Bikram Brar
Hi! I'm Bikram, a Product Engineer with a passion for building products that solve real-world problems. At the end of December 2023, I left my Senior PM role to spend all of 2024 diving deeper into AI, becoming a better developer, and building apps that bring real utility to the world.
Stuff I've Built
What I Can Do
Skills spanning engineering and product management
Engineering
Programming: JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Python, Go, Swift, Node.js
AI Development: LLM fine-tuning, RAG architectures, agentic workflows
Cloud & DevOps: AWS services, Docker containers, CI/CD pipelines
Development Tools: Git, Cursor, Replit, Linear, GitHub Actions
Web Technologies: Next.js, RESTful APIs, responsive design
Product Management
Product Strategy: Roadmap development, OKRs, feature prioritization
Technical Leadership: Bridging business needs with engineering capabilities
UX Research: User interviews, persona development, usability testing
Analytics & Growth: Metrics analysis, A/B testing, conversion optimization
Team Leadership: Cross-functional collaboration, agile practices, mentorship
My Approach to Building Products
From ideas to implementation to iteration
My product philosophy begins with deep user empathy. Whether developing code or orchestrating complex launches, I immerse myself in the user experience to uncover the "why" behind each challenge. This foundation allows for precise problem framing and hypothesis development. I believe in rapid prototyping and validation, gathering meaningful feedback early and often. Post-launch, I focus on data-informed iteration that balances user delight with business impact—ensuring every product not only solves problems but creates genuine value in people's lives.
Work Experience
My professional journey and accomplishments
Independent Product & AI Developer
Jan 2024 - Present
- Took a sabbatical to dive deep into Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI, expanding my technical skillset beyond traditional product management.
- Created Mysti.ai, a hybrid mobile app using React Native, Node.js, and TypeScript on AWS to help Canadians interpret blood test results with advanced LLM workflows.
- Built tryDayplan.com, a personal AI planning & task prioritization app for iOS in Swift, demonstrating full-stack capabilities from UI/UX through development.
Senior Product Manager@ ODAIA Intelligence
Dec 2022 - Dec 2023
- Owned the user facing product roadmap for AI-powered solutions serving pharmaceutical sales teams, contributing to the company's growth from Series A to Series B.
- Spearheaded the integration of GPT-based curated insights and advanced AI features that meaningfully improved sales rep efficiency across thousands of users.
- Built meaningful key relationships with industry technology partners (Veeva, etc.) to deliver seamless integrations.
Product Manager@ Gale Partners
Dec 2020 - Nov 2022
- Oversaw end-to-end mobile app development for Hard Rock's global loyalty program "Unity," connecting hotels, casinos, and cafes under one unified brand centric digital experience.
- Implemented Salesforce solutions for HomeCare Assistance that dramatically improved customer experience and employee satisfaction.
- Launched a transformative careers portal for CPPIB that significantly enhanced their recruitment process and candidate experience.
Product Manager, Group Benefits@ Empire Life
Mar 2020 - Dec 2020
- Scaled up digital capabilities amidst COVID-19 through supporting development of an employee benefits management portal, streamlining HR workflows.
Senior Business Analyst, Digital Acceleration@ Bank of Montreal
Jun 2017 - Mar 2020
- Shaped the transformation of BMO's personal banking app through initiatives in AI-driven personal finance, open banking, and digital payments.
- Developed deep customer empathy through extensive field research in branches and contact centers, balancing user needs with complex organizational requirements.
- Built foundational product development skills in an Agile environment, creating epics and stories while learning to effectively prioritize feature backlogs.
Latest Blog Posts
Thoughts on AI, product, and technology
March 18, 2025
Revisiting the Technological Singularity
A deep dive into Vernor Vinge's prescient 1993 essay on the technological singularity and its growing relevance in today's world of advanced AI systems.
March 15, 2025
Your AI Isn't Going to Open a Bank Account—So How Will It Manage Its Money?
Discover how autonomous AI agents will manage finances without traditional banking, using blockchain and smart contracts to become independent economic actors.
February 10, 2025
Building my own Two-Factor Authentication Engine with Node.js, MySQL and SES
Learn how to build your own custom 2FA that's secure, time-boxed, and integrated into your existing MySQL database using Node.js.
April 5, 2022
The Future of NFTs: How a New Wave of Digital Ownership Will Transform Everything
Discover how NFTs are evolving beyond digital art to become the foundation of ownership, loyalty, and community across industries.
Get in Touch
I'm open to connecting and collaborating on interesting projects.