Irfan Mushtaq completed his engineering degree in computer sciences in 2005. Today, he is CEO of iKraft, a software company based in Kashmir. Ibrahim Wani reports
Irfan loved programming. So he decided to pursue a career in computer engineering. He qualified the engineering entrance exam, and secured a seat in Government College of Engineering and Technology, GCET,Jammu.
Even though he was offered other streams like electronics and communications in REC, now NIT, he persisted with his choice. “I chose GCET only because it offered computer science,” says Irfan.
He joined the engineering college in 2001. Pursuing the career of his choice, Irfan excelled. He completed his bachelor’s in engineering (BE) degree in 2005.
In the campus placement he bagged job offers from Satyam and KPIT Cummins-both software companies. He chose the latter.
The choice took him to Pune, where he started working in the company as a systems executive. “I used to write software for embedded systems like engines and other machines,” says Irfan. The company provided a very good working atmosphere and the professional standards were high. Here Irfan gained valuable experience.
After working for two years with the company, Irfan came back to the valley and partnered iKraft software, a company engaged mostly in web based software products. “The choice of coming back to Kashmir was difficult, but I had always wanted to do something on my own,” he says.
With Irfan as its chief executive officer (CEO), the company bagged many projects, the most prominentbeing developing a website and software applications for Miami Dolphins, a soccer club based in the US. Other projects include Peoplejam.com and ifoodtv.com, both for international companies.
iKraft today employs about 10 software professionals and is working on a number of projects. The biggest among these is whocando.com.au, a website for a company based in Australia.
Recently Irfan has started another company, Kolahoi software which is also engaged in developing web based software applications. The company, a joint venture between ikraft and ilocus-another software company is soon coming up with a custom website, jobsjk.com, which will provide job and career alerts specific to Kashmir.
“The website will not only provide information on the internet, but the service will also include regular career alerts on SMS to those who sign up,” adds Irfan.
Software development is a comparatively new industry in Kashmir. Irfan feels that it has a huge potential. “The software industry can become one of the top service sectors in the state,” he says adding that the industry already provides direct employment to more than 400 people in the valley.
Commenting about the choice of software as a career, Irfan says that the sector provides a lot of opportunities. “Computers and software is a very good career choice today. You can land very good jobs, nationally as well as internationally. There are a lot of opportunities in Kashmir also.” The only pre-requisite, according to him, is dedication and hard work. “If these criteria are met then no matter where you go, you are assured of a good career,” he says.
To succeed in any field today, it is a must that you understand the concepts clearly. “So students engaged in any field of study must understand that they must concentrate on the core concepts,” he says. Conceptual clarity is very important, he adds.
Another important attribute today is innovation. “Whosoever is innovative is assured of success,” he says pointing to the case of internet start-ups which have become big international companies. “Take the example of websites like Facebook, Twitter or even Google. All of them were started by students who had nothing but innovative minds,” he says adding, “When they could do it, why not we?”
