 was the development of English Mate, an AI-powered English learning app. The idea originated from the Daffodil University’s English department head Dr Ehatasham Ul Hoque Eiten, while Dr Imran Mahmud, the head of Department of Software Engineering, recommended Nohan for the task.
“Foreign clients judge us based on our English skills and don’t pay as much as they do to Indian freelancers,” Nohan explained. The app’s primary goal is to minimise the effort required to learn English by providing personalised suggestions for improvement in speaking, writing and listening.
“We use AI to detect the user’s anomaly and trained our model on our data instead of relying on third party support,” he explained.
Since its inception, English Mate has received positive feedback from users, who appreciate its effectiveness and affordability. Nohan’s commitment to refining the app’s features ensures its continued evolution to meet user needs.
Inspiring the next generation of developers
Nohan’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience and belief in himself. For aspiring developers and entrepreneurs, his advice is clear: “If you want, you can start from anywhere; it doesn’t matter where you belong.”
He encourages developers to focus on quality work, learn to present themselves effectively and surround themselves with motivated, positive individuals.
Aside from “Developer’s Community”, to nurture talent, Nohan also founded DIU’s “Golden Vault”, a community that teaches developers and nondevelopers how to secure remote tech jobs, start entrepreneurial ventures, and solve real-world problems.
“Today’s open-source world allows people to be more global and competitive,” he said. “There’s no need to go abroad to learn and make an impact.”
Looking ahead
Currently, Nohan is working on new projects, including an agentic AI system for task automation and a transparency tool for government processes. His long-term goals remain deeply rooted in his mission to create impactful, problem-solving technologies.
“My vision is to create significant impact in people’s lives through tech,” he stated adding, “I want to prove that skill matters more than anything.”
For Nohan, the journey is far from over. His determination and innovative mindset continue to inspire the next generation of developers in Bangladesh. He leaves us with a powerful reminder: “Evolution doesn’t come to those who don’t seek change. Strength can come in many forms; there’s no reason to bully. The revolution will come in the future.”
Waliul Islam Nohan’s story is not just about personal success but a call to action for a nation ready to redefine its potential through technology. With trailblazers like him, the future of Bangladesh looks brighter than ever.