BrandonOgola
Brandon Ogola

About Me

I'm a Software Engineer based in Nairobi, Kenya, with roots in East Africa's growing tech ecosystem. I started my career building solutions for local startups and organisations — learning early that great software must be both technically sound and contextually relevant to the people it serves.

That foundation shaped how I approach engineering today. I now specialise in enterprise backend systems, cloud-native SaaS, and full-stack TypeScript applications — building production-grade software using .NET, C#, Azure, and React with a focus on scalable architecture and measurable business outcomes.

Currently architecting SmartSchedule Healthcare, an AI-powered appointment scheduling SaaS on .NET 10 and Azure targeting a $150B healthcare market — bringing the same problem-solving mindset I developed in East Africa to enterprise-grade global challenges.

Professional Journey

I started my career building solutions for local startups and organisations in East Africa, learning early that great software must be both technically sound and contextually relevant to the people it serves. This foundation shaped how I approach engineering today.

I now specialise in enterprise backend systems, cloud-native SaaS, and full-stack TypeScript applications — building production-grade software using .NET, C#, Azure, and React with a focus on scalable architecture and measurable business outcomes.

Currently architecting SmartSchedule Healthcare, an AI-powered appointment scheduling SaaS on .NET 10 and Azure targeting a $150B healthcare market. This project brings together enterprise-grade architecture with AI/ML integration, HIPAA-compliant security, and bidirectional EHR integration.

I started building software to solve problems I saw around me in East Africa. That instinct — to build things that actually matter to real people — is what drives every technical decision I make today, whether I'm designing a distributed system or a healthcare SaaS architecture.

Education & Training

Formal Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University of Nairobi2021 - 2025

Top 15% graduate. Coursework: Data Structures & Algorithms, Software Engineering, Database Management, Distributed Systems, Cloud Computing.

Specialized Training

AWS Certified Solutions Architect

Amazon Web Services2022

Designing distributed systems on AWS with emphasis on high availability, scalability, and cost optimisation for web applications.

ALX Software Engineering Program

ALX Africa2023 - 2024

Top 15% graduate. Intensive full-stack program. Built 15+ projects covering Python, C, system design, and software architecture. 1,200+ hours of hands-on work.

Software Development Bootcamp

Moringa SchoolJune 2022 - December 2022

Top 15% graduate. 24-week full-stack program covering JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Node.js, and Python.

Professional Experience

Software Engineer

Cognativ Technology Limited • November 2024 - January 2026 • Nairobi

  • Built scalable .NET Core APIs and Blazor Server components for SmartSaaS™ enterprise cloud platform
  • Reduced API response times by 35% via query optimisation and Entity Framework Core migrations
  • Achieved 95% bug-free deployment rate across agile sprints
  • Maintained 80% code coverage through unit and integration testing

Operations Intern

Alliance Bioversity CIAT • November 2024 - April 2025 • Nairobi

  • Reduced operational processing time by 20% with Python/Flask automation
  • Built data processing tools serving a cross-functional team of 12
  • Delivered RESTful APIs for internal agricultural research tools

Software Developer Intern

REAL BIZ Digital • June 2023 - September 2023 • Remote

  • Increased user engagement by 25% via React/TypeScript web apps
  • Reduced data processing time by 30% through API optimisation
  • Delivered production features across 3 client projects in agile sprints
Self-Learning

Beyond formal education, I maintain a rigorous self-learning regimen. I regularly complete online courses from platforms like Udemy, Frontend Masters, and Egghead.io to stay current with emerging technologies and best practices. Some of the recent areas I've focused on include:

  • Advanced .NET patterns: CQRS, Clean Architecture, Event Sourcing
  • Azure cloud services: Service Bus, Key Vault, Cosmos DB, OpenAI
  • AI/ML integration: Azure OpenAI GPT-4o, ML.NET predictive models
  • HIPAA-compliant and zero-trust security architecture patterns
  • Modern Authentication Patterns
  • Mobile-First Responsive Design

Technical Stack

Technologies I work with regularly, organized by experience level: Expert, Proficient, and Familiar.

Core Languages

C# / .NET
Expert
TypeScript
Proficient
Python
Proficient

Frontend

React
Proficient
Blazor
Proficient
Next.js
Proficient

Backend

ASP.NET Core
Expert
Node.js
Proficient
Express
Proficient

Database

SQL Server
Expert
PostgreSQL
Proficient
MongoDB
Proficient
Redis
Familiar

Cloud/DevOps

Azure
Proficient
AWS
Proficient
Docker
Proficient
Kubernetes
Familiar

Tools

Terraform
Familiar
GitHub Actions
Proficient
Git
Expert

Beyond Coding

Being part of Nairobi's tech community is something I take seriously. East Africa has an extraordinary generation of developers coming up, and I want to play an active role in that growth.

Community Involvement

  • 🧑‍🏫Peer mentor during ALX Software Engineering cohort — supporting fellow engineers through system design and algorithm challenges
  • 🤝Member of @Krypto-Hashers-Community on GitHub — collaborating on blockchain and Web3 exploration projects
  • 📝Committed to publishing technical blog posts on .NET, Blazor, Azure, and AI/ML in 2026 to contribute to the ecosystem
  • 🎯2026 goal: mentor 5+ junior developers in the Nairobi tech community and organise monthly coding sessions for aspiring engineers
  • 🌍Open source contributor with 2,535 GitHub contributions in the last year across enterprise and personal projects

Interests & Hobbies

  • Reading tech blogs and books on software architecture, .NET patterns, and cloud-native design
  • Exploring Nairobi's tech community through meetups and knowledge-sharing sessions
  • Building side projects to experiment with new technologies and frameworks
  • Contributing to open-source projects that focus on emerging market solutions

Tech Meetups

Side Projects

Community

Innovation

Professional Growth

I'm constantly evolving as a developer, seeking out new challenges and learning opportunities. Here's what I'm currently focused on in my professional journey:

Currently Building

SmartSchedule Healthcare — Enterprise AI Scheduling SaaS

.NET 10 + Azure + ML.NET | MVP target: Q2 2026

Addressing a $150B market with AI-powered no-show prediction (85% accuracy target), HIPAA-compliant architecture, and bidirectional EHR integration with Epic, Cerner, and Athena.

Currently Learning

  • Advanced .NET patterns: CQRS, Clean Architecture, Event Sourcing

  • Azure cloud services: Service Bus, Key Vault, Cosmos DB, OpenAI

  • AI/ML integration: Azure OpenAI GPT-4o, ML.NET predictive models

  • HIPAA-compliant and zero-trust security architecture patterns

Future Aspirations

  • Leading development teams on impactful enterprise projects

  • Contributing to East Africa's tech ecosystem through mentorship and knowledge sharing

  • Building scalable SaaS products that solve real-world problems for global markets

My Development Philosophy

"I started building software to solve problems I saw around me in East Africa. That instinct — to build things that actually matter to real people — is what drives every technical decision I make today, whether I'm designing a distributed system or a healthcare SaaS architecture."

Ready to collaborate?

I'm currently available for new projects and collaborations. Whether you're looking for a full-stack developer to join your team or need help with a specific project, I'd love to hear from you.

Available for freelance work
Open to full-time opportunities