Prem Thatikonda

Full-Stack & Automation Engineer

Open to work

Full-stack developer working across React, Next.js, Node.js, and AI tooling. I've built desktop apps, web platforms, and developer tools. I also freelance — mostly marketing sites and web builds for studios and small businesses. Currently exploring automations and end-to-end product development. I write about AI tools, UI trends, and developer workflows on LinkedIn.

Projects

Certificates Sender

Featured

A Python CLI tool that generates personalized PDF certificates with frosted-glass text overlays and bulk-emails them via Gmail SMTP. Features auto-shrinking fonts, resumable batch sending, dry-run mode, and a GUI helper for template calibration.

PythonPillowSMTPimg2pdfCLI

Breadcrumbs

A personal knowledge-tracking app to save links, mark them as explored, and capture learning notes. Exports curated learnings as Markdown — ready to paste into a blog editor.

Next.jsConvexTailwind CSSshadcn/ui

GhostQuery

A hotkey-triggered stealth AI assistant that runs hidden from OS app lists. Engineered Rust backend + Node proxy for low-latency querying of LLM APIs. Designed instant pop-up UI with secure background processes.

RustReactExpress.jsTauri

Themez

A real-time color palette visualizer for designers with preloaded palettes. Apply selected palettes to a full UI demo for fast visual decision-making. Built an intuitive, responsive interface for rapid design testing.

Next.jsTailwind CSSshadcn/ui

BigO

AI adaptive learning platform with personalised flashcards using spaced repetition engines. Increased daily active users by 35% with gamified engagement. Improved user retention by 50% through adaptive learning paths.

ReactMongoDBExpress.js

Zentry Clone

A recreation of Zentry's award-winning landing page — a Human-Agentic OS platform blending AI, gaming, and data. Replicated the motion-heavy, visually rich design with scroll-driven animations and cinematic transitions.

ReactGSAPTailwind CSS

DataPipe

A full-stack tool for importing CSV and Excel data into a local PostgreSQL database. Handles input sanitisation, empty field cleanup, duplicate detection, and schema validation before writing clean records to the database.

ReactNode.jsPostgreSQLExpress.js

Sain Studios

(freelance)

Marketing site for a video editing agency. Built a high-impact landing page with smooth animations, responsive layout, and optimised performance to showcase their portfolio and drive client conversions.

Next.jsTailwind CSS

Nine Studios

(freelance)

Agency website for a video production studio. Designed and developed a visually rich site with motion-heavy sections to highlight their editing work, reel showcases, and service offerings.

Next.jsTailwind CSS

Experiences

Full-Stack & AI Agent Developer Intern

Winvesta

May 2025 — Jun 2026

Investment App

Rebuilt Android & iOS app in React Native, supporting $20k+ lifetime revenue and $971+ MRR
Implemented an onboarding gating migration during a critical provider switch.

Global Collections App

Architected an AI agent-driven onboarding experience using Model Context Protocol (MCP), tool-calling, and Claude's Agent SDK to guide users through dynamic, multi-step verification journeys
Contributed to automating the withdrawal raising and approval process within cross-border payment flows processing $1.2M+ monthly withdrawals

Website & Ops

Built the Next.js + Sanity CMS website and CI pipelines (2-person team) powering 150k+ monthly traffic
Developed AI-driven automations for compliance, marketing (blogs), and social media (LinkedIn posts) reducing manual review effort by 40%+

React NativeNext.jsSanity CMSAI AutomationNode.jsMCPClaude Agent SDK

Marketing & SEO Intern

LetsUpgrade

Dec 2024 — Jan 2025

Improved search rankings and organic reach for LetsUpgrade's web properties via on-page SEO, content updates, and metadata optimisation.

SEOContent ManagementMarketing

UX Design Intern

LetsUpgrade

Jun 2024 — Jul 2024

Designed and researched UX for LetsUpgrade's official websites. Designs shipped on 2 live sites during my tenure.

FigmaUX ResearchWeb Design

Education

B.Tech CSE (Ongoing)

ITM Skills University, Kharghar

2023 — 2027

Pursuing a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science & Engineering.

HSC

St. Xavier's Autonomous College, Fort Mumbai

2021 — 2023

Higher Secondary Certificate from one of Mumbai's premier autonomous colleges.

ICSE

Bombay Scottish School, Mahim

2011 — 2021

Completed schooling with ICSE curriculum at Bombay Scottish School.

Certificates

View All

Achievements

ISTD Hackathon 2025(4th Place)

Participant

2025

Competed against 100+ teams and secured 4th place. Built a working prototype under a 24-hour time constraint with a focus on real-world problem solving.

Imagine Hackathon 2025(7th Place)

Participant

2025

Finished 7th out of 80+ competing teams. Developed a full-stack solution within the hackathon window, judged on innovation, execution, and presentation.

SummerHacks 2026

Lead Organiser

2026

24-hour startup hackathon hosted by the School of Future Tech at ITM Skills University, Kharghar — 400+ participants, 100+ teams, 5 real-world problem tracks (focus, personal finance, creator economy, AI automation, health intelligence). Led end-to-end organisation: track and problem statement design, sponsor and partner outreach, registration management, website (Next.js + Sanity CMS), branding, and automated certificate workflows for 450+ participants.

Mindsprint Hackathon

Co-Lead & Organiser

2024

Co-led the college hackathon club and organised Mindsprint end to end — handled registrations, coordinated event logistics, managed judging panels, and ensured smooth execution across all rounds.

Buildation 3.0

Co-Lead & Organiser

2024

Organised the third edition of Buildation as co-lead of the hackathon club. Managed participant onboarding, mentorship sessions, event timelines, and overall planning from start to finish.

Blogs

I built a RAG chatbot for this portfolio

Markdown chunks, pgvector retrieval, streaming an LL. Here's the stack and the one architectural decision worth defending.

4 min read2026-05-12

ragaifastapidocker-containerschatbot

How I Built Breadcrumbs (and Used It to Write About Building It)

I had hundreds of saved links and zero retention. So I built a tool that turns reading into a loop : save, explore, learn, export. Then I used it to write this post.

3 min read2026-03-27

buildinpublicsideprojectproductivitylearning

Setting Up Local AI Inference on a Windows Laptop

A step-by-step build log of setting up an Ollama server on one laptop and running inference from another over a local network.

5 min read2025-12-26

selfhostingai-inferenceollama

Your Idea Has a Shelf Life

In the age of AI, anyone with the same idea can build and ship it before you do. Why speed of execution matters more than the idea itself.

4 min read2025-08-04

aistartupsbuilders

How UI and UX Has Changed in Modern Websites

A look at how web design has shifted recently — new layout patterns, interaction trends, and what good UX looks like today.

3 min read2025-06-22

uiuxwebdevdesign

From Prompt Monkey to Power User

On using AI as a tool to boost your own skills rather than becoming dependent on it. The difference between leveraging AI and being a slave to it.

4 min read2025-06-09

aiproductivity

Can AI Really Build Your Frontend? I Put lovable.dev and Vercel v0 to the Test

I compared two AI-powered tools for building web apps — Lovable and Vercel's v0. Here's how they stack up against each other.

3 min read2025-06-01

ai-tools

Tech Stack

JavaScript

TypeScript

Python

Rust

Java

React

Next.js

React Native

Tailwind CSS

shadcn/ui

Node.js

Express.js

FastAPI

REST APIs

Microservices

AWS

Docker

Git

Vercel

MongoDB

PostgreSQL

Supabase

Firebase

Redis

n8n

LangChain

Contact

Get in touch for projects, collaborations, or just to say hello.

Prem