Wealthsimple Wealthsimple Incoming Software Engineer Intern Jan 2027 - Apr 2027 TD Bank Group TD Bank Group Software Developer Intern Jan 2026 - May 2026 Larus Technologies Larus Technologies Software Developer Sept 2025 - Sept 2026 TAIV YCW20 TAIV YCW20 Software Engineer, AI Operations Lead Jan 2025 - Jan 2026 Local Reach Local Reach Co-founder Jan 2024 - Jan 2025

JOSEPH LIAO.

Joseph Liao pointing at shop signs in San Francisco Chinatown

JUST
APPROVE.

I am a computer science student at Queen's focused on shipping useful products quickly: AI tools, data pipelines, product interfaces, and the occasional hardware prototype. I like work that moves from messy idea to working system, especially when design and engineering have to meet in the same place.

Education
Queen's University, BCmpH ’27
Location
Kingston / Toronto

MY ART

serious design portfolio (coming soon)

projects

links

BetakitLocal ReachThe ForgeQueen's GazettePilot House DemoBrass Pub DemoTommy's Demo

Local Reach

Startup I co-founded that helps restaurants and bars monetize TV commercial breaks. Venues install our Raspberry Pi device into their cable setup, where it detects ad breaks and switches the screen to local business advertisements; advertisers pay for venue exposure and partners keep 30% of the revenue.

highlights

> Raised $40K+ non-dilutive and joined 3 accelerators
> Partnered with 4 of Kingston's largest bars and advertisers including SpearHead Breweries
> Used TensorFlow logo detection, OpenCV colour variance, Raspberry Pi hardware, and IR control to detect commercial breaks and switch inputs

Local Reach logo with a Raspberry Pi 5 board on an orange background
Local Reach logo with a Raspberry Pi 5 board on an orange background

Local Reach

Startup I co-founded that helps restaurants and bars monetize TV commercial breaks. Venues install our Raspberry Pi device into their cable setup, where it detects ad breaks and switches the screen to local business advertisements; advertisers pay for venue exposure and partners keep 30% of the revenue.

> Raised $40K+ non-dilutive and joined 3 accelerators

> Partnered with 4 of Kingston's largest bars and advertisers including SpearHead Breweries

> Used TensorFlow logo detection, OpenCV colour variance, Raspberry Pi hardware, and IR control to detect commercial breaks and switch inputs

BetakitLocal ReachThe ForgeQueen's GazettePilot House DemoBrass Pub DemoTommy's Demo
Larus Technologies logo, developer of ScenarioGPT

ScenarioGPT

Production frontend and UX work for Larus Technologies' ScenarioGPT platform, focused on turning complex AI planning workflows into usable interfaces.

> Wrote 150,000+ lines of production frontend code

> Translated defense, aviation, and stakeholder requirements into product flows

> Designed 10+ high-fidelity Figma mockups before implementing production UI

GitHub
BaoBab logo in white on a green background

BaoBab

Civic innovation startup project recognized by the City of Kingston for turning a student-built product concept into a funded early-stage venture.

> Won 1st place at the Mayor's Innovation Challenge

> Received $5K in seed funding for continued product development

> Featured by Kingstonist and the Queen's Gazette for student innovation impact

KingstonistQueen's Gazette
Fight Labs dashboard with kinetic force, combat efficiency, and rotation charts

Fight Labs

HackMIT project exploring how software can support combat-sports training through structured feedback, performance tracking, and faster review loops.

> Designed around athletic progress, coaching workflows, and measurable skill development

> Built as a focused hackathon prototype with product and engineering constraints

> Won Most Marvelous Hack at HackMIT

GitHub
Stumble team pitching at a uOttawa podium at Hack the Hill II

Stumble

LeetCode-style dating trainer that uses AI dialogue simulations to help users practice conversations, get feedback, and build confidence through progressively harder scenarios.

> Built with React, TypeScript, Express, MongoDB, OpenAI, and ElevenLabs

> Designed modules with difficulty levels and test-case style evaluation

> Won Best UI/UX Implementation at Hack the Hill II

GitHubDevpost
Better app dashboard showing fitness goals and a NEAR token balance

Better

Decentralized fitness accountability app built on the NEAR protocol where users bet $NEAR on physical goals and earn rewards when they follow through.

> Users create physical challenges and stake tokens against their own commitment

> Successful users reclaim their stake and share rewards from missed challenges

> Won 2nd place in the NEAR category at HawkHacks

GitHubTaikai
Dear Journal plush prototype with wiring beside the app's home screen

Dear Journal

Journaling experiment focused on making reflection feel structured, private, and easy to return to without turning writing into another noisy productivity feed.

> Designed a calmer writing experience for daily reflection

> Explored structured memory, emotional context, and lightweight prompts

> Placed top 5 at QHacks

GitHubDevpost
Cat's Cradle pixel art title screen with a black cat at night

Cat's Cradle

GMTK Game Jam puzzle prototype about leading loose dogs out of your home using movement, transformation, undo, reset, and a scream mechanic for adjacent dogs.

> Made in Unity as a short top-down HTML5 puzzle game

> Contributed art alongside a small cross-functional jam team

> Ranked 299th out of 6,600+ submissions in GMTK Game Jam 2023

GitHubitch.io

coming soon

JAJA

A polished product and design-system case study is being shaped here, with more interface work, visuals, and implementation notes coming soon.

GitHub

coming soon

JAJA Labs

An experimental lab for visual systems, software prototypes, and interface concepts. The first public project is still being assembled.

GitHub

MY LIFE