In an era when artificial intelligence and software engineering talents are in high demand globally, access to quality tech education remains surprisingly limited in many developing nations. This disparity drove Mostofa Adib Shakib, a former Snapchat engineer, to launch an AI-educational platform reshaping how Bangladeshi students approach tech careers.
The story of CSB (Coding Shikhbe Bangladesh) began not in a Silicon Valley incubator but in the virtual marketplace of Steam, where a teenage Shakib first displayed his entrepreneurial acumen. I noticed a business opportunity in the regional pricing of games and used it to create value for customers in Bangladesh,” Shakib recalls. By purchasing games from regions with lower pricing and reselling them in Bangladesh at a 10% discount from local rates, he funded his own journey to study computer science & mathematics in America, a path considered rare for students from Bangladesh.
Mostofa Adib Shakib
It was the hackathon circuit that significantly influenced Shakib’s path. After winning prestigious competitions at Rice and Princeton Universities, he discovered a powerful truth about tech education: practical project building and networking could open doors that traditional educational paths couldn’t. “I secured my first full-time job almost a year before my graduation thanks to hackathons,” he notes. This realization would later become the cornerstone of CSB’s educational philosophy. To date, CSB has built a community of 60,000 followers and 5,000 registered users, and its graduates have collectively secured over $4 million in total compensation.
Today, CSB serves its users with an AI-powered career accelerator that goes beyond traditional coding boot camps. The platform’s Job Hunting Copilot leverages artificial intelligence to streamline the job search process, while its project-based learning approach emphasizes practical skills over theoretical knowledge. Notably, CSB recently hosted Bangladesh’s first international hackathon, attracting over 500 participants and bringing together leaders from Google, Microsoft, and Y Combinator—a first-of-its-kind event in the country.
The impact of this approach is beginning to show. Unlike traditional coding programs that focus solely on technical skills, CSB’s emphasis on practical project building and international networking is opening new pathways for Bangladeshi tech talent. “Hackathons help people learn through a practical approach instead of theoretical,” Shakib explains. “They enable you to improve your communication, presentation, and collaboration skills—all highly valued by companies that are looking to fill software engineering and research positions.”
The success of CSB’s model raises important questions about the future of tech education in developing nations. While coding boot camps have proliferated globally, few have managed to bridge the gap between local talent and international opportunities effectively. CSB’s approach suggests that combining AI-powered learning tools with real-world project experience and networking opportunities might be the key to democratizing access to the global tech industry.
As the demand for tech talent continues to grow worldwide, initiatives like CSB could serve as a blueprint for other developing nations looking to tap into the global tech economy. The implications of CSB’s work suggest a new direction for tech education in developing regions. As traditional boot camps struggle to connect local talent with global opportunities, CSB demonstrates how a combination of AI-powered learning and experiential education can bridge that gap. By providing students with the tools and connections they need, the platform is helping to democratize access to the tech industry, regardless of geographical constraints.
The journey of CSB is just beginning, with a clear focus on transforming Bangladesh’s tech education landscape and creating a replicable model for other emerging markets. In doing so, it’s not just coding that’s being taught—it’s the art of building bridges between local talent and global opportunities.
